Pheu Thai's unforced setback on charter change

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Pheu Thai Party on Wednesday made a grave error by neglecting to check the coalition attendance before voting, hence suffering a humiliating defeat on a key clause for the formation of the Constitution Drafting Assembly.

After weeks of fiery vetting on the charter amendment bill, House committee chair Samart Kaewmechai called for a vote on the government-sponsored clause outlining the CDA formation.

Under the government draft, the CDA will comprise 99 seats, of which 77 will be directly elected to represent each province and 22 are to picked by Parliament from a pool of academics.

The CDA clause is seen as the lynchpin to frame a new charter.

When the vote was called, Samart failed to notice that a number of Pheu Thai MPs had stepped out of the meeting room. Consequently, the outcome was the clause was dropped by the 12-to-10 vote despite the coalition's majority in the committee.

The unforced defeat resulted in the committee to engage in a heated debate on the implications of the vote. The committee then adjourned with several unanswered questions.

Samart conceded his mistake to have called the vote without checking attendance.

He was seen huddled with Pheu Thai MPs and making several telephone calls trying to undo the vote.

The Democrats, meanwhile, said the vote was final, arguing that the committee had no choice but to pick one of the nine alternative versions in lieu of the defeated clause.

The alternative versons proposed differing formulas for forming the CDA, all prescribing for 150 to 200 seats. The Democrats sponsored seven alternative versions. The remain two were each sponsored by senator Jetn Siratharanont and Pheu Thai MP Weng Tojirakarn.

Pheu Thai MP Cholnan Srikaew said he believed the committee would call for a revote at the next session because the government-sponsored clause could not be dropped since it was integral and indispensible to the entire draft.

-- The Nation 2012-03-28

The Democrats, meanwhile, said the vote was final......<snip>

Unless the military is kind enough to step in and press the reset button, of course.

Edited March 28, 201214 yr by Payboy

He was seen huddled with Pheu Thai MPs and making several telephone calls trying to undo the vote

Pheu Thai MP Cholnan Srikaew said he believed the committee would call for a revote at the next session because the government-sponsored clause could not be dropped since it was integral and indispensible to the entire draft.

.

P.T.P. democracy in action

He was seen huddled with Pheu Thai MPs and making several telephone calls trying to undo the vote.

I suspect his first call was an international call.

The vote was clearly sabotaged by whoever left those brown envelopes outside the room.

The vote was clearly sabotaged by whoever left those brown envelopes outside the room.

Or maybe a couple of bottles of Black Label and some tonic water.

"The remain two were each sponsored by senator Jetn Siratharanont and Pheu Thai MP Weng Tojirakarn".

Never mind the botched vote. And I have no idea what the remaining option was, which was sponsored by Dr. Weng, as the article does not reveal it. But suffice it to say, if it is good enough for Dr. Weng, it is good enough for me. It most likely was the best choice anyway.

Edited March 28, 201214 yr by CalgaryII

The thing with democracy is, that to make it work, you have to be intelligent enough to count. After phone-a-friend, the obvious (to PTP) solution is change/ignore the rules.

When the vote was called, Samart failed to notice that a number of Pheu Thai MPs had stepped out of the meeting room. Consequently, the outcome was the clause was dropped by the 12-to-10 vote despite the coalition's majority in the committee.

It's to be expected from what are now 3rd and 4th stringers on Team Thaksin.

He must be chomping at the bit to put his starters back into the game.

.

Edited March 28, 201214 yr by Buchholz

Some heads will roll.

"The remain two were each sponsored by senator Jetn Siratharanont and Pheu Thai MP Weng Tojirakarn".

Never mind the botched vote. And I have no idea what the remaining option was, which was sponsored by Dr. Weng, as the article does not reveal it. But suffice it to say, if it is good enough for Dr. Weng, it is good enough for me. It most likely was the best choice anyway.

While it's not quite "Full Glory", it's reasonably close to what options Weng Wants from all of this.

I disagree that his choice is the best choice.

Opposition Chief Whip Jurin Laksanavisit said the objectives of charter changes were not clear and questioned if the ruling Pheu Thai Party had a hidden agenda.

Though he did not mention the name, Jurin repeated Pheu Thai MP Weng Tojirakarn's quote that once the charter is amended, ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra would be able to return gracefully.

"The remain two were each sponsored by senator Jetn Siratharanont and Pheu Thai MP Weng Tojirakarn".

Never mind the botched vote. And I have no idea what the remaining option was, which was sponsored by Dr. Weng, as the article does not reveal it. But suffice it to say, if it is good enough for Dr. Weng, it is good enough for me. It most likely was the best choice anyway.

While it's not quite "Full Glory", it's reasonably close to what options Weng Wants from all of this.

I disagree that his choice is the best choice.

Opposition Chief Whip Jurin Laksanavisit said the objectives of charter changes were not clear and questioned if the ruling Pheu Thai Party had a hidden agenda.

Though he did not mention the name, Jurin repeated Pheu Thai MP Weng Tojirakarn's quote that once the charter is amended, ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra would be able to return gracefully.

http://www.thaivisa....ost__p__5085354

Yes on a WENG and a prayer!

Blunder leads to govt losing vote on CDA

The Nation

Panel chairman concedes mistake by failing to check attendance of coalition members

BANGKOK: -- The Pheu Thai Party yesterday made a grave error by neglecting to check the coalition's attendance before a committee vote - and suffered a humiliating defeat on a key clause for the formation of the Constitution Drafting Assembly.

After weeks of fiery vetting of the charter amendment bill, House committee chair Samart Kaewmechai called for a vote on the government-sponsored clause outlining the CDA's formation.

Under the government draft, the CDA will comprise 99 seats, of which 77 will be directly elected to represent each province and 22 are to be picked by Parliament from a pool of academics.

The CDA clause is seen as the lynchpin in framing a new charter.

When the vote was called, Samart failed to notice that a number of Pheu Thai MPs had stepped out of the meeting room. Consequently, the outcome was the dropping of the clause by a 12-to-10 vote despite the coalition's majority in the committee.

The total number of committee members is 45.

The self-inflicted defeat resulted in the committee engaging in a heated debate on the implications of the vote. The committee then adjourned with several unanswered questions.

Samart conceded his mistake in calling the vote without checking attendance.

He was seen huddled with Pheu Thai MPs and making several telephone calls trying to undo the vote.

The Democrats, meanwhile, said the vote was final, arguing that the committee had no choice but to pick one of the nine alternative versions in lieu of the defeated clause.

The alternative versions propose differing formulas for the CDA, all prescribing 150 to 200 seats. The Democrats sponsored seven alternative versions. The remaining two were each sponsored by Senator Jetn Siratharanont and Pheu Thai MP Weng Tojirakarn. Weng proposed all 200 members of the CDA be elected.

Pheu Thai MP Cholnan Srikaew said he believed the committee would call for a re-vote at the next session because the government-sponsored clause could not be dropped since it was integral to and indispensable to the entire draft. However, if the committee cannot vote again, the Pheu Thai camp still has a chance to make changes when the draft is sent to the parliamentary meeting.

-- The Nation 2012-03-29

FAIL

PTP MPs have been chastised repeatedly for their truancy, not attending parliament sessions as it's their duty. So... som naam naa!

Edited March 29, 201214 yr by AleG

"Weng proposed all 200 members of the CDA be elected"

Appointees, especially academic ones, are a problem. For example, some appointees proposed may not be subject to rejection, regardless of their history. It is also a well-known fact that beyond Nitirat, academics by and large come from one side of the political divide.

"Weng proposed all 200 members of the CDA be elected"

Appointees, especially academic ones, are a problem. For example, some appointees proposed may not be subject to rejection, regardless of their history. It is also a well-known fact that beyond Nitirat, academics by and large come from one side of the political divide.

We can't be having knowledgeable people on the CDA if there's a possibility that they won't do what the PTP want.