ID :
148594
Wed, 11/03/2010 - 19:27
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http://m.oananews.org//node/148594
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Court disqualifies six MPs, including two ministers, for breaching shareholding rules
BANGKOK, Nov 3 - Thailand's Constitution Court on Wednesday ruled with a 7-1 vote to disqualify six members of parliament including two ministers from the coalition parties of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva from for breaching shareholding rules by holding shares in companies involved with the mass media or holding stakes in firms linked to state concessions.
Deputy Interior Minister Boonjong Wongtrairat, Nakhon Ratchasima MP of the Bhumjaithai Party, and Deputy Transport Minister Kuakul Danchaivijit, an MP for Ayutthaya from the Chart Thai Pattana Party, were among the six disqualifed MPs.
The others were Democrat Bangkok MP Somkiat Chantavanich; Puea Pandin MP for Surin Maliwan Thanyasakulkij; party list MP of the Puea Pandin Party Kittiwattana Pokmontri and Opposition Puea Thai MP for Khon Kaen Preechapol Pongpanich.
The Election Commission (EC) earlier ruled that 16 senators and 28 MPs violated the Constitution for holding shares linked to state concessions and forwarded the case to the Constitution Court to have a final say on the disqualification of the alleged MPs.
Of the 28 MPs alleged to have not observed the shareholding regulations, 12 are from the Democrat Party, two from the Bhumjaithai Party, one from the Chartthai Pattana Party, two of the Pracharaj Party, three from the Puea Pandin Party, and eight from the opposition Puea Thai Party.
Former Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban was among the accused but decided to quit as a Surat Thani MP and maintained only his deputy premiership, as a Cabinet member is not required to be an MP so the ruling did not affect the ministerial posts held by Mr Banjong and Mr Kuakul.
He later resigned from deputy prime minister post ran in the by-election contest in Surat Thani last weekend and won the seat.
The court's ruling came at the request of the Senate and House speakers who asked the Constitution Court to rule whether 16 senators and 28 MPs had violated Section 265 of the
Constitution which prohibits senators and MPs from holding shares in companies which are contracted with the government to hold a state concession or holding shares in media business.
Violators are subject to lose their parliamentary seats.
As for the 16 senators, the court found that they were not guilty.
Under the court's verdict, the six MPs have lost their House seats but they are not banned from politics so they can still run in by-elections which must be held within 45 days. (MCOT online news)
Deputy Interior Minister Boonjong Wongtrairat, Nakhon Ratchasima MP of the Bhumjaithai Party, and Deputy Transport Minister Kuakul Danchaivijit, an MP for Ayutthaya from the Chart Thai Pattana Party, were among the six disqualifed MPs.
The others were Democrat Bangkok MP Somkiat Chantavanich; Puea Pandin MP for Surin Maliwan Thanyasakulkij; party list MP of the Puea Pandin Party Kittiwattana Pokmontri and Opposition Puea Thai MP for Khon Kaen Preechapol Pongpanich.
The Election Commission (EC) earlier ruled that 16 senators and 28 MPs violated the Constitution for holding shares linked to state concessions and forwarded the case to the Constitution Court to have a final say on the disqualification of the alleged MPs.
Of the 28 MPs alleged to have not observed the shareholding regulations, 12 are from the Democrat Party, two from the Bhumjaithai Party, one from the Chartthai Pattana Party, two of the Pracharaj Party, three from the Puea Pandin Party, and eight from the opposition Puea Thai Party.
Former Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban was among the accused but decided to quit as a Surat Thani MP and maintained only his deputy premiership, as a Cabinet member is not required to be an MP so the ruling did not affect the ministerial posts held by Mr Banjong and Mr Kuakul.
He later resigned from deputy prime minister post ran in the by-election contest in Surat Thani last weekend and won the seat.
The court's ruling came at the request of the Senate and House speakers who asked the Constitution Court to rule whether 16 senators and 28 MPs had violated Section 265 of the
Constitution which prohibits senators and MPs from holding shares in companies which are contracted with the government to hold a state concession or holding shares in media business.
Violators are subject to lose their parliamentary seats.
As for the 16 senators, the court found that they were not guilty.
Under the court's verdict, the six MPs have lost their House seats but they are not banned from politics so they can still run in by-elections which must be held within 45 days. (MCOT online news)
