The government insisted on Monday that it must amend the 2007 constitution before "some people" use loopholes in the document to destabilise the government.
With Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej in Hanoi on an official visit, PM?s Office Minister Jakrapob Penkair took the lead for the government, saying the entire constitution will be reviewed and then amended, using the 1997 People's Constitution as a model.
Mr Jakrapob denied the move to amend the charter was aimed at sparing the People Power, Chart Thai and Matchimatipayaya parties from potential dissolution.
PPP spokesman Kuthep Saikrachang told reporters he was confident the public would back the urgent government attempt to amend the constitution, because the 1997 charter would serve as a model.
He also dismissed a suggestion made by Prime Minister Samak on Sunday to hold a referendum to approve the amended charter. The cost would be too high, he said.
Interior Minister Chalerm Yubamrung jumped into the controversy as well. He claimed that it was urgent that the government amend the constitution, because it was a campaign promised made by PPP before the election of last Dec 23.
Mr Kuthep felt the government could control any political opposition to the move. "If all parties concerned comply with democratic principles, there will be no violent confrontation."
Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said the constitution should be amended but cautioned the government against trying to change the articles dealing with political party dissolution.
"All parties were fully aware of these articles but their members still defied them," Mr Abhisit said. "Executive members of any political party should be held responsible for wrongdoing of party members."
Chief whip Chai Chidchob opposed that. He told reporters it was an "urgent matter" to amend an article in the charter that says a party must be dissolved if one of its executives is found guilty of electoral fraud.
Mr Abhisit also demanded that any amendments be done openly.
Source: Bangkok Post
Thought: No prizes for guessing what they're going to include in it.
Constitution heading for another change
Constitution heading for another change
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
People Power party (PPP) officials on Tuesday said they are ready to begin a fast-track process which will amend five important articles of the constitution within 90 days. The Democrat Party will fight them at every step.
Despite some disagreements in the party, PPP will start the amendment process on Wednesday, when government whips present a list of proposed changes to the Senate speaker, signed by at least 96 members of parliament.
The process to request constitution amendment must go through the Senate speaker, because the House speaker has been suspended from his duties.
The party will file a motion to ask for the meeting of both the upper and the lower houses in order to begin the process of altering five articles of the six-month-old constitution: Articles 163, 190, 237, 266 and 309.
Chief whip PPP MP Worachak Ua-pinyakul said the process is expected to be completed within three months.
He added that PPP hopes the constitution amendments will be completed before the Constitution Tribunal hands down the rulings on alleged electoral frauds against PPP, Matchimathipataya and Chart Thai parties.
The resolution seeks to amend parts of Articles 237, 190, 266 and 163 and to abolish the entire Article 309.
Article 237 permits a whole political party to be dissolved if constitutional bodies and courts find that its executives had knowledge of electoral fraud by any member. Three of the seven parties in parliament currently face dissolution.
Article 309, meanwhile, provides blanket amnesty for the former military junta in overthrowing the elected government, and provides legitimacy for all laws, regulations and military-appointed bodies - including the Assets Scrutiny Committee, the only body which has filed any legal charges against ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, his family and political allies.
Supporters claim the changes will enhance political stability and maintain people’s rights to defend themselves, particularly those who were unfairly investigated and accused by the military-appointed Assets Scrutiny Committee (ASC). Opponents claim they will increase political tension and instability and, in the worst case, actually lead to violence.
Deputy Democrat leader Jurin Laksanavisit said the party will strongly oppose the amendments. He said the government only want to save political parties guilty of electoral fraud from being dissolved.
He predicted the following would occur if the constitutional amendments are approved: Party executives will be cleared of electoral fraud and the parties will not be dissolved; actions and investigations by the Assets Scrutiny Committee (ASC) will become unlawful, and politically banned executives of the former Thai Rak Thai party will be eventually pardoned.
Democrat party executive and opposition chief whip Sathit Wongnongtoei said the result will be national division. There is not even a reason for the government to amend Article 190, which requires the government to disclose to parliament or the public details of key international deals, and Article 266, which restricts MPs’ involvement with government agencies.
Source: Bangkok Post
Thought: Here we go again
Despite some disagreements in the party, PPP will start the amendment process on Wednesday, when government whips present a list of proposed changes to the Senate speaker, signed by at least 96 members of parliament.
The process to request constitution amendment must go through the Senate speaker, because the House speaker has been suspended from his duties.
The party will file a motion to ask for the meeting of both the upper and the lower houses in order to begin the process of altering five articles of the six-month-old constitution: Articles 163, 190, 237, 266 and 309.
Chief whip PPP MP Worachak Ua-pinyakul said the process is expected to be completed within three months.
He added that PPP hopes the constitution amendments will be completed before the Constitution Tribunal hands down the rulings on alleged electoral frauds against PPP, Matchimathipataya and Chart Thai parties.
The resolution seeks to amend parts of Articles 237, 190, 266 and 163 and to abolish the entire Article 309.
Article 237 permits a whole political party to be dissolved if constitutional bodies and courts find that its executives had knowledge of electoral fraud by any member. Three of the seven parties in parliament currently face dissolution.
Article 309, meanwhile, provides blanket amnesty for the former military junta in overthrowing the elected government, and provides legitimacy for all laws, regulations and military-appointed bodies - including the Assets Scrutiny Committee, the only body which has filed any legal charges against ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, his family and political allies.
Supporters claim the changes will enhance political stability and maintain people’s rights to defend themselves, particularly those who were unfairly investigated and accused by the military-appointed Assets Scrutiny Committee (ASC). Opponents claim they will increase political tension and instability and, in the worst case, actually lead to violence.
Deputy Democrat leader Jurin Laksanavisit said the party will strongly oppose the amendments. He said the government only want to save political parties guilty of electoral fraud from being dissolved.
He predicted the following would occur if the constitutional amendments are approved: Party executives will be cleared of electoral fraud and the parties will not be dissolved; actions and investigations by the Assets Scrutiny Committee (ASC) will become unlawful, and politically banned executives of the former Thai Rak Thai party will be eventually pardoned.
Democrat party executive and opposition chief whip Sathit Wongnongtoei said the result will be national division. There is not even a reason for the government to amend Article 190, which requires the government to disclose to parliament or the public details of key international deals, and Article 266, which restricts MPs’ involvement with government agencies.
Source: Bangkok Post
Thought: Here we go again
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson