Geo Politics

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) reported that it has formally charged Pareena Kraikupt, a Palang Pracharath Party MP for Ratchaburi, with making a false statement of assets and breaching the code of ethics of the political post holder. Niwatchai Kasemmongkol, the deputy secretary-general of the NACC, said the agency had agreed yesterday to pursue two charges against Ms Pareena. The …

Opposition parties except Pheu Thai decided to endorse the constitutional reform bill for the Step Forward Party to “turn off” 250 senators before continuing with a rewrite of the charter. The bill seeks to open the door to drafting a new charter by modifying the parts regulating how to amend the existing constitution. Pheu Thai, the largest opposition party, said …

Government coalition parties have settled on a single version of the motion to enact constitutional reform, which contains specifics of a commission formed to write a new charter but leaves the Senate unchanged. Deputy chief of government whip Chinnaworn Bunyakiat said the coalition had agreed on one motion to change the constitution. It will be sent to Parliament after the …

The youth-led protests started with three demands: dissolution of the House, constitutional amendment and an end to state critics’ intimidation. Later, at the Thammasat meeting on 10 August, a 10-point plan to reform the monarchy was announced, stirring even more confusion in an already fragmented Thai political arena. The Free Youth group grew into the Free Citizens party and on …

The Department of Corrections is working on proposals to turn 72 prisons nationwide into tourist attractions, Justice Minister Somsak Thepsuthin announced. Attractions could include activities such as cooking competitions for chefs behind bars, and shops where visitors might purchase products made by prisoners. For five jails, which are pilot sites, the justice minister said the program was also being implemented. …

Around 200 right-wingers from Thailand launched a campaign to counter student rally, one of which is Free Youth group and its ally, the Free People movement, is aimed at pressuring the government to dissolve Parliament, write a new charter and end threats against its critics. Protests have taken place almost daily since mid-July to demand the government’s removal, with some …

A study on forging national reconciliation that could partly set the tone for a possible constitutional amendment will be discussed in the House on Thursday, says a source in the House of Representatives. The report , prepared by the House Committee on Legal Affairs, Justice and Human Rights, makes a recommendation of nine points. The source, who saw the paper, …

Srisuwan Janya, Secretary-General of the Association for the Protection of the Constitution, submitted a petition to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) on Sunday calling on it to examine the accusation of bribe demand against a sub-committee member of the Committee on Budgetary Scrutiny of the House. The accusation was made by Sakda Wichiansilp, Director-General of the Groundwater Resources Department (DGR), …

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam says two approaches are in motion to change the constitution — with or without a referendum. Mr Wissanu, a legal expert, said on Thursday that amendments requiring a referendum are Chapter 1 amendments containing general rules, Chapter 2 on the monarchy and Chapter 15 on constitutional amendments, including Section 256. Amendments to provisions relating to …

Political parties welcomed Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha ‘s willingness to endorse constitutional reform, as the House Committee on Charter Changes initially decided on the creation of a Charter rewriting body to draw up a new constitution. Deputy Democratic Party chief Nipit Intarasombat, who is also a member of the committee, told the Bangkok Post on Wednesday that he believed that …