ID :
125602
Wed, 06/02/2010 - 13:26
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http://m.oananews.org//node/125602
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Thai PM, five cabinet ministers survive no confidence vote in Parliament
BANGKOK, June 2 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and five
ministers under fire from the Opposition defeated a censure motion on
Wednesday following a two-day debate in the lower house focusing on the military operation against anti-government Red Shirt protesters during April and May.
The prime minister was backed by 246 lawmakers out of 464 who voted in the 475-strong lower house. A total of 186 MPs voted against Mr Abhisit with 11 abstentions, House Speaker Chai Chidchob said in announcing the official tally.
Mr Abhisit easily won the vote since his six-party coalition commands a majority of 275 MPs in the House.
In a heated debate in the lower house, the prime minister was grilled by the opposition Puea Thai MPs who accused him of violating human rights in ordering military operation against the red-shirted protesters who occupied the main shopping area in the capital since April 3, demanding an immediate House dissolution for snap elections.
88 people died as a result of political vioilence since April 10 -- the majority being civilians. Almost 1,900 civilians and security personel were also injured.
On Monday, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay urged the
Thai government to "ensure that an independent investigation of recent
events be conducted, and all those found responsible for human-rights
violations are held to account".
In response to the senior UN official's call, the Thai prime minister said a panel will be set up to shed light on the recent deadly violence,assuring that he would not influence nor interfere with the work of the panel.
Deputy Prime Minister Suthep who has a quite high profile as superviser of national security affairs also survived the no-confidence motion by 245-187 votes with 11 abstentions, the House Speaker said.
Among the four ministers--Interior Minister Chavarat Charnvirakul and
Transport Minister Sopon Zarum, both from Bhumjaithai Party, survived
no-confidence vote by 236-194, 234-196 respectively, which is less,
however, than the votes of other two ministers.
Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya and Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij
defeated the censure motion by 239-190 and 244-187 respectively.
Mr Kasit said after the vote that he was not discouraged by the low number
of votes he received and that he would continue to work. He declined
comment, however, on the possibility of a cabinet reshuffle.
The leader of the coalition Chartthai Pattana Party Chumphon Silpa-archa said it was normal that each minister received different votes and that would not affect the stability of the coalition government.
Expressing confidence that the ministers in the quota of his party will keep their portfolios despite a possible Cabinet reshuffle, Mr Chumphon said that the Cabinet members must work harder in future. (TNA)
ministers under fire from the Opposition defeated a censure motion on
Wednesday following a two-day debate in the lower house focusing on the military operation against anti-government Red Shirt protesters during April and May.
The prime minister was backed by 246 lawmakers out of 464 who voted in the 475-strong lower house. A total of 186 MPs voted against Mr Abhisit with 11 abstentions, House Speaker Chai Chidchob said in announcing the official tally.
Mr Abhisit easily won the vote since his six-party coalition commands a majority of 275 MPs in the House.
In a heated debate in the lower house, the prime minister was grilled by the opposition Puea Thai MPs who accused him of violating human rights in ordering military operation against the red-shirted protesters who occupied the main shopping area in the capital since April 3, demanding an immediate House dissolution for snap elections.
88 people died as a result of political vioilence since April 10 -- the majority being civilians. Almost 1,900 civilians and security personel were also injured.
On Monday, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay urged the
Thai government to "ensure that an independent investigation of recent
events be conducted, and all those found responsible for human-rights
violations are held to account".
In response to the senior UN official's call, the Thai prime minister said a panel will be set up to shed light on the recent deadly violence,assuring that he would not influence nor interfere with the work of the panel.
Deputy Prime Minister Suthep who has a quite high profile as superviser of national security affairs also survived the no-confidence motion by 245-187 votes with 11 abstentions, the House Speaker said.
Among the four ministers--Interior Minister Chavarat Charnvirakul and
Transport Minister Sopon Zarum, both from Bhumjaithai Party, survived
no-confidence vote by 236-194, 234-196 respectively, which is less,
however, than the votes of other two ministers.
Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya and Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij
defeated the censure motion by 239-190 and 244-187 respectively.
Mr Kasit said after the vote that he was not discouraged by the low number
of votes he received and that he would continue to work. He declined
comment, however, on the possibility of a cabinet reshuffle.
The leader of the coalition Chartthai Pattana Party Chumphon Silpa-archa said it was normal that each minister received different votes and that would not affect the stability of the coalition government.
Expressing confidence that the ministers in the quota of his party will keep their portfolios despite a possible Cabinet reshuffle, Mr Chumphon said that the Cabinet members must work harder in future. (TNA)
