Pm Somchai Implement Constitution Drafting Committee

[Guest Reimar]

TOC News:

Chamlong Doubts Govt’s Intention for Constitution Drafting Committee

UPDATE : 1 October 2008

Chamlong Srimuang, a key People's Alliance for Democracy leader, voiced his suspicion over the government’s intention for the soon to be set up Constitution drafting committee. He said the leaders will not accept any offer to cancel the arrest warrants on the nine PAD leaders in return for the PAD to disperse its months long rally.

Chamlong Srimuang took the PAD stage last night to address PAD protesters who have been gathering for more than four months. He revealed that the PAD leaders will soon meet to discuss the merits of the setting up of a Constitution drafting assembly.

Earlier this week, 24 university rectors came together to propose that the government set up an independent committee to oversee the amendment of the 2007 charter in order to pave the way for political reform. The government immediately took up the suggestion and included the intention to amend Article 291 of the charter in its policy declaration next week to ensure that such a committee can be established under the current laws. But the details of the members of the committee have not been discussed or revealed to the public.

Chamlong explained that the PAD does not disagree with amending Article 291 but added that the charter should not be amended for the benefit of a small group of people or to whitewash the crimes of politicians. The PAD leader highlighted the key clauses which the PAD believes, if amended, will directly benefit the People Power Party and its government coalition partners. The controversial articles include Articles 237, 309 and 190.

Article 237 will directly affect party dissolution cases against the PPP, Chart Thai and Matchima Thipataya, while Article 309 would nullify any prosecution by independent organizations set up by the 2007 Constitution. Last but not least, amending Article 190 could pardon the government for the unconstitutional endorsement of the joint communique between Thailand and Cambodia.

Admitting that Deputy PM General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh has contacted the PAD leaders, Chamlong however denied that any deal has been made. He said the PAD will not surrender nor disperse its rally in return for the cancellation of the arrest warrants issued for the key PAD members.

Pipob Accuses Govt of Trying to Amend Charter for Its Own Interest

UPDATE : 1 October 2008

People's Alliance for Democracy core member Pipob Thongchai reiterated his belief that new politics will improve the quality of life for both city and country dwellers. He accused the government’s plan to amend the 2007 charter as an attempt to wipe the slate clean for the crimes politicians have committed.

As part of his nightly routine, Pipob Thongchai took the PAD stage to address the protesters at Government House. Pipob spoke about how the PAD was caught off guard by former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s ability to retain complete control over the government.

He highlighted the People Power Party’s determination to amend the charter as suspicious. According to Pipob, the PPP has an ulterior motive to rewrite the Constitution for its own interests.

The PAD leader clarified to the protesters that corruption has always been a chronic problem for Thailand. He said widespread corruption originated during the tenure of General Chartchai Choonhavan as premier. The Cabinet at the time was infamous for taking bribes and kickbacks, so much so that it became known as the ‘buffet Cabinet’.

Pipop stated that the PAD hopes the establishment of new politics will be able to improve the standard of living for Thais nationwide. The positive changes he hopes new politics will be able to achieve include high quality and affordable education, better environmental protection measures and plans to minimize the need for country dwellers to relocate to the city to find employment.

Pipob commented on how the PAD has been able to survive multiple attempts to disperse its peaceful rally. He called the current battle the PAD is engaged in a ‘democratic war’, whereby the public practice true democracy.

As part of the conclusion of Pipob’s speech, he accused of the government of having ulterior motives in its plan to rewrite the Constitution. He claimed the People Power Party government is determined to amend articles 309, 237 and 190 which are key to its political survival.

On the issue of the formation of the new charter drafting body, Pipob reserved the PAD’s opinion about it. He said if the committee failed to pave the way for new politics, the PAD won’t agree with the committee’s proposal.

Pipob ended his speech by saying that new politics belong to the people not to the nominee government of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

Democrats: Formation of Charter Drafting Assembly Is Delay Tactic

UPDATE : 1 October 2008

The Opposition Democrat Party believes the new Constitution drafting body is solely designed to lessen public pressure on the government and therefore helps prolong its term in office. The party has vowed to keep a close scrutiny of the credibility of each member of the charter drafting assembly.

Deputy Democrat Spokesman Buranat Samutharak met with reporters after the party’s executive board meeting. He revealed that the party has discussed the government’s plan to establish an ad-hoc body to oversee the rewriter of the 2007 charter.

The Democrats believe the government has been forced into forming the much talked about Constitution drafting assembly by mounting public pressure. But the Democrat party alleged that it’s merely a tactic to buy time and prolong the government’s term in office.

The deputy spokesman said with the make-up of the charter rewrite assembly still in the dark, the party is reserving its judgment on the credibility of the committee. Buranat explained that the intention of the government’s plans to set up the charter drafting assembly will come under a close public scrutiny.

The move to establish the body has attracted varied responses from all sectors of the society. Some political analysts believe the People Power Party desperately needs to amend the 2007 charter to ensure its continued existence in politics as the Attorney-General's Office is in the process of finalizing the details of the party dissolution cases against it. The OAG could forward the party dissolution cases to the Constitution Court in a matter of days.

Buranat added that because the PPP’s survival depends on its amending the Constitution, its true intention for amending the charter will be closely watched by the public.

He added that the Democrats believe the internal rifts within the PPP will adversely affect the stability of the PPP-led government coalition. It’s also been proven that the current premier is unable to manage the numerous factions within the party.

The Democrat Party stressed that the government must prove its intention to reconcile by genuinely engaging in a dialogue with the People’s Alliance for Democracy. The party also hopes the meeting between PM Somchai Wongsawat and Privy Council President General Prem Tinsulanonda will be able to pave the road to reconciliation for the country.

[Plus]

CDA is a tough one - everyone wants it but no one trusts each other.

At this point it's the government's task to prove its sincerety, and Dems, and especially PAD, have all the reasons to be suspicious.

Govt needs to put it on paper and distance itself from the process. There should also be no leaway for it to ignore CDA's proposals.

[animatic]

Well this should get P_D's panties in a twist.

[OlRedEyes]

Well this should get P_D's panties in a twist.

Isn't there a physical limit to the amount of twist panties can hold? Pretty tight in there already.

[Guest Reimar]

People's Alliance Keeps Watch on Revision of Charter's Article 291

UPDATE : 1 October 2008

Key leaders of the People's Alliance for Democracy said the group will wait and see the government's stance on the revision of the Constitution's article 291, before taking further action.

Three core leaders of the People's Alliance for Democracy or PAD, including Major General Chamlong Srimuang, Pipob Thongchai, and Somsak Kosaisuk said in a press conference today that the group will wait and see the government's stance on the notion to revise article 291 of the Constitution to make way for the formation of the new Constitution Drafting Assembly or CDA.

The PAD's core leaders expect the government will take its stance over the matter within a few days, after which the PAD will hold a meeting to assess the situation further.

The PAD leaders insisted they will be not sit on the CDA even if invited by the government, as the group does not agree with a Constitution amendment for self-serving gains.

They also commented that the formation of a political reform committee suggested by 24 university sectors may be impossible after renowned social critic, Doctor Prawes Wasi, refused to head up the body.

Meanwhile, Chamlong said he has not been contacted by Deputy Prime Minister General Chavalit Yongjaiyudh to hold negotiations with the PAD over the current political conflict.

Chamlong also commented on ASEAN Secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan's conern about potential problems stemming from the PAD's rally during the ASEAN summit to be held in Thailand this December.

He said the duty to oversee the country's security rests with the government, but the PAD is ready to end its protest if the government agrees to step down.

Today, the group holds a seminar on the new politics at the canteen of the administrative building in Government House.

[animatic]

G8 meetings get held in several different countries

with protesters about.

Davos meetings get held with protesters about.

GOP conventions get held with protesters about.

Why is a bunch sitting quietly in government house

the end of the world for ASEAN hosting.. NOT!

Leave them sitting and have the meeting at the airport got planty of hangers

drape some curtains, add a stage, spray airfreshener. Done deal.

[hansnl]

Now of course rewriting the constitution is the most important thing to do for this Government.

Economic woes are completely overshadowed by the importance to take care of the woes of Mr TS.

[permanent_disorder]

Now of course rewriting the constitution is the most important thing to do for this Government.

Economic woes are completely overshadowed by the importance to take care of the woes of Mr TS.

no, that is the nutpicking bla bla by the PAD mob. don't forget what you read above is just from the PAD propaganda channel and can not be taken as FACT or serious. TOC news are only good to point out how lunatic the PAD is.

BS like this one:"Sondhi explained to the PAD protesters about how Thai political campaigns are funded. He disclosed that politicians would usually raise campaign funds from large business enterprises and keep ten per cent of the funding for their own personal use. The PAD leader also alleged that veteran politicians usually keep their secret stash of cash in an underground cellar or overseas. " http://www.thailandoutlook.tv/TOC/ViewData...?DataID=1009625

you will never get any prove or evidence for most of these accusations. only good for the ones who want to believe.

another important point for the PAD is to: Free Thailand from any obligations with Cambodia or the United Nations or UNESCO

Somsak also called for PM Somchai to officially nullify the joint communique between Thailand and Cambodia. With regards to the controversial Preah Vihear issue, he urged Somchai to free Thailand from any obligations with Cambodia or the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization or UNESCO to prove that he’s loyal to Thailand.

read here: http://www.thailandoutlook.tv/TOC/ViewData...?DataID=1009730

if you want information about whats going on, ignore what you hear out of PAD mouth. use other media and more than one source to form an opinion.

[animatic]

Now of course rewriting the constitution is the most important thing to do for this Government.

Economic woes are completely overshadowed by the importance to take care of the woes of Mr TS.

no, that is the nutpicking bla bla by the PAD mob. don't forget what you read above is just from the PAD propaganda channel and can not be taken as FACT or serious. TOC news are only good to point out how lunatic the PAD is.

BS like this one:"Sondhi explained to the PAD protesters about how Thai political campaigns are funded. He disclosed that politicians would usually raise campaign funds from large business enterprises and keep ten per cent of the funding for their own personal use. The PAD leader also alleged that veteran politicians usually keep their secret stash of cash in an underground cellar or overseas. " http://www.thailandoutlook.tv/TOC/ViewData...?DataID=1009625

you will never get any prove or evidence for most of these accusations. only good for the ones who want to believe.

another important point for the PAD is to: Free Thailand from any obligations with Cambodia or the United Nations or UNESCO

Somsak also called for PM Somchai to officially nullify the joint communique between Thailand and Cambodia. With regards to the controversial Preah Vihear issue, he urged Somchai to free Thailand from any obligations with Cambodia or the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization or UNESCO to prove that he’s loyal to Thailand.

read here: http://www.thailandoutlook.tv/TOC/ViewData...?DataID=1009730

if you want information about whats going on, ignore what you hear out of PAD mouth. use other media and more than one source to form an opinion.

P_Dude, I ALSO wrote "ABOVE",

and NONE of it came from PAD or any PAD tv channel.

So watch who you are calling a liar....

Next if you want to support illegal international documents,

you undermine ALL pretense of your clearly thinking about the REAL issues.

Formally annulling the Preah Vihear document of Noppadon is quite correct,

since the document was constitutionally ILLEGAL and should NOT be let to stand.

This illegality caused the resignation of Noppadon for signing it without authority,

thus making it an illegal treaty. PAD didn't make Noppadon resign his stupidity caused

the COURTS to call him on it and he resigned.

A NEW agreement between a currently sitting FM and Cambodia would perfectly legal,

IF the legislative branch FIRST signs off on it, as constitutionally mandated.

But Cambodia wants to see that there will be the same FM there to talk with

at the END of a negociation cycle as at the begining.

The current FM doesn't likely fit that bill.

Edited October 3, 2008 by animatic