ID :
168277
Tue, 03/15/2011 - 09:42
Auther :

Censure debate against Thai PM, 9 other ministers begins

BANGKOK, March 15 (TNA) - The censure debate against Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and 9 other cabinet ministers started Tuesday morning and 36 members of the opposition are grilling the government.

The censure debate which is set on March 15-17 targets the prime minister and nine cabinet ministers namely Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, Interior Minister Chavarat Chanvirakul, Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij, Information and Communication Technology Minister Juti Krairiksh, PM’s Office Minister Ong-art Klampaibul, Commerce Minister Porntiva Nakasai, Transport Minister Sohpon Zarum, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya and Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Supachai Phosu.

The opposition has 40 hours for its debate while the prime minister and the cabinet ministers have 20 hours for explanations. Six hours are reserved for objections and the government and the opposition have three hours each for the purpose.

The first day of the censure debate begins with alleged corruption at the Commerce Ministry concerning oil palm, guaranteed rice prices and the alleged tax evasion of some well-known cigarette brands.

On Wednesday the debate will focus on mistakes about national administration and on March 17 it will refer to crackdowns on protests.

Before the debate, Prime Minister Abhisit insisted that he was ready to answer questions in the censure debate and he would note its topics. He said that regarding the topics that he learned from the censure motion, the impeachment motion and news reports, he thought he was ready to respond to them and they did not worry him at all.

Abhisit also said he was not surprised with former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s order for the opposition to do its best to attack his government because that was the normal duty of the opposition.

The government whip committee has reported that the censure debate would actually take four full days. The last day of the debate will be concluded at midnight and the vote will happen on the following day. (TNA)

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