Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Charter debate ruled in the public interest

       The prime minister has the right under the constitution to ask parliament to debate amendments to the charter, the Council of State says.
       Khunying Porntip Jala, secretarygeneral to the council which is the government's legal arm, told the cabinet yesterday Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva could seek the debate in the parliament because it was aimed at the public interest.
       Deputy government spokesman Vachara Kannikar said Mr Abhisit was concerned about whether his proposal for the debate violated Article 122 of the constitution. The article requires members of parliament to work in the public interest and be free of conflict of interest.
       His call for a parliamentary session to debate the charter amendments,some of which cover political issues,could be in breach of the constitution.
       Khunying Porntip was quoted as saying the proposal did not imply any individual interest or a conflict of interest but concerned the public interest.
       After hearing the ruling, the cabinet approved Mr Abhisit's call for a joint meeting of the two houses to debate the constitutional amendments without a vote on Sept 16-18.
       Mr Abhisit yesterday said it was time to discuss the proposals finalised by the Senate-House joint committee on national reconciliation and constitutional amendments.
       MPs and senators are entitled to a joint session to discuss their differences because of the diversity of opinions over the amendments. Those who had proposed them would have the chance to explain their positions, he said.
       Mr Abhisit said MPs seemed to be in agreement with an amendment to Article 190 of the 2007 constitution con-cerning parliamentary approval for international contracts.
       But they are split on proposed amendments that concern controls on conflicts of interest among MPs and senators.
       They are also divided on the need to hold a referendum on proposed amendments and on establishing another constitution-drafting assembly.
       Parliament Speaker Chai Chidchob of the Bhumjaithai Party said he had set the joint parliamentary session for Sept 16-18 to allow enough time to thoroughly debate the proposals.
       People's Alliance for Democracy coleader Sondhi Limthongkul said the PAD would gather the signatures of 20,000 people to impeach the MPs and senators who proposed the constitutional amendments.
       Co-PAD leaders Pibhop Dhongchai and Somsak Kosaisuk said the 2007 constitution was created to check corrupt politicians while the proposed amendments were obviously aimed at their interests.

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