The Democrat Party will review its stance over amending the Constitution after the move met with resistance from some lawmakers who threatened to launch impeachment proceedings against those who initiate alterations to the charter.
Democrat Party spokesman Thepthai Senpong said the party has a clear stance to amend the charter on provisions resolved by the Reconciliation committee for Constitution Amendment and joint committees of whips. The party will also push for a public referendum. It will follow the wishes of the people in the matter.
He also denied that the party had resolved to let members vote freely whether to amend the Constitution. The party will call a meeting tomorrow to decide the details of the Constitution amendment.
Suphan Buri Senator Prasit Phothasuthon, who has been campaigning for charter amendment, said he had a list of 30-40 senators who support the amendment and he would submit the petition to House Speaker Chai Chidchob next week. He said his group supported the move to amend six articles of the Constitution in one draft but if the public referendum showed opposition to the move, they would drop the petition.
New Politics Party spokesman Samran Rodpet said the party believed the crisis facing the country could not be healed by amending six articles of the Constitution because the political divisions facing the country ran deep at grass root and the country's high institutions. If the Constitution is finally amended, the country will see even greater division. Rival political parties also play politics by seeking political advantage from the move rather than thinking of public interest. The party will team up with the People's Alliance for Democracy to oppose any constitutional amendment.
Secretary-general of the New Politics Party, Suriyasai Katasila, said the Democrat Party has not had a clear stance over the amendment. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva first had high ambitions on the issue, wanting to have a Constitution Drafting Assembly but then settled for a charter amendment committee and now public referendum. At the same time the Pheu Thai Party had a clear stance about wanting the reinstatement of the 1997 Constitution, which is impossible unless the party successfully called for a military coup to do that.
"If the government adamantly pushes for charter amendment, we will seek impeachment proceedings against MPs and those involved or call for public rallies against the move,'' Suriyasai said.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Amendment motion likely
Senators and MPs plan to file a motion next week seeking the amendment of the 2007 constitution without waiting for the findings of parliamentary whips looking into the issue.
Suphan Buri senator Prasit Phothasuthon said senators and MPs who earlier signed a petition supporting the parliamentary reconciliation committee's recommendation to amend six points of the constitution will sponsor the motion.
The group decided to file the motion because it believed the government was insincere in its efforts to amend the charter and seek political reconciliation,Mr Prasit said yesterday.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's professed support for the constitutional amendments was aimed simply at buying time so his government could stay in power, he added. Mr Prasit said his group would gather signatures supporting the motion from at least 125 senators and MPs, or one-fifth of the members of the two houses. Senate whip Lertrat Rattanawanich said Mr Prasit's group had the right to file the motion independently.
The opposition Puea Thai Party's whip has already withdrawn from the committee made up of government, opposition and senate whips which had agreed to support the amendments.
It will be difficult for the government and senate whips to proceed with the amendment bid without the opposition's participation.
Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban yesterday said the government would ask voters if they wanted the 2007 constitution to be amended.
The question of amendment did not rest with politicians alone, he said. The people's views should also be heard.
The Democrat Party's position on the amendments is in doubt however, after about 100 party MPs yesterday joined deputy leader Banyat Bantadtan in opposing the amendments. Members were free to voice opinions, said Mr Suthep, the Democrat secretary-general.
Suphan Buri senator Prasit Phothasuthon said senators and MPs who earlier signed a petition supporting the parliamentary reconciliation committee's recommendation to amend six points of the constitution will sponsor the motion.
The group decided to file the motion because it believed the government was insincere in its efforts to amend the charter and seek political reconciliation,Mr Prasit said yesterday.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's professed support for the constitutional amendments was aimed simply at buying time so his government could stay in power, he added. Mr Prasit said his group would gather signatures supporting the motion from at least 125 senators and MPs, or one-fifth of the members of the two houses. Senate whip Lertrat Rattanawanich said Mr Prasit's group had the right to file the motion independently.
The opposition Puea Thai Party's whip has already withdrawn from the committee made up of government, opposition and senate whips which had agreed to support the amendments.
It will be difficult for the government and senate whips to proceed with the amendment bid without the opposition's participation.
Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban yesterday said the government would ask voters if they wanted the 2007 constitution to be amended.
The question of amendment did not rest with politicians alone, he said. The people's views should also be heard.
The Democrat Party's position on the amendments is in doubt however, after about 100 party MPs yesterday joined deputy leader Banyat Bantadtan in opposing the amendments. Members were free to voice opinions, said Mr Suthep, the Democrat secretary-general.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Senate speaker pushes changes
Senate Speaker Prasopsuk Boondej has urged the government to continue to take a leading role in maintaining the momentum for constitutional changes.
He said amending the constitution could not go ahead if the government did not play a central role in it.
The call was made in response to a hint by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva that he might stop the amendments if enough parties disagreed with them.
Mr Prasopsuk said he believed there was still time for the coalition parties to talk through their differences on the issue and reach an agreement.
He admitted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's call for the 1997 constitution to be revived had influenced the opposition party into withdrawing its support for the charter rewrite.
The opposition Puea Thai Party's position remains unclear. Opposition chief whip Witthaya Buranasiri last week said he supported constitutional amendments.But Puea Thai MP Chalerm Yubamrung earlier said most of the opposition MPs did not support the changes.
The prime minister yesterday called on the opposition to confirm whether it would honour the agreement with the government and the Senate to work out national reconciliation through constitutional amendment.
Mr Witthaya said he was ready to resign as opposition chief whip if his action involving the charter rewrite had hampered the management of the party.
However, Puea Thai members could settle their own differences on the issue among themselves and those with differing views should not stall the amendments, Mr Witthaya said.
Puea Thai leader Yongyuth Wichaidit said he had received a resignation letter from Chalerm Yubamrung who had asked to step down as Puea Thai's chief of MPs over a rift within the party over the amendments issue.
Mr Yongyuth said he did not approve the resignation.
Government chief whip Chinnaworn Bunyakiat said the amendments will go ahead.
He said Mr Abhisit had written to ask House Speaker Chai Chidchob to order the legal affairs bureaus of the Senate and the House of Representatives to draw up an amendment draft based on the six changes proposed by a parliamentary committee on national reconciliation and constitutional amendment.
The amendment draft is expected to be tabled at a meeting of the government,opposition and senate whips on Oct 22.
He said amending the constitution could not go ahead if the government did not play a central role in it.
The call was made in response to a hint by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva that he might stop the amendments if enough parties disagreed with them.
Mr Prasopsuk said he believed there was still time for the coalition parties to talk through their differences on the issue and reach an agreement.
He admitted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's call for the 1997 constitution to be revived had influenced the opposition party into withdrawing its support for the charter rewrite.
The opposition Puea Thai Party's position remains unclear. Opposition chief whip Witthaya Buranasiri last week said he supported constitutional amendments.But Puea Thai MP Chalerm Yubamrung earlier said most of the opposition MPs did not support the changes.
The prime minister yesterday called on the opposition to confirm whether it would honour the agreement with the government and the Senate to work out national reconciliation through constitutional amendment.
Mr Witthaya said he was ready to resign as opposition chief whip if his action involving the charter rewrite had hampered the management of the party.
However, Puea Thai members could settle their own differences on the issue among themselves and those with differing views should not stall the amendments, Mr Witthaya said.
Puea Thai leader Yongyuth Wichaidit said he had received a resignation letter from Chalerm Yubamrung who had asked to step down as Puea Thai's chief of MPs over a rift within the party over the amendments issue.
Mr Yongyuth said he did not approve the resignation.
Government chief whip Chinnaworn Bunyakiat said the amendments will go ahead.
He said Mr Abhisit had written to ask House Speaker Chai Chidchob to order the legal affairs bureaus of the Senate and the House of Representatives to draw up an amendment draft based on the six changes proposed by a parliamentary committee on national reconciliation and constitutional amendment.
The amendment draft is expected to be tabled at a meeting of the government,opposition and senate whips on Oct 22.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Chai faces protesters' wrath
The red shirts in Ang Thong yesterday burned the effigy of House Speaker Chai Chidchob as he came to the province to perform his parliamentary duty.
Chai came for a meeting to promote democracy with over 1,000 local leaders at Ang Thong Provincial Hall when about 80 red shirts gathered outside the hall, holding placards with messages attacking Chai and his son Newin Chidchob, accusing them of being ungrateful to former PM Thakin Shinawatra.
As they tried to enter the provincial hall, they were blocked by 300 police guarding all entrances to the premise. There was a small clash as they tried to break through the police blockades. They later burnt Chai's effigy.
Chai came for a meeting to promote democracy with over 1,000 local leaders at Ang Thong Provincial Hall when about 80 red shirts gathered outside the hall, holding placards with messages attacking Chai and his son Newin Chidchob, accusing them of being ungrateful to former PM Thakin Shinawatra.
As they tried to enter the provincial hall, they were blocked by 300 police guarding all entrances to the premise. There was a small clash as they tried to break through the police blockades. They later burnt Chai's effigy.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)