Censure debate begins in Thailand
Censure debate begins in Thailand
BANGKOK (AP): A no-confidence debate against three key
ministers in the government of Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai got
off to a lackluster start on Wednesday, with no apparent points
scored by the opposition.
"A great depression is coming," warned former Prime Minister
Chavalit Yongchaiyudh as he opened the opposition's onslaught.
"The stability of the nation and the income of the people have
dramatically declined."
In an inauspicious start to the proceedings, a power failure
struck parts of central Bangkok just seconds after Chavalit began
talking, keeping many television viewers from watching him.
Targeted for censure are Finance Minister Tarrin
Nimmanahaeminda, Interior Minister Sanan Kachornprasart and
Transport and Communications Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, all
members of Prime Minister Chuan's Democrat Party.
They have been accused of corruption, abuse of power and
malfeasance in handling the economic crisis.
Most analysts expect that after the scheduled two days of
debate, the three ministers will easily survive no confidence
votes expected to be cast on Friday.
The seven-party coalition government commands a 255-132 seat
majority in the House of Representatives, where the debate is
taking place.
Chavalit began with a caustic attack on Tarrin, accusing the
finance minister of selling the country to the International
Monetary Fund, which is loaning Thailand $17.2 billion in
exchange for economic, financial and legal reforms.
In a spirited defense, Tarrin said Chavalit must share the
blame for the country's economic woes.
Thailand's economic crisis erupted in July 1997 while Chavalit
was prime minister. It rapidly rolled across the region and
beyond.
In August of that year, Chavalit's government asked the IMF to
intervene. His government collapsed in November 1997, with Chuan
taking over the reins.
The IMF aid package has been widely criticized for attaching
harsh conditions that probably hindered economic recovery.
Other opposition speakers concentrated their fire on Interior
Minister Sanan, repeating well-publicized charges about land
scandals and alleging unconstitutional actions and abuse of
power.
"I don't see how you have the nerve to remain in your
position. You don't deserve to be there. Get out!," said Adisorn
Piangket of Chavalit's New Aspiration Party.
House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha stepped in at one point
to warn an opposition speaker against using personal invective,
after he called Sanan a "crater-face," in reference to his
pockmarked complexion.
The debate was preceded by a month-long campaign of bomb
blasts, scares and hoaxes. Two weeks ago a small bomb exploded
near the headquarters of Chuan's Democrat Party.
Some Democrats have accused military men close to Chavalit of
orchestrating the wave of explosions to create an atmosphere of
fear and instability. The opposition denies it.