Major Political Parties Call For Constitutional Reform

[Jai Dee]

4 Major Parties of Thailand to Sign Ratification for Political Reforms

The Chart Thai Party has finally signed the ratification drawn up by the Opposition calling for joint political reforms by four major political parties of Thailand.

After some indecisive hours, Chart Thai leader Banharn Silpa-archa has agreed to join other Opposition parties -- Democrat and Mahachon -- in calling for the ruling Thai Rak Thai Party to join them in a discussion to reform the Constitution.

Following joint discussions between the Chart Thai, Democrat, and Mahachon parties today, Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva, the leader of the Democrat Party, and Major General Sanan Kajornprasat, leader of the Mahachon Party issued a press release indicating the direction taken by their parties. Mr. Abhisit stated that his party will move ahead in pressing for political reforms, and will present a request to Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to participate in these discussions, which will also involve signing of a ratification for the 4 major political parties.

Earlier, Mr. Nikorn Chamnong and Mr. Somsak Prisananantakul, deputy leaders of the Chart Thai Party affirmed that the party would follow the ratification.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 26 Febuary 2006

[TAWP]

Is it the 90day-rule they want to change?

The election then just might blow up in Mr Ts face if he either refuse to agree to change it (that's election propaganda right there) or if he does and several TRT-MPs starts to walk off into their own fractions.

[Jai Dee]

Chart Thai party submitted a seperate declaration on political reforms to the PM.

Chart Thai party submitted a separate declaration on political reforms to the Prime Minister, after an internal discussion with party leaders.

Chart Thai party leader Banharn Silapa-archa (บรรหาร ศิลปอาชา) said that he has discussed with other opposition parties about whether the party will field candidates in this election, but he requested a day to consider the matter. However, he was informed that Democrat party and Mahachon party have submitted a draft declaration on political reforms to Prime Minister Thaksin Shinnawat yesterday, calling for constitutional amendments. He said that he believed that constitutional amendments cannot be carried out as the House has been dissolved. In addition, he said the joint declaration by the Democrat and Mahachon parties does not specify that neutral parties should be appointed to supervise constitutional amendments.

After an internal discussion, Mr. Banharn said that the Chart Thai party has drafted a separate dedclaration to the premier, saying that political reforms are urgently needed. The declaration stated that the best way out to the political crisis is for political parties which have MPs in the previous parliament should sign a declaration for constitutional amendments on Article 313, by nominating neutral parties to supervise the process. The meeting will be proposed today.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 27 Febuary 2006

[Jai Dee]

Opposition parties have submitted a draft of declaration on political reforms to PM.

Deputy Chart Thai leader Somsak Prissananantakul (สมศักดิ์ ปริศนานันทกุล) indicated that the opposition parties have submitted a draft of declaration to the prime minister to consider proposals on political reforms by amending the Constitution.

Mr. Somsak revealed after consulting with the Democrat party and Mahachon party that the three opposition parties have agreed to submit a joint letter calling for the constitutional amendment on Article 313. He said that the three parties have drafted a declaration to present to Prime Minister Thaksin Shinnawat, inviting him for a discussion on political reforms today.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 27 Febuary 2006

PM said he won't block political reforms.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinnawat insists that he will not block attempts to initiate political reforms, but said that the reforms must be based on reality.

Prime Minister Thaksin said that he has no reasons to hinder political reforms. However, he reiterated that political reforms must be based on reality, not some people’s feelings. As for the proposals by the opposition to sign a declaration on constitutional amendments, the premier said that he has not studied the details. However, Mr. Pokin Palakul (โภคิน พลกุล) and Mr. Pongtep Tepkarnjana (พงษ์เทพ เทพกาญจนา) has been assigned to look at the proposals.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 27 Febuary 2006

[Jai Dee]

Prime Minister declined to comment on the signing of 4-party ratification to foster political reform, but said this will be discussed at his party today

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has declined to comment on the signing of a 4-party ratification to foster political reform.

Prime Minister Thaksin arrived at Government House normal as usual but instead of using the usual door, he entered the Government House using the door located across the Ministry of Education, as a group of farmers were blocking the way. When asked about the joint signing of ratification to reform politics, proposed by the Democrat, Chart Thai, and Mahachon parties, Mr. Thaksin only said that this would have to be discussed at his party today.

Thai Rak Thai Party is scheduled to hold a meeting at about 3.30 pm this afternoon.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 27 Febuary 2006

[Jai Dee]

Legal experts of Thai Rak Thai are converging to determine whether the party will sign proposed 4-party joint ratification

Legal experts in the Thai Rak Thai Party are converging to determine whether whether the party will join the signing of the ratification proposed by Opposition parties, and will report to the prime minister before a decision is made at 3.30 pm this afternoon.

Since morning, Thai Rak Thai legal experts comprising Former Parliament President Bhokin Balakula (โภคิน พลกุล), Deputy Prime Minister Wisanu Khrua_ngarm (วิษณุ เครืองาม), and Mr. Phongthep Thepkanjana (พงษ์เทพ เทพกาญจนา) entered discussion to consider whether the Thai Rak Thai party will join in the signing of the ratification for political reform proposed by the Democrat, Mahachon, and Chart Thai parties.

The Opposition parties are demanding to receive the answer by today. The result of the legal personnel's meeting will be reported to party leader Thaksin Shinawatra by 3.30 this afternoon, in order for him to decide whether to sign the ratification.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 27 Febuary 2006

[Jai Dee]

Khunying Sudarat admits that she has been asked to join in the signing of the ratification

Deputy Thai Rak Thai party leader Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan (คุณหญิง สุดารัตน์ เกยุราพันธุ์), said she has been asked to participate in the signing of the ratification for political reform.

Khunying Sudarat said that her party supports ideas on political reform as the government has assigned lecturers to discuss and study over this matter. Therefore, the Opposition’s demand is not different from Thai Rak Thai party, but the government has to consider the matter thoroughly before implementation.

At the same time, she disclosed that other party has requested her to join in the signing of the ratification which she said that she has to discuss with her members first.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 27 Febuary 2006

[Jai Dee]

Thaksin mulls meeting with opposition

Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will decide this afternoon whether to accept a proposal by the opposition alliance to sign a joint declaration on political reforms.

Asked by reporters whether he would attend a proposed meeting today with leaders of the three opposition parties to discuss a joint stance on amending the Constitution, Thaksin said he would consult his Thai Rak Thai Party’s executives later this afternoon.

Leaders of the three opposition parties – Abhisit Vejjajiva of the Democrat Party, Banhan Silapa-archa of Chart Thai and Maj-Gen Sanan Kachornprasart of Mahachon – have asked Thaksin to meet today to negotiate how best to move forward with amending the Constitution in order to bring about important political reforms.

The opposition leaders are pushing for Thaksin’s commitment after they backed down from an earlier threat to boycott the April 2 snap election.

The Democrat leader proposed that leaders of the four parties sign a joint declaration to proceed with constitutional amendments under Article 313 of the current charter, which delegates the task of amending the Constitution to a neutral panel of seven people appointed by His Majesty the King.

Although TRT may agree to the broad thrust of constitutional changes, senior party officials have voiced different opinions on how best to proceed with the task.

The differences between TRT and the opposition parties are expected to be thrashed out if Thaksin agrees to the proposed meeting.

Source: ThaiDay - 27 Feb 2006

[Jai Dee]

Democrat Party Secretary-General has demanded TRT leader to join in the political reform meeting by himself

Democrat Party Secretary-General Suthep Thuagsuban (สุเทพ เทือกสุบรรณ) has demanded Thai Rak Thai Party Leader Thaksin Shinawatra to take part in the meeting on political reform by himself, while affirming that the Chart Thai Party’s stance is to join the Opposition in this political movement.

Mr. Suthep said that Prime Minister Thaksin should be the negotiator on the signing of the ratification for political reform by himself, and he should not send other representative from his party. He said if the TRT Party fails to respond, the three opposition parties will discuss this issue again regardless of their different views, and added that the Democrat Party would respect the meeting’s resolution. He stated that the signing of ratification have been proposed by only four political parties. However, the Opposition is willing to hear other ideas from different people.

Apart from the news of Chart Thai Party might be on the government’s side, the Democrat Party Secretary-General has confirmed that the Chart Thai Party has the same standpoint as the Opposition. He has given the reason that Chart Thai Party Leader Banharn Silapa-archa (บรรหาร ศิลปอาชา) would always send his representative to join the meetings between the Opposition meetings if he could not attend them.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 27 Febuary 2006

[cclub75]

Is it the 90day-rule they want to change?

Apparently no, the article 313 speaks about the way to amend the Constitution (only MP and senators right now).

The opposition would like to open the way to amend if... 250 000 people sign a petition.

In a way, it's a smart move from the opposition, even if the figure is ridiculously too low (I mean, we could have constitution amendement every monday morning...).

But it opens the way, after, for more deeply changes of the constitution, in not a favorable way for Thaksin : like for instance the 90 days rule, or the minimum number of MP to vote the censure of the governement...

Still, it's unlikely that the people will understand this proposal and its consequences.

[Jai Dee]

Thai Citizen Party is asking to participate in the signing of the ratification for political reform

The head of the Thai Citizen Party is asking to participate in the signing of the ratification for political reform, as proposed by the Opposition.

Mr. Sumit Sunthorawet (สุมิตร สุนทรเวช), the head of the Thai Citizen Party, and five party members arrived at Thai Rak Thai Party at 11:30 hours to inquire about the signing of the ratification for political reform, which was proposed by the Opposition parties. Mr. Sumit said many registered political parties are not having roles in this reform, and the Thai Citizen Party would like to also sign this ratification as it wanted to participate in truly reforming politics.

Thai Rak Thai Party administrative directors Suranand Vejajiva (สุรนันทน์ เวชชาชีวะ) and Sansanee Narkphong (ศันสนีย์ นาคพงษ์) received Mr. Sumit and said that Thai Rak Thai has not yet decided whether to join in the declaration, but they have agreed that other political parties should participate as well.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 27 Febuary 2006

[Jai Dee]

TRT leader called a meeting of political parties on constitutional amendments yesterday.

Thai Rak Thai party leader Thaksin Shinnawat made offers to political parties to make a social contract on Constitutional amendments after the general elections.

Prime Minister Thaksin held a meeting with other political parties at the parliament at 6PM yesterday to find ways to set up a central committee to conduct political reforms. Leading members of the Thai Rak Thai party such as Pokin Palakul (โภคิน พลกุล), Khunying Sudarat Keyurapan (สุดารัตน์ เกยุราพันธ์), and Pongtep Tepkarnjana (พงศ์เทพ เทพกาญจนา) also attended the meeting.

Prime Minister Thaksin said that all political parties have the right to field candidates in the election, adding that the proposals by the Democrat party, the Mahachon party, and the Chart Thai party call for a new round of political reforms by amending Article 313 of the Constitution, adding that neutral parties should be appointed to supervise the amendments. He said that Thai Rak Thai agrees on the issue and wants to invite all registered political parties to sign a social contract that after the election, they will conduct political reforms.

However, the caretaker premier admitted that the format of the amendments may be different, but he said that the differences can be ironed out in parliament after the election. However, he said that a social contract is more important than a joint declaration, as it gives the people assurances that the political reforms will absolutely be carried out.

Mr. Thaksin said that political parties which did not attend the meeting yesterday can sign the social contract later, adding that the document will be given to secretary-general of the Senate. He said that after the elections, the political parties that have signed the social contract jointly amend Article 313 of the Constitution, paving a way for political reforms.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 28 Febuary 2006

[Jai Dee]

Continued discussion and news bulletins on this subject can be found in this thread.

/Closed.