Another day in parliament



The main event was a debate on amending the constitution, but opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva (left) also demanded time to settle his differences with Pheu Thai MP for Samut Prakan Pracha Prasopdee. THITI WANNAMONTHA

By Terry Fredrickson

Yesterday was day nine of the debate in parliament on a proposed amendment to Section 291 of the constitution, but there was another matter occupying the members attention as well.

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Another day in parliament

Yesterday was day nine of the debate in parliament on a proposed amendment to Section 291 of the constitution, but there was another matter occupying the members’ attention as well.

Democrat Party and opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva rose to demand an apology from Pheu Thai MP for Samut Prakan Pracha Prasopdee for accusing him of voting impropriety.

Mr Abhisit said Mr Pracha had accused him of arranging for another Democrat MP to vote on his behalf in March but failed to come up with evidence.

He said a video clip that Mr Pracha presented did not picture his seat. And he said it could not be proven when the still picture of his seat on Mr Pracha's phone was taken.

"I wonder by common sense if there is any reason to have another person cast a ballot on my behalf," Mr Abhisit said. "There is no reason for a Democrat to do that to make a quorum for the government."

The opposition leader referred to Mr Pracha's promise to apologise to him if he could answer the accusation.

As he had already replied to the accusation, Mr Pracha should apologise to him, Mr Abhisit said.

"Unless he apologises, I will file a complaint and ask parliament's president to form an ethics committee to investigate Mr Pracha," Mr Abhisit said.

In response, Mr Pracha said Mr Abhisit was a public figure and having doubts about Mr Abhisit was legitimate

Mr Pracha said he only wondered if Mr Abhisit had been in the parliament chamber and he never said anyone had been ordered to cast a vote on behalf of Mr Abhisit.

No wasted time for this unidentified MP who appears to be learning two languages at the same time. THITI WANNAMONTHA

Meanwhile, as the session of parliament dragged on, an unidentified MP was spotted passing the time in a rather unusual way. Instead of looking at photos of nude women or watching a soap opera on a tablet, he appeared to be studying both Chinese and Japanese at the same time.

Adapted from a story in today's Bangkok Post by Mongkol Bangprapa

You can read previous article at www.bangkokpost.com/learning/all-article.

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Vocabulary

    debate – a discussion in which people or groups state different opinions about a subject การอภิปราย, การโต้วาที, การถกเถียง
    amend – to make changes to a document, law, agreement, etc. especially in order to improve it การแก้ไขกฎหมาย
    constitution – the set of laws and basic principles that a country in governed by รัฐธรรมนูญ
    opposition – of a political party that is not part of the government ฝ่ายค้าน  
    demand – to ask for something very firmly เรียกร้อง, ต้องการ
    settle – to end a dispute or disagreement, in this case, forcefully ขจัดให้เสร็จสิ้น, จัดการ
    proposed – suggested as an idea for a group to consider ถูกเสนอ
    amendment – a change made to a law or agreement, in this case, to the constitution การแก้ไขกฎหมาย ในที่นี้หมายถึงการแก้ไขรัฐธรรมนูญ
    matter – a situation or subject which is being dealt with or considered เรื่อง, ภารกิจ, งาน
    attention – the interest or thought that you give to something you are doing, listening to or watching ความสนใจ, ความตั้งใจ
    occupy attention – to cause someone to pay attention to something
    apology – an act of saying sorry คำขอโทษ
    impropriety – behaviour or actions that are dishonest, morally wrong or not appropriate for a person in a position of responsibility  ความไม่เหมาะสม
    arrange – to plan or organise something in advance จัดเตรียม,  เตรียมการ
    on behalf of – for; as a representative of ในนามของ ในฐานะของ
    evidence – facts, signs or objects that make you believe that something is true หลักฐาน,ข้อแสดง
    prove – to use facts, evidence, etc. to show that something is true พิสูจน์
    still picture – a photograph (rather than a video) ภาพนิ่ง
    wonder – to think about something because you want to know more facts or details about it สงสัย
    common sense – the ability to think about things in a practical way and make sensible decisions การใช้ความคิดตัดสินเบื้องต้น, การตัดสินแบบพื้นๆ
    cast a ballot – to vote ลงคะแนน, หย่อนบัตรเลือกตั้ง, ออกเสียงเลือกตั้ง
    quorum – the smallest number of people who must be present at a meeting to allow official decisions to be made องค์ประชุม, จำนวนบุคคลที่กฎหมายกำหนด
    file a complaint –to make an official statement that someone has done something wrong ยื่นคำร้อง
    ethics – a set of principles people use to decide what is right and what is wrong จริยธรรม
    investigate – to try to find out the facts about something in order to learn the truth about it ตรวจสอบหาความจริง
    response – an answer การตอบ
    public figure – a well-known person
    doubt – a feeling of being uncertain about something/someone or not believing something  ความสงสัย
    legitimate – reasonable and acceptable ถูกต้องสมควร
    chamber – a room used for the particular purpose ห้อง
    meanwhile – at the same time ในเวลาเดียวกัน
    drag on – to continue for a long time, especially in a slow or boring way
    unidentified – not known or not revealed ไม่ระบุ
    spot – to see or notice สังเกตเห็น
    nude – not wearing any clothes เปลือยกาย
    soap opera – a story about the lives and problems of a group of people which is broadcast every day or several times a week on television or radio  เรื่องน้ำเน่า