Somsak Calls For All Sides To Discuss Changes To Thai Charter

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POLITICS

Somsak calls for all sides to discuss changes to charter

THE NATION

Somsak

BANGKOK: -- Parliament president Somsak Kiatsuranont plans to call a meeting of the government, the opposition and Senate whips to discuss which Articles of the Constitution - bar those related to the monarchy - need to be changed.

Wattana Sengpairoh, a spokesperson for Somsak, made this announcement yesterday.

He said the president hoped the people concerned would be able to meet before the next session of parliament opens on August 1.

Somsak's deputy, Charoen Jankomol, said prior to a meeting with 416 MPs and senators who voted in support of the charter amendment, that he would ask the Constitution Court to drop its case against them. He said a complaint filed against them by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) leader Chamlong Srimuang, was the same in essence as the case the court ruled on and dis?missed last Friday.

He said in his opinion, the court's ruling was based on personal opinions with no binding effect. Therefore, the Parliament should be able to proceed with a third reading of the amendment bill. However, he wanted to ask parliamentarians first whether there should be a national referendum before vote in the third reading.

Meanwhile, opposition chief whip Jurin Laksanawisit said it would boycott the vote if the government pushed on with a third reading of the charter amendment bill as it could be against the law.

Jurin said he personally wanted the government to stop amending the charter - the complete rewrite or article-by-article - as it could cause a new round of conflict. He also disagreed with changing Article 68 to curb the power of the Constitution Court and Article 309, which was a provision protecting the 2006 coupmakers.

-- The Nation 2012-07-18

[Yunla]

He said in his opinion, the court's ruling was based on personal opinions

Somsak's opinion is no longer of any importance to Thailand. Somsak is currently under an impeachment action, and has been caught on tape committing treasonous acts in his role as House Speaker, by taking orders from unelected foreign powers on matters of Thai state affairs. Somsak's opinions on the earlier court ruling or any other state business are completely meaningless, as he is a thoroughly discredited and corrupt figure, who will be impeached in due course.

On the Charter, since the Constitution belongs to the people, there should be a public referendum to ask the Thai people what they want, before any changes are made. It would require an independent regulatory body, to keep any public referendum as transparent as possible.

However, I agree with Jurin, that the best thing would be to leave it alone entirely, for PTP to drop its constitutional changes and withdraw its 'unity bills' too, and get on with some actual real parliamentary work instead, work to actually improve Thailand's infrastructure and begin a concerted anti-corruption drive on all levels. In my opinion this critical infrastructure policy work is what PTP should have started a year ago during their first week in office, and worked tirelessly on every day since.

Edited July 17, 2012 by Yunla

[Reasonableman]

A minor but necessary correction: The Constitution Court does not have a "case against them". The court is deliberating on a case before it.

[rubl]

Parliament president Somsak Kiatsuranont plans to call a meeting of the government, the opposition and Senate whips to discuss which Articles of the Constitution - bar those related to the monarchy - need to be changed.

'to discuss articles which need to be changed' Now if only the government would have been more forthcoming in what it planned to do. A blanket 'rewrite' obviously worked like a red flag on a bull

[ramrod711]

It clearly isn't fair that the constitution was altered (article 309) to protect coupmakers and the courts won't allow changes to protect arsonists. The solution is easy, accept the 1997 constitution as binding, drop the 2006 constitution and allow all of them to be prosecuted. I wonder how many red shirts would support that?

[Skywalker69]

Has he talked to the man "afar" again?

[Yunla]

Has he talked to the man "afar" again?

They won't be so 'afar' when they are both thrown in the same dirty cage for years and years. They can catch up on old times and get some real bonding action going on.

[Skywalker69]

Has he talked to the man "afar" again?

They won't be so 'afar' when they are both thrown in the same dirty cage for years and years. They can catch up on old times and get some real bonding action going on.

It can´t come soon enough, for the sake of Thailand.

[Moruya]

It clearly isn't fair that the constitution was altered (article 309) to protect coupmakers and the courts won't allow changes to protect arsonists. The solution is easy, accept the 1997 constitution as binding, drop the 2006 constitution and allow all of them to be prosecuted. I wonder how many red shirts would support that?

Sounds very good to me. The reds won't agree though, it's way too fair to all parties.

First Somsak wants to stomp the Democrats to death, now he wants to picnic with them.

[saltandpepper]

Has he talked to the man "afar" again?

They won't be so 'afar' when they are both thrown in the same dirty cage for years and years. They can catch up on old times and get some real bonding action going on.

It's not going to happen, ever!

[Dap]

He said in his opinion, the court's ruling was based on personal opinions

Somsak's opinion is no longer of any importance to Thailand. Somsak is currently under an impeachment action, and has been caught on tape committing treasonous acts in his role as House Speaker, by taking orders from unelected foreign powers on matters of Thai state affairs. Somsak's opinions on the earlier court ruling or any other state business are completely meaningless, as he is a thoroughly discredited and corrupt figure, who will be impeached in due course.

On the Charter, since the Constitution belongs to the people, there should be a public referendum to ask the Thai people what they want, before any changes are made. It would require an independent regulatory body, to keep any public referendum as transparent as possible.

However, I agree with Jurin, that the best thing would be to leave it alone entirely, for PTP to drop its constitutional changes and withdraw its 'unity bills' too, and get on with some actual real parliamentary work instead, work to actually improve Thailand's infrastructure and begin a concerted anti-corruption drive on all levels. In my opinion this critical infrastructure policy work is what PTP should have started a year ago during their first week in office, and worked tirelessly on every day since.

Ideally, I agree, but unfortunately, ain't never gonna happen. This is all way too removed from their agenda.

[Dap]

Has he talked to the man "afar" again?

They won't be so 'afar' when they are both thrown in the same dirty cage for years and years. They can catch up on old times and get some real bonding action going on.

Once again, unfortunately ain't never gonna' happen.