Senate debate set for this weekend

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Senate will hold a general debate on the government this weekend, dismissing concern the parliamentary meeting will turn into turmoil because it coincides with an anti-government rally.

Senate Speaker Nikom Waiyaratpanit said the agenda for the debate against the government without voting had been endorsed and would be on November 23-24.

If no single minister turned up at the meeting and the Senate agreed to continue the debate without them, the meeting would continue. Otherwise the Senate would discuss legislation and law amendments on the agenda and continue the general debate on November 28, after the no-confidence vote.

He said the Senate had sent their plan on the general debate to government whips last week and expected an answer by today.

The speaker dismissed concern that an anti-government rally by the Pitak Siam group would turn violent, saying Senators were not the target of the group's attack.

Senate Deputy Speaker Surachai Liangbunlert said the government must honour the Senate by attending the debate. "The PM has always said she wants to see problems discussed in Parliament and not outside. We are giving the government the chance to explain its administration in Parliament and to the public.

"If the government attends the general debate on the weekend, it gains, as the debate will give them a rehearsal for the censure debate."

He said he had been following reports about the Pitak Siam rally and they had said they would not move their rally to Parliament.

"We are ready to adjust the plan if there is incident on the weekend. We have to be cautious, as we do not want to be linked with the anti-government group,'' he said.

-- The Nation 2012-11- 20

Sounds more like a point of refuge rather than a debate agenda.