The House Speaker's recent trip to Britain was not a violation of regulations but was inappropriate, the House of Representatives Committee on Parliamentary Affairs said yesterday.
The committee, chaired by Pheu Thai MP Phaijit Sriworakhan, held an inquiry into the trip last month by Parliament President and Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont.
The deputy secretary-general of The Secretariat of the House of Representatives, Sompol Vanigbandhu, assigned the director of the Bureau of International Relations, Sirawasa Testhomsaphad, to clarify to the panel details about the trip.
Democrat MP Boonyod Sooktinthai, spokesman for the committee, said the trip was initiated because Somsak said in August that he would like to go to Britain and wanted to use Bt7 million of the budget for the Parliament President's Office for 2012.
In the beginning, the trip had only Somsak's group, but House deputy secretary-general Kamphi Ditthakorn said reporters should be taken along and proposed using the same budget for this. However, Somsak had personally paid for tickets to the soccer matches and the travelling expenses of his daughter Ploypailin, Nichapha Siriwat and Nathakapha Siriwat, aide of Pheu Thai party-list MP Phuwanida Khunplin.
Boonyod added that about Bt15,000 each spent for 13 reporters for the soccer matches was sponsored by Siam Sport, while Somsak paid for the tickets for the nine people in his group.
"In the group, each person got a Bt2,100 allowance per day. That means everyone got pocket money of Bt16,000 for this trip in addition to free travel, accommodation and food expenses," Boonyod said.
As for the proposed official study tour to the British Parliament, an official had told Somsak that the Parliament was closed at the time but Somsak did not cancel the trip.
At the next panel meeting, House deputy secretary-general Kamphi will be called as part of the inquiry.
Boonyod noted that the members of the excursion were divided into two groups - Somsak's and the media. Somsak joined the media only during a visit to the British Broadcasting Corp and for two meals. Sirawasa did not explain why they were separated.
Boonyod added that the committee thought Somsak's trip did not violate regulations because all bills and details pertaining to the trip were available. But he thinks the trip was inappropriate because Somsak was trying to use up the budget before the 2012 fiscal year ends at the end of this month. He said that ideally if money does not get spent, it should be returned to the Finance Ministry.
Boonyod added that going to a soccer match during a parliamentary study trip was considered inappropriate. Although Somsak had personally paid for the tickets to the matches and the travelling expenses of his daughter Ploypailin, Parliament also paid for his flights and accommodation.
Boonyod said he might make this point to the House committee on morality.
"The House Speaker should set a good example for other committees regarding overseas travel. Also, the Speaker must travel only when the House is not in session," Boonyod said.
"There's also the issue of taking reporters along on trips and giving them free food, hotel accommodation, taking them to soccer matches and giving them pocket money - whether it constitutes a kind of bribery."
Latest stories in this category
- Search on for next leader
- Yongyuth says resignation decision based on..
- Papers for court petition on pledging ready
- Korn declared richest Democrat, while Suthep's..
We Recommend
- Eight Bangkok areas face flooding
- Tropical Storm Gaemi to be followed by two more..
- Storms set to dump heavy rains on Thailand this..
- Shinawatras likely to keep things all in the..
Comments conditions
Users are solely responsible for their comments.We reserve the right to remove any comment and revoke posting rights for any reason withou prior notice.
Source: http://www.news.thethailandlinks.com/2012/10/05/somsaks-britain-trip-not-appropriate/
0 comments:
Post a Comment