Govt will hold special parliament meeting to debate charter amendments

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Sunday that he would ask the Cabinet to consider convening a special meeting of Parliament to debate charter amendment proposals of the reconciliation committee.

Speaking during his weekly TV programme, Abhisit said he would consult his Cabinet about convening a general debate on proposals of the reconciliation committee on political reforms and constitutional amendments.

The session would allow the panel to present its study to the House and Senate so that further actions could be carried out to return normality to Thai politics.

-- The Nation 2009/06/09

Normality in this context is just kookoo.

If it prepares the situation so that the population and the powers that be can all accept the next election result without the mess of the last few, I can't but support him.

The only way that the country can move on is if the next election is seen the be as fair and true as possible.

After the disastrous rigging and gerrymandering following the 2006 coup when they lost the election, they must make dam_n sure they win the next one.... sham that it is they are going to try and maintain a pretense at democracy as the Dems are going to have to call an election in the next couple of years.

Otherwise, if its free election and Phua Thai get in, there will have to be another series of yellow shirted riots propped up by the army. If that fails it will have to be another full on coup as no way they are giving up their power.

Seem to remember that when Samark propsed charter amendments, the country was brough to a standstill!! Never mind, it gives the world chance again to marval at barefaced double standards. Wern't they defending the existing charter only last year!

Still, as long as they think they have pulled the wool over the eyes of a few falangs they will be happy. One of which (Abhisits falang fan club) was blaming Thaksin last week for the crackdown on falangs owning houses in Phuket!!! Powerful as Thaksin is, I am sure not many could agree that he was behind that move and the outrageous Nationalistic rants against foreigners marrying Thais to get their hands on land.

After the disastrous rigging and gerrymandering following the 2006 coup when they lost the election, they must make dam_n sure they win the next one.... sham that it is they are going to try and maintain a pretense at democracy as the Dems are going to have to call an election in the next couple of years.

Otherwise, if its free election and Phua Thai get in, there will have to be another series of yellow shirted riots propped up by the army. If that fails it will have to be another full on coup as no way they are giving up their power.

Seem to remember that when Samark propsed charter amendments, the country was brough to a standstill!! Never mind, it gives the world chance again to marval at barefaced double standards. Wern't they defending the existing charter only last year!

Still, as long as they think they have pulled the wool over the eyes of a few falangs they will be happy. One of which (Abhisits falang fan club) was blaming Thaksin last week for the crackdown on falangs owning houses in Phuket!!! Powerful as Thaksin is, I am sure not many could agree that he was behind that move and the outrageous Nationalistic rants against foreigners marrying Thais to get their hands on land.

The old land ownership chestnut has been thrown out there by every government since time immemorial. It is the one issue that tends to send every politician of every colour/persuasion into a stupor because to challenge it means that they are somehow being disloyal to the country. It has always been impossible for this issue to be discussed without eyes glazing over and someone muttering under their breath "Selling the country".

I can't remember the last politician (if there has ever been one) who has suggested that maybe increased land ownership by foreigners could be a good thing.

Double standards aside, if changing the existing charter brings away for a dam_n election to be held that everyone can agree was acceptable, that in itself would be equivalent to shooting a bung fai to the moon considering the current problems the country faces.

Cabinet to consider Parliamentary debate on charter amendment

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Sunday that the Cabinet will discuss Tuesday whether to give a green light to Parliamentary debate on proposed constitutional amendments.

Speaking during his televised Sunday talk, Abhisit said he believed the debate, if held by both the House of Representatives and the Senate, could help improve and restore peace and bring normalcy to Thailand.

He said that MPs had not had a chance to comment on reports submitted by the parliamentary committee recommending revisions to the charter amendment.

Since the Constitution stipulates that only a certain, important subjects could be debated during the current extraordinary session of Parliament, it is necessary, therefore, for the Cabinet to approve the planned debate in advance, Abhisit added.

But Plodprasob Suraswadi, deputy leader of the opposition Puea Thai Party, said his party opposed a planned joint debate, charging that both the prime minister and his ruling Democrat Party were "buying time and not sincere on amending the constitution".

Plodprasob said his party expects support from about 170 senators on the charter amendment and it would be "better if the entire Constitution is amended".

The Puea Thai Party believes that the current 2007 constitution is "not democratic, is the root cause of divisiveness and is a product of the coup", said Mr. Plodprasob, adding that the time has come for the amendment.

-- The Nation 2009/06/09