THE SEARCH FOR RELIEF IN PROVISIONAL MEASURES

Authors

  • Nicky Balani International law consultant

Keywords:

provisional measures, Thai arbitration law, power of arbitral tribunals in Thai-seated arbitrations, enforcement of provisional measures

Abstract

          The absence of an express power of arbitral tribunals to grant interim measures raises a question if this is precluded under Thai arbitration law. The practice of Thai arbitral institutes to include such a power for the issuance of interim measures may be explained by an inherent authority of arbitral tribunals. The article questions this proposition of an inherent power of arbitral tribunals to order interim measures where the applicable curial law is Thai law. The argument made is that neither the arbitration law nor developments to arbitration rules show traces of an implied power of the tribunal. The residual position of an exclusive competence of Thai courts for interim measures of protection potentially undermines the fairness and efficiency expected from arbitration proceedings. In such circumstances, an amendment to the arbitration law to expressly confirm the power of arbitral tribunals to order interim measures and the recognition and enforcement thereof provides an important safeguard against frustrating the arbitral process.

References

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Instead, the first amendment in 2019 to the TAA eased the process for foreign arbitrators and representatives to participate in arbitration proceedings in Thailand: Arbitration Act (No. 2) BE 2562 (2019). Following this an arbitration bill debated was for a judicial review of arbitral awards in cases involving a state agency: see, Section 3 of the Draft Arbitration Act, <https://www.parliament.go.th/ewtadmin/ewt/parliament_parcy/download/section77/section77_arbitration.pdf>; House of Representatives Agenda for 9 February 2022 <https://edoc.parliament.go.th/Meeting/MeetingViewer.aspx?id=812>.

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ibid, 2619: (“Although historic limitations on arbitrators’ power have been removed in almost all states […]. That remains the case, for example, in Italy, China, and Thailand, where local legislation still provides that the granting of provisional measures is reserved exclusively to local courts, which are authorized to issue provisional relief in aid of arbitration”); Emi Rowse and Dutsadee Dutsadeepanich, "Thailand", 9 <https://www.ibanet.org/MediaHandler?id=AF819767-C572-4B20-97AD-448D3CE1EFFD>.

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Born (n 3) 2618. 1985 United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (“UNCITRAL”) Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration (“Model Law”) listed jurisdictions <https://uncitral.un.org/en/texts/arbitration/modellaw/commercial¬_arbitration/status>.

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Asawaroj (n 38) 8 (“Facts concerning arbitration must be revealed in court proceedings, e.g., in actions for the setting aside of arbitral awards or for the enforcement of arbitral awards.”

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Published

2024-02-29

How to Cite

Balani, N. (2024). THE SEARCH FOR RELIEF IN PROVISIONAL MEASURES. THAC Journal, 2(2), 59–77. Retrieved from https://so05.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/THAC/article/view/270412