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- Published: 23 Aug 2011 at 11.07
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The Puea Thai party has declared that Thaksin's visit to Japan is not a relevant topic for today's government policy statement, something the Democrats are sure to dispute.
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Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra after his arrival in Japan yesterday.
Let’s hope not, but the Thai parliament could be a bad-tempered, unruly place as the new government makes its mandatory policy statement today and tomorrow.
The government side is threatening to crack down on any mention of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra by the opposition.
Opposition members, meanwhile, will be demanding that his sister, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, defend her government’s policies personally, rather than delegating that responsibility to her ministers.
Mr Thaksin, of course, has begun a controversial trip to Japan using a visa Democrat party members claim was obtained with the help of incoming foreign minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul. This, Democrats, say is highly inappropriate and possibly illegal since Mr Thaksin has a two-year jail sentence waiting for him in Thailand on corruption charges.
Acting government chief whip and Public Health Minister Witthaya Buranasiri said yesterday that Mr Thaksin’s visit to Japan was irrelevant to government policies and called on the parliament president to strictly enforce parliamentary regulations prohibiting raising such matters.
That is likely to be vigorously disputed by the opposition.
Chavanond Intarakomalyasut of the opposition Democrats said 16 Democrat MPs would spend 200 minutes debating economic policies, 10 would spend 120 minutes on political and security topics and 10 would debate social policies for 80 minutes.
He said his party expected to see Prime Minister Yingluck show her vision.
Democrat list MP Ong-art Klampaibul challenged Ms Yingluck to elaborate on government policies by herself to prove her leadership and dignity.
Ms Yingluck, of course, is a newcomer to parliament, and many expect that she will be reluctant to directly take on the seasoned opposition debaters.
Watch to see what happens.
Adapted from stories in today’s Bangkok Post.
bad-tempered – annoyed or angry อารมณ์เสีย, โมโหรุนแรง
unruly – difficult to control ยากที่จะควบคุมได้
mandatory – ordered by a law or rule ตามข้อบังคับ
policy – a set of plans or action agreed on by a government, political party, business, or other group นโยบาย
threaten – to say you might or will do something bad or harmful, especially in order to make someone do something ขู่
crack down on – to start dealing with someone or something much more strictly จัดการ, ลงมือปราบปราม
mention – the act of referring to someone or something in speech or writing การกล่าวถึง, การเอ่ยถึง, การพูดถึง
the opposition – the political party or parties that are not part of the government ฝ่ายค้าน
meanwhile – at the same time ในเวลาเดียวกัน
defend – to say things to support someone or something ปกป้อง
delegate – to choose someone to do a job for you or to represent แต่งตั้งตัวแทน
responsibility – a duty ความรับผิดชอบ, ความรับผิดชอบ
controversial – causing disagreement or disapproval ความไม่ลงรอยกัน
obtain – to get something that you want or need, especially by going through a process that is difficult ได้มา, ได้รับ
incoming – recently elected or chosen ใหม่
inappropriate – unsuitable ซึ่งไม่เหมาะสม
illegal – against the law ผิดกฎหมาย, นอกกฎหมาย
jail sentence – the length of time a person is required to spend in jail
charge – an official statement accusing someone of committing a crime ข้อหา
acting – doing the work of the usual person in a particular job while they are not there, or until a new person starts ที่รักษาการแทน
whip – an official in a political party whose job is to make certain that other members go where they are needed and that they vote in the correct way วิป
irrelevant – not important to what you are discussing or doing ที่ไม่เกี่ยวข้องกัน ไม่สัมพันธ์กัน
strictly – demanding that rules, especially rules about behaviour, should be obeyed อย่างเข้มงวด
enforce – to make sure laws are obeyed บังคับให้ใช้, บังคับให้ทำ, ใช้กำลังบังคับให้ปฏิบัติตาม
regulation – an official rule that controls the way that things are done กฎระเบียบ
prohibit – to not allow; to ban ห้าม
matter – a situation or subject which is being dealt with or considered เรื่อง, ภารกิจ, งาน
vigorous – very forceful or energetic กระฉับกระเฉง
dispute – to say that something such as a fact is not true or correct โต้แย้ง
vision – the ability to imagine how a country, society, industry, etc. could develop in the future and to plan in a suitable way วิสัยทัศน์
(party) list – a system that gives each party in an election a number of seats in relation to the number of votes its candidates receive ระบบสัดส่วน, ระบบปาร์ตี้ลิสต์
challenge – to invite someone to do something difficult or risky, such as to compete or fight ท้า
elaborate – to add more information to or explain something that you have said อธิบายเพิ่มเติม
dignity – respect that other people have for you or that you have for yourself ศักดิ์ศรี
reluctant – not very willing to do something and therefore slow to do it ไม่เต็มใจ
seasoned – having a lot of experience of doing something and therefore knowing how to do it well มีประสบการณ์
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