Life ban for Thai politicians sacked over certain offences

Thailand's Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) on Friday decided to ban politicians who have been removed from office for certain offences from politics for good.

The interim charter requires that the CDC design mechanisms to politically ban corrupt politicians, CDC spokesman Lertrat Rattanavanich was quoted by Bangkok Post as saying.

Section 111 (15) of the newly-revised draft charter prohibits politicians sacked for four offences from applying to become members of parliament (MPs) or senators, according to Lertrat.

The offences include being unusually rich, corrupt practices in violation of duties, disgracing public office and corruption on judicial positions.

As stipulated by Section 111 (8), those who, according to court judgments or legal orders, have undermined the fairness of an election, are also banned from politics for life.

People involved in minor offences, such as unethical practices and dishonesty in asset declaration, are banned for five years.

It is speculated that the new draft will likely keep former prime ministers Thaksin Shinawatra and his sister Yingluck Shinawatra out of politics.

Thaksin, who remains in self-exile overseas following the 2006 military coup which ousted him from premiership, was convicted in absentia by the Supreme Court of corruption which landed him a two- year jail term involving a Bangkok land grab scandal a decade ago.

Yingluck was impeached by the National Legislative Assembly early this year for alleged dereliction of duty in a controversial rice subsidy scheme. She also faces criminal charges for alleged negligence in the same rice scheme.

Lertrat was noncommittal about whether Thaksin and Yingluck would be affected by these provisions. Endi