Disorder at reconciliation meeting | Bangkok Post: news

Disorder at reconciliation meeting | Bangkok Post: news
Bangkok Post, 30 May 2012

The atmosphere at the parliament on Wednesday evening was more than lively as angry government and opposition MPs rushed to surround the seat of House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont after he asked lawmakers to vote on moving discussion of the four proposed reconciliation bills up the agenda list for urgent deliberation.

Many Democrat MPs encircled Mr Somsak, loudly expressing their dissatisfaction and demanding that he leave the seat.

The Democrats demanded the House speaker to stop the vote and carry on with the debate.
A number of Pheu Thai MPs rushed to intervene.

Police officers at the meeting moved to protect Mr Somsak, who later called for a temporary adjournment of the meeting.

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A video clip, uploaded to YouTube by tpdnet, shows lawmakers surrounding House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont on May 30, 2012.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNrMkHZ9RVo&feature=player_embedded

Thailand: Article 112 amendment submitted to House | Bangkok Post

Thailand: Article 112 amendment submitted to House | Bangkok Post
Achara Ashayagachat, Bangkok Post, May 29, 2012

Supporters of a draft amendment to Article 112 of the Criminal Code, the lese majeste law, marched to the parliament on Tuesday morning to formally lodge their proposed bill for deliberation by the House.

The procession of 112 supporters of the citizens' bill proposed by the Campaign Committee for the Amendment of Article 112 began their symbolic march at the June 24, 1932,  marker which was embedded on the street at the Royal Plaza when the Khana Ratsadorn Party (People's Party) revolutionaries under Phraya Phaholpholphayuhasena  changed the country from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy 80 years ago.
Prominent but now retired history professor Charnvit Kasetsiri said the move to amend Article 112 is a follow-up from the change the Khana Ratsadorn leaders initiated when they started the democratisation of what was then Siam.

Dozens of motorcyclists led the marchers and a convoy of organisers carrying 29,968 signatures gathered nationwide to support the bill under Article 163 of the constitution, which provides that 10,000 signatories can  propose a bill to parliament for consideration.

Six signatories introduce the draft bill  -- 70-year-old Charnvit, Chiang Mai-based retired history professor Nidhi Eiwsriwong, Thammasat University associate law professor Jantajira Iammayura, Chulalongkorn University  assistant professor of political science Puangthong Pawakapan, Thammasat Unviersity associate law professor Worachet Pakeerut, and poet and writer Rawee Siri-Issaranant aka Wad Rawee.

Deputy House Speaker Wisut Chainarun, together with Surin MP Prasit Chaisrisa, Khon Kaen MP Cherdchai Tontisirin and Bangkok MP Jarupan Kuladiloke, received the bill.

Mr Charnvit said the CCAA 112 would like the parliament to thoroughly consider the people's bill within the constitutional and legal framework.

Mrs Puangthong said the use of the lese majeste law in its current form had led to violations of basic human rights and freedom of expression. Its tragic effects included the dead of the 61-year-old man, known as Ah Kong, who died in prison early this month after being convicted and jailed for lese majeste.

She briefed the parliamentarians on the key aspects of the bill, including taking Article 112 out of the security chapter of the Criminal Code and  adding a new chapter on defamation of Their Majesties, the heir and the regent; and separating the special protection for His Majesty the King from other provisions; changing the penalty to a ceiling sentence of not less than three years and separating general defamation from  defamation by advertisement; adding exception of crime in the case of decent and innocent criticism; adding exception of crime if the contents were proved valid and the truth benefits the public interest; and abolishing the right of every citizen to bring a lese majeste lawsuit and giving this right only to the Office of His Majesty's Principal Private Secretary.

Mr Wisut said the parliament had no bias against a people's bill. It had accepted other people's bills before.

However, “it might take more than a couple of months as there are more signatures than required and the authorities need to verify all of them", Mr Wisut said.

Mr Charnvit told reporters after submitting the bill and the signatures that he was not worried about signature validation, in fact there about 40,000 people had signed during the 112-day campaign for the amendment. Because the procedure was so cumbersome not all the people could provide all necessary documents such as copies of house registration books.

"What I’m concerned about is that MPs and senators, and the government itself, might be reluctant to support the people's bill for fear of a political backlash.

"But this is the right time for parliamentarians and leaders of this country to show their ethical and moral courage to undertake the inevitable reform of the monarchic institution," said Mr Charnvit.

He said that Thailand was facing another crucial juncture of democracy, whether the country could adapt in a time of globalising forces would be a key issue.

"Amending the lese majeste law would help maintain the institution of the monarchy in a sustainable manner, as other European countries have done, especially the British system which was the model for the majority of Thai laws," the historian said.

China gives Cambodia 19 millions military aid before meet

China gives Cambodia 19 millions military aid before meet
Vong Sokheng, 29 May 2012

China granted Cambodia about $19 million in defence aid yesterday as part of a military agreement signed between the two countries.

The pledged funds came less than 24 hours before Chinese Defence Minister Liang Guanglie is scheduled to speak at the ASEAN Defence Ministers meeting, ostensibly to explain the country’s stance on the disputed South China Sea.

ASEAN members the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei, along with China and Taiwan, claim portions of the resource-rich body of water, and it has been a flashpoint of conflict for years.

In recent weeks, the temperature has heated back up, with China and the Philippines sending boats to a disputed reef that both countries claim.

“It is good that is he is going to explain China’s stance directly to ASEAN defence ministers,” Cambodian Minister of Defence Tea Banh said in explaining Cambodia’s decision to invite China’s top-ranking defence official to speak.

Calls to the embassies of Vietnam, the Philippines and China seeking further clarification about today’s meeting were not returned yesterday.

Last week, representatives from ASEAN countries polished a draft of a Code of Conduct governing relations in the South China Sea.

The final version is due to arrive in China over the summer.

The military agreement was signed after a closed-door bilateral discussion between Tea Banh and China’s Guanglie.

Guanglie came to Cambodia on Sunday for a four-day official visit. He is also scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Tea Banh said that China will continue to support members of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces who train in the country.

“Chinese assistance is greatly contributing to building Cambodian army’s capacity in national defence, and the military co-operation between China and Cambodia has really improved,” Tea Banh said.

He also reaffirmed Cambodia’s stance to support the “One-China” policy, in which China claims sovereignty over Taiwan.

Philippine senate votes 20-3 to convict chief justice Corona | Philippine Inquirer

Senate votes 20-3 to convict Corona
Maila Ager, INQUIRER.net, May 29th, 2012

MANILA, Philippines – Twenty senators, including Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile, on Tuesday found Chief Justice Renato Corona guilty of Article 2 of the impeachment complaint filed against him pertaining to his failure to disclose to the public is statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth.

Only three voted to acquit Corona and they were Senators Joker Arroyo, Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Ferdinand “Bong-Bong” Marcos Jr.

“The Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, having tried Renato Corona, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, upon three Articles of impeachment charged against him by the House of Representatives, by a guilty vote of 20 senators representing at least two-thirds of all the members of the Senate, has found him guilty of the charge under Article II of the said articles of impeachment,” said Enrile after he cast his ‘guilty’ vote for Corona.

“Now, therefore…Renato Corona is hereby convicted of the charge against him in Article II of the articles of impeachment, So ordered,” he added.

Enrile, who presides over the trial, then directed the Senate Secretary acting as clerk of court to provide a certified copy of the judgment to the respondent and his counsels, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Supreme Court and to President Benigno Aquino III.
Aside from Enrile, the 19 senators who rendered a ‘guilty’ verdict for Corona were the following:

Senator Edgardo Angara
Senator Alan Peter Cayetano
Senator Pia Cayetano
Senator Franklin Drilon
Senate Pro Tempore Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada
Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero
Senator Teofisto Guingona III
Senator Gregorio Honasan II
Senator Panfilo Lacson
Senator Manuel Lapid
Senator Loren Legarda
Senator Sergio Osmeña III
Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan
Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III
Senator Ralph Recto
Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.
Senate Majority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III
Senator Antonio Trillanes IV
Senate Manuel Villar

Enrile being the presiding officer was the last to cast his vote on the case.

“As one who has been through many personal upheavals through all of my 88 years, I, too, have been judged, often unfairly and harshly. But I have constantly held that those who face the judgment of imperfect and fallible mortals like us have recourse to the judgment of history, and, ultimately, of God,” said the Senate leader.

“And so, with full trust that the Almighty will see us through the aftermath of this chapter in our nation’s history, I vote to hold the Chief Justice, Renato C. Corona, guilty as charged under Article II, Par. 2.3, and that his deliberate act of excluding substantial assets from his sworn Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth constitutes a culpable violation of the Constitution,” he said.

It was Revilla’s vote, who cast the 16^th “guilty” verdict, that sealed the fate of Corona because under the rules, at least two-thirds of the total members of the Senate or 16 of the 23 incumbent senators are needed to convict him.

Revilla’s vote came as a surprise considering that he is a known ally of former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

It was Arroyo who appointed Corona as Chief Justice before the former stepped down from office in 2010.

“I prayed hard for Divine Providence and guidance int his one great decision of my life,” Revilla said.

“Napakahirap man, alang-alang sa pagkakaisa at paghihilom ng ating bayan; alang alang sa pagpappatibay ng mga institusyon ng ating pamahalaan, alang alang sa mga darating pang henarasyon at ng ating kinabukasan, I find Chief Justice Renato Corona guilty,” the senator added.

(Though very difficult, for the sake of unity and healing our nation; for the sake of strengthening  the institutions of the government; for the sake of the next generation and our future, I find Chief Justice Renato Corona guilty.)

One notable vote came from another Arroyo ally, Lapid, who also cast a guilty vote for Corona.

“Para sakin po, malinaw na malinaw na si Chief Justice Corona ay lumabag sa batas. Siya mismo inamin niya na may $2.4 million at P80 million na bank account. Yun po siguro hindi na kasinungalin yun, yun po ay totoo na,” Lapid said.

(To me, clearly Chief Justice Corona violated the law. He himself admitted he has $2.4 million at P80-million bank account. That’s perhaps no longer a lie, that’s the truth.)

At first, Lapid said his heart went to Corona, when the latter .testified before his own trial.

“I’m very sorry for him. I thought he was telling the truth. He did not,” he said.

In the end, Lapid had these words for Corona: “Pasensiya na  po. Pasensiya na po. Pasensya na po. Ang hatol ko sa inyo, guilty.”

(My apologies. My apologies. My apologies. My verdict is guilty.)

Thai activist Surachai jailed on fifth lese majeste charge | Bangkok Post

Thai activist Surachai jailed on fifth lese majeste charge | Bangkok Post 
Achara Ashayagachat, Bangkok Post, May 28, 2012

The Criminal Court on Monday formally convicted and sentenced Red Siam core member Surachai "Sae Dan" Danwattananusorn on a further charge of lese majeste, adding two-and-a-half years to his current prison term.

Surachai had changed his not guilty plea and confessed that he offended the monarchy in a speech on Dec 15, 2008, shortly after midnight, at Sanam Luang.

He was sentenced to five years with the term reduced by half because he confessed.

It is his fifth lese majeste conviction. He pleaded guilty in the previous four cases, but earlier denied the fifth. The sentences are cumulative and he faces total imprisonment of 12.6 years.

His lawyer Karom Polpornklang said his client is in poor health.

He had already submitted documents for the final stage of the request for a royal pardon on the other four convictions. He would add the details of the fifth conviction to the case for royal clemency.

Surachai had a heart x-ray at the Police General Hospital a week after he was admitted to the Prison Hospital for treatment for prostate cancer.

The result of the heart x-ray, which would be known on June 15, was necessary before the prostate operation could go ahead because he'd had heart surgery before.

Surachai said red-shirt prisoners, including those charged under Article 112 of the Criminal Code, the lese majeste law, would be assisted by Deputy Prime Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit in seeking the royal pardon.

But whether he proceeded along the normal track, applying himself for a royal pardon, or the government-assisted track for clemency, he would still need prostate surgery.

"I would rather get the operation outside the prison facility, but they don't give that permission," Surachai said in a small written note handed to relatives at the court room on Monday morning.

"Even for surgery in the prison hospital we have to pay nearly 10,000 baht for use of the equipment.

"I don't know whether they would let me recover outside the prison or not. If possible, I would prefer to be moved to the temporary prison at Lak Si, where I could recover better."

He also told the Bangkok Post that the reconciliation bill proposed by former coup maker Sonthi Boonyaratglin would ensnare the government in a deep hole.

"The bill in itself will divide the people, not to mention that if the bill does not include the Article 112 victims, some of the red-shirt members will eventually walk different paths from the Pheu Thai Party.

"The government is working under an illusion at the moment," Surachai said.

Indian PM visits Burma amid energy quest | Asia News – Politics, Media, Education | Asian Correspondent

Indian PM visits Burma amid energy quest | Asia News – Politics, Media, Education | Asian Correspondent
AP News, May 28, 2012

NEW DELHI (AP) — Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh departed Sunday on a three-day visit to Burma/Myanmar that underscores India’s quest for energy supplies and concerns about China’s strong influence in the Southeast Asian country.

Singh said he hoped to focus on stronger trade and investment links, development of border areas and improving connectivity between India and Burma/Myanmar.

India remains “committed to a close, cooperative and mutually beneficial partnership with the government and people of Myanmar,” Singh said in a statement before leaving for Yangon, Burma/Myanmar’s biggest city.

The visit highlights India’s search for energy supplies to fuel its economic boom and concerns about China’s influence in Burma/Myanmar, where the elected — but military-backed — government is opening up its economy for investment and trade.

In recent years, India has nervously watched Beijing’s domination of Burma/Myanmar’s oil and gas exploration projects. Hundreds of thousands of Chinese workers are in Burma/Myanmar working on infrastructure and other projects.

Indian officials, however, are loath to acknowledge that India’s Myanmar policy is being driven by China’s inroads there.

India wants to “secure a stronger and mutually beneficial relationship with a neighboring country that is integral to India’s Look East policy,” Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai told reporters Friday.

India has adopted a “Look East” policy of engaging with southeast and east Asia, reaching out and deepening bilateral ties with Japan, South Korea, Vietnam and Indonesia among others in the region.

Singh’s visit will be the first in 25 years by an Indian prime minister, although the two countries share a 1,600-kilometer (1,000-mile) land border, as well as a maritime border in the Bay of Bengal.

Myanmar, which was once known as Burma, had been an international pariah for decades under a military junta that quashed any hopes of democratic reform. A 2010 election, though, has lead to at least some reforms and a gradual opening up to the rest of the world.

The competition between India and China in Burma/Myanmar is expected to surface again when Burma/Myanmar begins auctioning new natural gas blocks, both offshore and onshore, in which Indian companies are expected to participate actively.

“It would be in Myanmar’s interest to not put all its eggs in one basket,” says Rajiv Bhatia, a former Indian ambassador to Myanmar, referring to China’s overwhelming presence in Myanmar’s oil and gas exploration sector.

Mathai said that during Singh’s visit, the two countries are slated to start a bus link between Imphal, capital of India’s Manipur state, and Mandalay, Burma/Myanmar’s second-largest city.

India also will announce the creation of an IT training institute, an agricultural research center and a rice research park in Burma/Myanmar, Mathai said.

Over decades of isolation by the West, China reached out to Burma/Myanmar, building billions of dollars in roads and gas pipelines in the impoverished country.

New Delhi too has offered Burma/Myanmar aid and assistance, but not on the same scale as China.

In recent years, India has offered around $800 million in credit to Burma/Myanmar to help develop infrastructure such as railways, roads and waterways. New Delhi also is helping build a port in the coastal Burma/Myanmar city of Sittwe. That port, Indian officials hope, will act as a trade gateway between India’s northeastern states and Southeast Asia.

Bilateral trade between India and Burma/Myanmar was around $1.2 billion in 2011. Both sides hope to push trade to $3 billion by 2015.

Singh’s trip follows high level visits to India by Burma/Myanmar’s reformist President Thein Sein in October and visits by the foreign ministers of the two countries.

In the 1980s and early ’90s, India was a strong supporter of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi in her fight against the country’s military. Singh will meet with Suu Kyi on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi visited Burma/Myanmar in 1987, the last visit by an Indian premier. But in the mid-’90s, India changed tack to engage with the country’s military junta, resisting pressures from the Western democracies that had imposed economic sanctions on Myanmar.

New Delhi insisted it had to follow a pragmatic policy, because it needed its neighbor’s help to crack down on Indian rebels who had built hideouts in the jungles along the India-Myanmar border.

India also argued that Burma/Myanmar’s military leaders could be nudged toward democracy only by engaging with them — not by isolating the impoverished nation.

Mathai said India also was opposed to the sanctions because Burma/Myanmar was a neighbor.

“When you are a neighboring country, you do not have the choice of a policy and engagement,” Mathai said. “You remain engaged irrespective of the situation.”

In the past year, Burma/Myanmar’s military leaders have freed thousands of political prisoners, eased limits on the press and launched a series of economic reform measures. The military-backed regime allowed Suu Kyi’s political party to contest elections and ushered in an elected government.

In April, the European Union suspended most of its sanctions to reward Burma/Myanmar’s political reforms, and the United States said this month that it would suspend a ban on American investment in the country.

Indian PM visiting Myanmar amid energy quest | Asia News – Politics, Media, Education | Asian Correspondent

Indian PM visiting Myanmar amid energy quest | Asia News – Politics, Media, Education | Asian Correspondent
AP News, May 27, 2012 

NEW DELHI (AP) — The visit of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Burma on Sunday is the latest sign that India now believes it needs to assert its presence in its eastern neighbor.

The visit underscores India’s quest for energy supplies to fuel its economic boom and concerns about China’s strong influence in Burma, where the elected — but military-backed — government is opening up its economy for investment and trade.

In recent years, India has nervously watched Beijing’s domination of Burma’s oil and gas exploration projects. Hundreds of thousands of Chinese workers are in Burma working on infrastructure and other projects.

Indian officials, however, are loath to admit that India’s Burma policy is being driven by China’s inroads there.

India wants to “secure a stronger and mutually beneficial relationship with a neighboring country that is integral to India’s Look East policy,” Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai told journalists Friday.

India has adopted a “Look East” policy of engaging with southeast and east Asia, reaching out and deepening bilateral ties with Japan, South Korea, Vietnam and Indonesia among others in the region.

Singh’s visit will be the first in 25 years by an Indian prime minister, although the two countries share a 1,600-kilometer (1,000-mile) land border, as well as a maritime border in the Bay of Bengal.

Burma, which is also known as Myanmar, had been an international pariah for decades under a military junta that quashed any hopes of democratic reform. A 2010 election, though, has lead to at least some reforms and a gradual opening up to the rest of the world.

The competition between India and China in Burma is expected to surface again when Burma begins auctioning new natural gas blocks, both offshore and onshore, in which Indian companies are expected to participate actively.

“It would be in Burma’s interest to not put all its eggs in one basket,” says Rajiv Bhatia, a former Indian ambassador to Myanmar, referring to China’s overwhelming presence in Burma’s oil and gas exploration sector.

Mathai said that during Singh’s visit, the two countries are slated to start a bus link between Imphal, capital of India’s Manipur state, and Mandalay, Burma’s second largest city.

India also will announce the creation of an IT training institute, an agricultural research center and a rice research park in Burma, Mathai said.

Over decades of isolation by the West, China reached out to Burma, building billions of dollars in roads and gas pipelines in the impoverished country.

New Delhi too has offered Burma aid and assistance, but not on the same scale as China.

In recent years, India has offered around $800 million in credit to Burma to help develop infrastructure such as railways, roads and waterways. New Delhi also is helping build a port in the coastal Burma city of Sittwe. That port, Indian officials hope, will act as a trade gateway between India’s northeastern states and southeast Asia.

Bilateral trade between India and Burma was around $1.2 billion in 2011. Both sides hope to push trade to $3 billion by 2015.

Singh’s trip follows high level visits to India by Burma’s reformist President Thein Sein in October and visits by the foreign ministers of the two countries.

In the 1980s and early 90s, India was a strong supporter of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi in her fight against the country’s military. Singh will meet with Suu Kyi on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi visited Burma in 1987, the last visit by an Indian premier. But in the mid-90s, India changed tack to engage with the country’s military junta, resisting pressures from the Western democracies that had imposed economic sanctions on Burma.

New Delhi insisted it had to follow a pragmatic policy, because it needed its neighbor’s help to crack down on Indian rebels who had built hideouts in the jungles along the India-Burma border.

India also argued that Burma’s military leaders could be nudged toward democracy only by engaging with them — not by isolating the impoverished nation.

Mathai said India also was opposed to the sanctions because Burma was a neighbor.
“When you are a neighboring country, you do not have the choice of a policy and engagement,” Mathai said. “You remain engaged irrespective of the situation.”

In the past year, Burma’s military leaders have freed thousands of political prisoners, eased limits on the press and launched a series of economic reform measures. The military-backed regime allowed Suu Kyi’s political party to contest elections and ushered in an elected government.

In April, the European Union suspended most of its sanctions to reward Burma’s political reforms. Last week, the United States said it would suspend a ban on American investment in the country.