ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly

The 119th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union

H.E. Mr. Prasobsook Boondech, President of the Senate led the Thai Delegation to attend the 119th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) which was held between 13 and 16 October 2008 in Geneva, Switzerland.

There were specific issues being discussed during the meeting on three panel discussions as follows;

  1. Advancing Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament, and Securing the Entry to force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty: The role of Parliaments,
  2. Climate Change, Sustainable Development Models, and Renewable Energics, and
  3. Freedom of Expression and the Right to Information

Hon. Col. Apiwan Wiriyachai, Second Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, addressed in the Anti-Nuclear Proliferation panel that Thailand strongly supports and binds to all international treaties and conventions on disarmament and non-proliferation of all types of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) as a State Party to the NPT – Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, including the Safeguards Agreement of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). In addressing the situation, parliamentarians should play significant roles in supporting the ratification of such treaties and encouraging the governments to undertake all necessary steps in the international process.

Hon. Assoc. Prof. Tassana Boontong, the Second Vice President of the Senate, shared views on climate change that parliamentarians should consider this challenge as one of the national agenda in order to exchange the implementation between parliaments and people. Moreover, they may help closer the gap of implementation from the government sector and raise an understanding of the policy in civil society.

Hon. Mr. Alongkorn Ponlaboot, Member of the House of Representatives, addressed the panel on Freedom of Expression and the Right to Information that Thai people have fundamental rights in any participatory democracy as stated in the current Constitution. Freedom of expression and right to information are the indicators of the health of democracy. With the purpose of maintaining healthy democracy, parliament bears its burden on promoting a respect for freedom of expression, building a framework for democratic participation at regional and international level and reducing the use of laws and practices which restrict freedom of expression.

The Official Visit by the President of the National Assembly of Thailand to the Republic of Indonesia

H.E. Mr. Chai Chidchob, President of the National Assembly and President of AIPA paid his official visit to the Republic of Indonesia from 22 and 25 October 2008.

During the visit on 22 October 2008, he paid courtesy calls on H.E. Mr. Jusuf Kalla, Vice-President of the Republic of Indonesia and H.E. Mr. Agung Laksono, Speaker of the House of Representatives. H.E. Mr. Chai Chidchob expressed his gratitude to the Republic of Indonesia in working collectively with Thailand in wide  ranging cooperation especially in economic integration and investment under  the ASEAN umbrella. He was also grateful to the House of Representatives of Indonesia in supporting the work of the AIPA Permanent Secretariat and providing a part of the Parliament buildings to be an office of the Secretariat.

On 23 October 2008, H.E. Mr. Chai Chidchob visited the AIPA Secretariat. He chaired the meeting with AIPA Secretariat staff including Dato’ Md. Yusoff bin Md. Zain, Secretary General of AIPA. The meeting was focused on specific areas such as policy and vision of developing AIPA into a more cohesive and closely integrated institution, a closer cooperation between AIPA and ASEAN, an attendance at the 14th ASEAN Summit by President of AIPA, a preparation of the 30th AIPA General Assembly, and on AIPA annual contribution.

Official Visits

The National Assembly of Thailand received the following visits:

  1. Visit by H.E. Mr. Salim Issa Ali Al Kattam, Al Zaabi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, the United Arab Emirates (13/10/2008)
  2. Visit by H.E. Mr. Mohammad Hatta, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Republic of Indonesia (16/10/2008)
  3. Visit by H.E. Mr. Kyoji Komachi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Japan (21/10/2008)
  4. Visit by H.E. Mr. Antonio Da Costa Fernandes, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Republic of Angola (3/12/2008)
  5. Visit by H.E. Dr. Hanns Heinrich Schumacher, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Federal Republic of Germany (22/12/2008)