Prime Minister Urges Political Parties To Propose Charter Amendments

[hammered]

PAD slams charter rewrite to grant amnesty to politicians

The People's Alliance for Democracy yesterday opposed a rewrite of the charter designed to grant amnesty for political offences and accused the government of going soft on rogue politicians.

The PAD is seen as hardening its stand on the proposed political clean-up. It is now at odds with the government, which has pinned its hopes on bringing about reconciliation through a rewrite of the charter.

"It is totally unacceptable to rewrite the charter in order to grant amnesty to politicians convicted of electoral fraud," PAD co-leader Somsak Kosaisuk said.

Somsak said he could not condone the rewrite process in which politicians were involved in changing the rules for their own kind.

"The amendments to help whitewash electoral fraud should never be construed as part of political reforms," he said.

PAD co-leader Pipop Thongchai said he wanted to remind the public that political problems were often caused by politicians who refused to reform themselves.

The charter rewrite will make no headway if politicians remain willing to cross the line and commit fraud in order to grab or cling to power, he said.

PAD co-leader Somkiart Pongpaiboon said he expected Parliament to be increasingly mired in political rift in the next few months as rival camps fight on issues related to charter rewrite and amnesty.

Somkiart urged all parties concerned to respect the law instead of trying to rewrite the rules.

The turmoil can reach a speedy conclusion if all sides, including the PAD, uphold the law, he said, adding that PAD figures like himself are willing to accept punishment if convicted of any wrongdoing relating to street protests by the yellow shirts.

PAD co-leader Chamlong Srimuang said the turmoil persisted because the government appeared unwilling to enforce the law.

-- The Nation 2009-05-04

Surely the headline mixes two completely different issues. Ther eis charter ammendment to (theoretically) make the charter more democratic and there is amnesty of politicans. These two should be kept distinct from one another or politcal games will develop.

[sriracha john]

Democrats take new look at charter change

The Democrat Party has called a meeting to review its stand on planned amendments to the constitution in the face of growing opposition to the changes from the People's Alliance for Democracy.

Party Chairman Chumpol Kanchana has summoned MPs to a meeting at party headquarters at 10am tomorrow to look at the points of the constitution up for amendment and the proposed political amnesty for banned politicians. The PAD opposes both moves.

The party will raise what the MPs decide tomorrow at a meeting of the House committee on reconciliation and constitutional amendment on Thursday.

Continued:

-- Bangkok Post 2009-05-05

[animatic]

Let them off scott free doesn't reconcile the side that still wants convictions for their crimes to stand.

Weakening the laws doesn't solve the problems that created this mess,

but only allows them to continue unabated.

Either they stand up to graft advocates and rule of law, or we go back to the old system.

Threatening to cause insurrection and rioting if you don't get your way and the laws changed

to let you and your friends get off for their crimes, is not a democratic process.

It is blackmail.

[sriracha john]

Public vote for charter rewrite?

Government politicians called yesterday for a referendum on a controversial charter change - to free executive members from bans if political parties are dissolved for electoral offences by an individual.

Revising Article 237 was "a big issue that requires viewpoints from all groups involved", said Deputy Interior Minister Thaworn Senneam from the Democrat Party.

"In particular, we need the opinions of the majority of Thais. Personally I think a nationwide referendum will be inevitable," he said.

Among the contentious clauses in the Constitution is Article 237, which allows the Constitution Court to disband any political party if a member breaches the election law and any of its executive members is aware of the violation.

All executive members of a party face being deprived of their electoral rights for five years.

The controversial provision caused three coalition parties in the previous government to be dissolved by the court.

Thaworn said Senate Speaker Prasopsuk Boondet's opposition to a referendum was just one comment.

Deputy Transport Minister Prajak Kaewklahan, from the Bhum Jai Thai Party, said public support in the form of a referendum would be required for a charter amendment to go ahead.

A referendum should be held to sound out the public even though the organising cost would be high, he said.

If the People's Alliance for Democracy wanted to campaign against tinkering with the Constitution, particularly Article 237, then it could do so, he said.

"But if the referendum shows that the majority supports amending the constitution, the PAD will have to listen," he said.

Bhum Jai Thai Party MP Supachai Phosu, a member of the Parliament's special committee for political reform and constitutional amendment, said he would propose to the panel that a public referendum be scheduled to gauge the public's thinking towards charter changes.

The committee is scheduled to convene its first meeting tomorrow.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who is the Democrat secretary-general, said a public hearing or referendum would be needed to get public input.

While certain Democrat figures were reportedly "frustrated" with mounting pressure from coalition parties for a constitutional amendment, it was normal for politicians to have different ideas, he said.

Disagreement over a charter rewrite would not cause rifts in the coalition government, he said.

Interior Minister Chaovarat Chanweerakul, who is the Bhum Jai Thai Party Leader, agreed that a review of the charter would not lead to a split among the coalition partners.

Bhum Jai Thai Party and Chart Thai Pattana Party, key partners of the Democrat-led coalition, are reincarnations of two parties dissolved by court order last year along with the People Power Party, which headed the previous coalition.

Pracharaj Party Leader Snoh Thienthong, an adviser to the political reform committee, voiced support for adjusting Article 237, saying it was unfair to make all party executives take the blame for election-law violations by one fellow executive.

-- The Nation 2009-05-06

[sriracha john]

Pheu Pandin Party remains non-committed to charter rewrite

The Pheu Pandin Party has not committed to support the charter rewrite because it sees the government having more pressing issues like the tackling of economic woes, Party Leader Chanchai Chanrungruang said on Tuesday.

"I think the government should focus on addressing the plight of the people and tackling the economic crisis and that the charter rewrite should be done after the resumption of normalcy," he said.

Chanchai said if the charter is to be amended, then his coalition party deems it necessary to involve the public participation such as allowing the public hearing on pertinent issues.

The outcome of the public hearing should be the decisive factor on whether the charter should be amended, and if so, how it should be done, he said.

He said he was not concerned about the opposition from the People's Alliance for Democracy since the conflicting opinions could be resolved through the public hearing.

-- The Nation 2009-05-06

[sriracha john]

Minister: Economy first, charter later

Industry Minister and Puea Pandin Party Leader Charnchai Chairungrueang believes this is not the right time for constitutional amendments.

The government's most important tasks were to solve the economic crisis and ease the people's financial burdens, the Puea Pandin Party Leader said on Wednesday.

He suggested the government organise a public hearing on constitutional amendments before taking any action on it, so any changes would be accepted by everyone in the country. Mr Charnchai said he was not worried about a possible House dissolution after the charter is amended, but pointed out a general election would be very costly at a time of falling budget revenues.

Continued:

-- Bangkok Post 2009-05-06

[Jai Dee]

Pheu Pandin Party remains undecided to charter amendment

The Pheu Pandin Party remains non-committed to back the constitutional amendment since it sees the government's most important and pressing task was to tackle the plight of people and economic woes.

Industry Minister and Puea Pandin Party Leader Charnchai Chairungrueang suggests the government to hold a public referendum on constitutional amendments first, which the new one would be accepted by all people in the nation.

He expresses no concerns over possible House dissolution after the charter rewrite and reasons that he was fielded in the election several time and already well-known among people. However, the party leader said he personally did not want that to happen.

He adds further that the matter has yet to be discussed among coalition parties and says the stance on charter rewrite is not related to the pressure by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD).

-- NNT 2009-05-06

[sriracha john]

Government Whip: No Pressure on Govt to Amend Charter

The Chief Government whip has insisted that there is no pressure on the government to amend the constitution, adding that a subcommittee will be needed to collect information from each side.

Chinavorn Boonyakiat, Democrat Party MP and Chief of the Government Whip, has revealed that members of the Government Whip agreed to encourage delegates from each Party that join the political reform for reconciliation and charter amendment committee, to express their views independently.

He added that it is the responsibility of the reconciliation committee to study political reform and charter amendments to find the solution to the current political problems.

Chinavorn denied that the government coalition parties have pressed the constitutional amendment issue.

As for the idea of conducting a referendum to hear public opinion, the Government Whip Chief stated that a subcommittee to collect information would be necessary.

-- Tan Network 2009-05-07

[hammered]

A referendum will be interesting and could be brutal. Groups will try and hijack it as a vote for or against things that are not actually on the referendum if it isnt planned well. Questions will be of interest too.

[Plus]

Hopefully people realise that it serves absolutely no purpose before they are be called for another street war and forced to take sides.

Const. amendments are just not high on the agenda now, they are there to pacify politicians, not the public, and the troublemakers from PTP camp won't stop fighting after rewrites anyway, and they also won't start working.

It's a red herring.

>>>

The reasoning now goes like this - Abhisit needs fresh electoral mandate and he can't call elections unless constitution is re-written.

And so - Welcome "Supreme law of the land", take 20. With a bit of practice they can produce brand new constitution every calendar year.

[HagenvonTronje]

A referendum will be interesting and could be brutal. Groups will try and hijack it as a vote for or against things that are not actually on the referendum if it isnt planned well. Questions will be of interest too.

so how about to solve that problem by putting exactly those things on the paper ballot and let the people vote for or against it?

[sriracha john]

Puea Thai Party MP Somsak Kiatsuranond

Opposition MP opposes public hearings on charter amendment

BANGKOK, May 9 (TNA) - Somsak Kiatsuranond, a member of the major opposition Puea Thai Party, on Saturday rejected the idea of having public hearings to discuss the plan to amend the 2007 Constitution, written by legal and constitutional appointees of the September 2006 coupmakers.

Somsak, a member of the House of Representatives representing the northeastern province of Khon Kaen, said he opposed the idea proposed by Chirmsak Pinthong, a member of the political reform and charter amendment study committee set up recently to consider holding public hearings on the planned constitutional amendment.

All 40 committee members are already representatives of the people, Somsak asserted. Himself a committee member, he added that he believed the proposed public hearings would only ‘buy time’, and said that time should not be wasted on this issue.

"Listening to the people’s ideas is the best thing and it should be done for all 63 million people (in the country). However, it’s difficult in practice. The 40 representatives sitting on the committee have already gained a lot of experiences on public hearing and opening a hearing (on the charter amendment) would only waste time," said Somsak.

However, Somsak said he agreed on a proposal to conduct a public referendum on whether to approve the charter after it is amended, and that the referendum must apply to the entire Constitution and not only to certain articles.

On talks that the Puea Thai Party is supporting Sanoh Thienthong, Leader of the opposition Pracharaj Party, regarding proposed amendments which might include amnesty for 220 politicians of the now-dissolved four parties found guilty of election fraud, Somsak said his own Party had not yet made its final decision on the proposal.

He said that political amnesty should not be given to those who had committed wrongdoings, but if it is to be made for reconciliation purposes then it is another issue.

The 220 former executives of the four parties, including the Thai Rak Thai Party founded by fugitive ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, were suspended from political activity for five years and their parties disbanded for electoral fraud.

-- TNA 2009-05-09

Edited May 9, 2009 by sriracha john

[sriracha john]

Reconciliation committee wary of suggestion from Sanoh

The Committee for Reconciliation and Political Reform has not accepted a proposal from Pracharaj Party Leader Sanoh Thienthong (TRT Non-Banned # 1) to replace the current Constitution with that of 1997 and to offer amnesty to banned politicians, a panel member said yesterday.

Chinnaworn Bunyakiat, the Government Whip Chief and a member of the committee, said Sanoh's proposal was just a discussion position and not the committee's decision.

The committee will meet on Tuesday to discuss how to resolve political conflicts and bring about reconciliation through political reform and constitutional amendment.

He said the committee had received many ideas but would make a resolution after sounding opinion from all sides and reporting on the progress of it work in the media.

Democrat Party MP Nipit Intarasombat, a committee member, denied allegations that the Democrat Party was not sincere in solving the political crisis, saying that otherwise it would not have appointed the committee to take opinion from every sector of society before amending the Constitution to achieve national reconciliation.

Chinnaworn said the committee was divided on whether to conduct public hearings or call a public referendum on its conclusions after 45 days.

Meanwhile, Democrat Party advisor Banyat Bantadtan opposed Sanoh's proposal to replace the 2007 Constitution with the 1997 Constitution, saying that if the committee took up Sanoh's proposal, society would be in a turmoil because it knew for whom Sanoh made the proposal.

"The committee may not be convinced by Sanoh, because many of them understand the problems of the country and will not listen to him. This committee plays a significant role. Whether or not the country reels under political crises depends on the committee,'' said Banyat, a former Democrat leader.

In a related development, Sirichai Maingam, a leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy, said the PAD was ready to stage a protest if the committee whitewashed banned politicians or favoured former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra by dissolving independent agencies, interfering with courts of justice.

He said the PAD would first pressure the Democrat Party not to amend the Constitution on those issues and if the party backtracked on its stance the PAD would call a rally to oppose the move.

-- The Nation 2009-05-10

Edited May 9, 2009 by sriracha john

[grandpops]

Reconciliation committee wary of suggestion from Sanoh

The Committee for Reconciliation, keeping elite snouts in troughs and Political Reform has not accepted a proposal from Pracharaj Party Leader Sanoh Thienthong (TRT Non-Banned # 1) to replace the current Constitution with that of 1997 and to offer amnesty to banned politicians, a panel member said yesterday.

Chinnaworn Bunyakiat, the Government Whip Chief and a member of the committee, said Sanoh's proposal was just a discussion position and not the committee's decision.

The committee will meet on Tuesday to discuss how to resolve political conflicts and bring about reconciliation through political reform and constitutional amendment, but without jeopardizing their grip on power.

He said the committee had received many ideas but would make a resolution after sounding opinion from all sides and reporting on the progress of it work in the media.

Democrat/army puppet Party MP Nipit Intarasombat, a committee member, denied allegations that the Democrat/army puppet Party was not sincere in solving the political crisis, saying that otherwise it would not have appointed the committee to take opinion from every sector of society before amending the Constitution to achieve national reconciliation.

Chinnaworn said the committee was divided on whether to conduct public hearings or call a public referendum on its conclusions after 45 days.

Meanwhile, Democrat Party advisor Banyat Bantadtan opposed Sanoh's proposal to replace the 2007 Junta Constitution with the 1997 Constitution, saying that if the committee took up Sanoh's proposal, society would be in a turmoil because it knew for whom Sanoh made the proposal.

"The committee may not be convinced by Sanoh, because many of them understand the problems of the country and will not listen to him. This committee plays a significant role. Whether or not the country reels under political crises depends on the committee,'' said Banyat, a former Democrat leader.

In a related development, Sirichai Maingam, a leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy, airport seizures, government office seizures and high tourist season wreakers, said the PAD was ready to stage a protest if the committee whitewashed banned politicians or favoured former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra or any other person with views differing from their own. by dissolving independent agencies, interfering with PAD/junta appointed courts of justice.

He said the PAD would first pressure the Democrat Party not to amend the Constitution on those issues and if the party backtracked on its stance the PAD would call a rally to oppose the move and bring the country to its knees again safe in the knowledge that the Junta will again stand on the sidelines to prevent the police from acting against them.

-- The Nation 2009-05-10

If you want to persist with your childish red pen, let me help you along a bit.

Why not just cut and paste as normal and put your comments below?

Can we please raise the bar a bit in these debates.

[sriracha john]

Reconciliation committee wary of suggestion from Sanoh

The Committee for Reconciliation and Political Reform has not accepted a proposal from Pracharaj Party Leader Sanoh Thienthong (TRT Non-Banned # 1) to replace the current Constitution with that of 1997 and to offer amnesty to banned politicians, a panel member said yesterday.

Chinnaworn Bunyakiat, the Government Whip Chief and a member of the committee, said Sanoh's proposal was just a discussion position and not the committee's decision.

The committee will meet on Tuesday to discuss how to resolve political conflicts and bring about reconciliation through political reform and constitutional amendment.

He said the committee had received many ideas but would make a resolution after sounding opinion from all sides and reporting on the progress of it work in the media.

Democrat Party MP Nipit Intarasombat, a committee member, denied allegations that the Democrat Party was not sincere in solving the political crisis, saying that otherwise it would not have appointed the committee to take opinion from every sector of society before amending the Constitution to achieve national reconciliation.

Chinnaworn said the committee was divided on whether to conduct public hearings or call a public referendum on its conclusions after 45 days.

Meanwhile, Democrat Party advisor Banyat Bantadtan opposed Sanoh's proposal to replace the 2007 Constitution with the 1997 Constitution, saying that if the committee took up Sanoh's proposal, society would be in a turmoil because it knew for whom Sanoh made the proposal.

"The committee may not be convinced by Sanoh, because many of them understand the problems of the country and will not listen to him. This committee plays a significant role. Whether or not the country reels under political crises depends on the committee,'' said Banyat, a former Democrat leader.

In a related development, Sirichai Maingam, a leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy, said the PAD was ready to stage a protest if the committee whitewashed banned politicians or favoured former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra by dissolving independent agencies, interfering with courts of justice.

He said the PAD would first pressure the Democrat Party not to amend the Constitution on those issues and if the party backtracked on its stance the PAD would call a rally to oppose the move.

-- The Nation 2009-05-10

If you want to persist with your childish red pen, let me help you along a bit.

Why not just cut and paste as normal and put your comments below?

Can we please raise the bar a bit in these debates.

Always striving that for that so your non-factual and Net-etiquette-rule-breaking changes to my post removed.

Edited May 9, 2009 by sriracha john

[LawnGnome]

Reconciliation committee wary of suggestion from Sanoh

The Committee for Reconciliation and Political Reform has not accepted a proposal from Pracharaj Party Leader Sanoh Thienthong (TRT Non-Banned # 1) to replace the current Constitution with that of 1997 and to offer amnesty to banned politicians, a panel member said yesterday.

Chinnaworn Bunyakiat, the Government Whip Chief and a member of the committee, said Sanoh's proposal was just a discussion position and not the committee's decision.

The committee will meet on Tuesday to discuss how to resolve political conflicts and bring about reconciliation through political reform and constitutional amendment.

He said the committee had received many ideas but would make a resolution after sounding opinion from all sides and reporting on the progress of it work in the media.

Democrat Party MP Nipit Intarasombat, a committee member, denied allegations that the Democrat Party was not sincere in solving the political crisis, saying that otherwise it would not have appointed the committee to take opinion from every sector of society before amending the Constitution to achieve national reconciliation.

Chinnaworn said the committee was divided on whether to conduct public hearings or call a public referendum on its conclusions after 45 days.

Meanwhile, Democrat Party advisor Banyat Bantadtan opposed Sanoh's proposal to replace the 2007 Constitution with the 1997 Constitution, saying that if the committee took up Sanoh's proposal, society would be in a turmoil because it knew for whom Sanoh made the proposal.

"The committee may not be convinced by Sanoh, because many of them understand the problems of the country and will not listen to him. This committee plays a significant role. Whether or not the country reels under political crises depends on the committee,'' said Banyat, a former Democrat leader.

In a related development, Sirichai Maingam, a leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy, said the PAD was ready to stage a protest if the committee whitewashed banned politicians or favoured former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra by dissolving independent agencies, interfering with courts of justice.

He said the PAD would first pressure the Democrat Party not to amend the Constitution on those issues and if the party backtracked on its stance the PAD would call a rally to oppose the move.

-- The Nation 2009-05-10

One person who should not be offering any solutions is Sanoh. That bozo's only answer to the nation's problems involves himself as the PM. He is so power hungry and desperate, that it has become silly.

I just love to think back to his big "power dinner" he organized, while the Dems were forming their coalition. Nobody showed up, and he ordered his few guests to sit at different tables, to make it look like there were more people there

[HagenvonTronje]

ABAC Poll: Majority aware of charter rewrite plan

BANGKOK, 10 May 2009 (NNT) – An opinion survey conducted in 17 provinces by Assumption University’s ABAC Poll Research Center indicated that 81.9 percent of respondents had been informed of the current attempt to amend the Constitution.

The ABAC Real-Time Survey showed that the majority of 50.1 percent had never read the 2007 Constitution while 45.6 percent had read some parts and only 4.3 percent had studied it thoroughly. 54.6 percent of the respondents preferred the 2007 Constitution to the 1997 edition as the other 45.4 percent thought the opposite.

The poll also showed that about 73.3 percent believed politicians and influential figures would mostly benefit from the charter rewrite while 42.2 percent were not confident that the new Constitution would be in their favor.

In addition, in case they had the authority, the majority of 44.4 percent would choose to amend the charter at a more appropriate time while 19.3 percent would do it immediately and the other 36.3 percent completely opposed the adjustment.

-- NNT 10 May 2009

article here

[Plus]

Yeah, but that dude from PTP already ruled listening to the people out.

He believes 45 people on the commitee already represent Thailand's population, no need for any other public input.

[Pierrot]

ABAC Poll: Majority aware of charter rewrite plan

BANGKOK, 10 May 2009 (NNT) – An opinion survey conducted in 17 provinces by Assumption University's ABAC Poll Research Center indicated that 81.9 percent of respondents had been informed of the current attempt to amend the Constitution.

If you know anything about Thailand, you will understand that "81.9 percent of respondents had been informed of the current attempt to amend the Constitution" is complete BS.

Unless, of course, if the "respondents" are friends and relatives of the people conducting this survey

Edited May 10, 2009 by Pierrot

[Old Man River]

Does anyone know how ABAC takes these polls? The only thing I can think of that might yield such a high % is if they take their sample via respondents over the internet.

[hammered]

Most ordinary people dont give a monkeys about the constitution. Period

[hammered]

Yeah, but that dude from PTP already ruled listening to the people out.

He believes 45 people on the commitee already represent Thailand's population, no need for any other public input.

It was an incredibly arrogant statement especially consdiering that polticans come somewhere below whores in respect the public have for groups in Thailand, and whores arenty exactly renowned for being respected;)

[animatic]

Yeah, but that dude from PTP already ruled listening to the people out.

He believes 45 people on the commitee already represent Thailand's population, no need for any other public input.

It was an incredibly arrogant statement especially consdiering that polticans come somewhere below whores in respect the public have for groups in Thailand, and whores arenty exactly renowned for being respected;)

But seem to be generally much nicer people to be around than the politicians...

Edited May 10, 2009 by animatic

[sriracha john]

Charter committee meets tomorrow

The next meeting of the Committee for Reconciliation and Charter Rewrite is scheduled tomorrow and for the next two days.

After the first convention last week the committee reached only a resolution to complete its task within 45 days. What happened last week showed the difficulties of politicians from different parties agreeing, especially on topics that could affect their political lives.

Committee Chairman Direk Thuengfang, Nonthaburi Senator, said the committee this week might set up three panels to work on reconciliation, political reform, and study of the charter amendment.

So far, issues relating to charter amendment have not been agreed upon, even in the Democrat Party. Chief Adviser Chuan Leekpai and another senior adviser Banyat Bantadtan, opposed the amendment in Article 237 outlining party dissolution and voting right revocation for party executives.

Meanwhile, the Pheu Thai Party and Pracharaj Parties are clear in pushing for amnesty for politicians punished after the September 19, 2006 coup, both in political and criminal cases. But the latter is what Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has said he would never let happen.

It will be interesting to see what the committee comes up with, and in what direction, in the first week of its job.

Besides what happens in Parliament, the movement of the red shirts will deserve keeping an eye on.

The anti-government group has accused the government of plotting the violence that broke out at the Interior Ministry and at the meeting venue of the ASEAN Summit in Pattaya on April 11-12. Abhisit and the Democrats have denied this.

The red shirts also attacked the government on many aspects of its work including economic measures. After a rally near Wat Pai Kiew yesterday, the anti-government group said it would not end its protest.

-- The Nation 2009-05-11

[Chang_paarp]

ABC Australia had an interesting interview with the Thai foreign minister on Asia Pacific Focus yesterday. He said that following the charter amendments they would go for a general election. It was part of a 15 minute piece on Thailand.

The interview covered a few subjects including the red invasion of the ASEAN summit and the protests in Bangkok and the subsequent responce. He spoke well and answered most of the questions. There was not too many difficult ones but he answered them.

I have been looking on the ABC web site for a link to a transcript but to no avail, the show will be repeated on Australia Network at Monday, 11 May 2009 at 13:00 and Saturday, 16 May 2009 at 18:30 Thai time. There was a reference to a Sunday edition on the web site but I suspect that will be the next week's edition.

[Plus]

81% of people are aware of the existence of the current consitution amendment process - what's wrong with this number? I don't think 20% who don't pay any attention to politics or pissed off enough to answer "no" to any political question is fairly reasonable.

[animatic]

whores arenty exactly renowned for being respected

I respect my whores, mostly for my own self esteem.

>>>

81% of people are aware of the existence of the current consitution amendment process - what's wrong with this number? I don't think 20% who don't pay any attention to politics or pissed off enough to answer "no" to any political question is fairly reasonable.

81% may have heard something might happen.

'Aware of the process' sounds more like 15%

[sriracha john]

PM assures that public opinion will be involved in charter amendment

PHUKET, 11 May 2009 (NNT)-Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva spoke last night before returning from Phuket to Bangkok that his government as well as his party have every intention to involve the general public in any possible Constitution amendments, assuring that he has taken steps towards allowing for involvement.

The Prime Minister yesterday supported comments made by Democrat Party Advisors Chuan Leekphai and Bunyat Buntadtan that all citizens of the nation should be allowed a say in Constitution amendment.

The PM assured that it has always been his party's stance to include public opinion on the matter, acknowledging that charter amendment is a sensitive and detailed matter.

He remarked that he has already requested the Parliament to construct a system to allow for the public to be active in the charter amendment before stating that such a system must assure constructive involvement from the public and be in line with Government wishes to create unity and reduce conflict.

Mr. Abhisit said that the system is now entirely within the discretion of the Parliament as it is a legislative matter and thus may require some time to accomplish.

30

-- NNT 2009-05-11

[DaleBlue]

ABC Australia had an interesting interview with the Thai foreign minister on Asia Pacific Focus yesterday. He said that following the charter amendments they would go for a general election. It was part of a 15 minute piece on Thailand.

The interview covered a few subjects including the red invasion of the ASEAN summit and the protests in Bangkok and the subsequent responce. He spoke well and answered most of the questions. There was not too many difficult ones but he answered them.

I have been looking on the ABC web site for a link to a transcript but to no avail, the show will be repeated on Australia Network at Monday, 11 May 2009 at 13:00 and Saturday, 16 May 2009 at 18:30 Thai time. There was a reference to a Sunday edition on the web site but I suspect that will be the next week's edition.

ABC did not ask Kasit about his involvement in Swampy. Or was that the condition for doing the interview?

[sriracha john]

Banned politicians give mixed response over amnesty

Banned Thai Rak Thai Party executive Pongthep Thepkanchana [TRT Banned # 10], Personal Spokesman of ousted prime minister [Thaksin Shinawatra] [TRT Banned # 2] said on Monday he opposed the move to amend the Constitution to grant amnesty to banned politicians.

He said Constitution should be amended for the sake of peace and for majority of people. Politicians who face political ban are a minority.

However another banned Thai Rak Thai Party executive Chaturon Chaisang [TRT Banned # 2] agrees with amending the Constitution to pardon banned politicians. He reasoned the ban on the 111 executives of the Thai Rak Thai Party runs against international justice principles.

"People who do not commit offences should not be held responsible for offences committed by others,'' he says.

Both Pongthep and Chaturon are the key figures among the 111 Thai Rak Thai Party executives who are banned from participating in politics after the Constitution Court disbanded their party.

-- The Nation 2009-05-11