Ex-female Thai PM to deliver impeachment statement Jan 9

BANGKOK, January 6 (TNA) - Former Thai prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra will reportedly deliver her impeachment opening statement before the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) by herself on January 9, 2015. NLA Vice President Surachai Liangboonlertchai told journalists on Tuesday that, as former Pheu Thai premier Yingluck would deliver her opening statement on her impeachment case before the assembly by herself on January 9, the case should be concluded by the end of this month. Surachai said the NLA would let Yingluck and the independent National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) deliver their statements and answer questions without any time limit. Surachai revealed that the NLA would then form two committees to pose questions on two impeachment cases, one concerns Yingluck and the other concerns former Senate speaker Nikom Wairatpanij and former House speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont, and the questions would come from NLA members. According to the NLA vice president, each of the neutral inquiry committees consists of up to 21 members who represent the NLA and its committees, including the whip committee. The NLA vice president noted that the impeachment process against holders of political positions would take 23 days; therefore, conclusions on both cases were expected within this month unless a party in the impeachment cases sought a postponement. The NLA vice president opined, however, that, based on the current circumstance, a postponement is considered unnecessary. (TNA)