Thai Charter Review: Activists Call On Court To Halt Article 190 Change

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CHARTER REVIEW
Activists call on court to halt Article 190 change
Khanittha Thepphajorn,
Chanikarn Phumhirun
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A group of activists yesterday asked the Constitutional Court to halt the planned amendment of Article 190 of the charter, while an academic filed a complaint with police against the court's judges.

The United Front for Solving National Crises, led by Boworn Yasinthorn, submitted a petition to the Constitutional Court accusing the Parliament president and 315 MPs and senators of violating the charter in relation to the bill that seeks to amend Article 190. The change would remove the requirement that the government seek Parliament's approval before establishing the framework of negotiations with foreign governments. The amendment was also aimed at freeing the government from having to hold public hearings on negotiations with foreign governments.

In the petition, Boworn's group alleged that those pushing for the amendment had dishonest intentions; that the move would affect the public; and that it was against Article 68 of the Constitution. The group asked the court to issue an order to stop amendment process.

The bill to amend Article 190 and two other bills have passed their first readings and are pending deliberation in a second reading by Parliament.

In a related development, Worapol Prommikkabutr, a lecturer at Thammasat University in sociology and anthropology, filed a complaint with the Crime Suppres-sion Division against the Constitutional Court judges.

Worapol alleged the judges violated Article 166 of the Criminal Code by accepting a petition against the ongoing amendment of Article 68. He said Article 166 bars anyone from interfering with the work of the authorities and from damaging that work.

In a separate development, the House committee vetting charter amendment yesterday scrutinised the proposed amendment of provisions regarding the roles and responsibilities of senators.

A group of Democrat MPs and senators proposed that senators be deprived of some roles and responsibilities to prevent them from teaming up with MPs to launch an impeachment drive against the Supreme Court president. Democrats and senators agreed that not only should all senators be elected, but also that their roles and responsibilities be changed. Currently, some senators are appointed.

Democrat party-list MP Nipon Bunyamani said change was needed to prevent politicians from resorting to voting majorities to launch impeachment proceedings against officials in independent agencies and state agencies, such as the Supreme Court president.

Appointed Senator Weerawit Kongsak said the role of a senator is to balance the power of MPs if they join forces with other MPs to carry out any political activity, meaning the country's checks and balances would run into a snag.


-- The Nation 2013-04-24

[Locationthailand]

About time there was some sensibility to the nepotism of this government and future governments.

"... agreed that not only should all senators be elected, but also that their roles and responsibilities be changed. "

[Thai at Heart]

The United Front for Solving National Crises,

The UFSNC? Where the hell did this thing come from?

Then reading on, it is how many court cases? 4

[rubl]

Worapol alleged the judges violated Article 166 of the Criminal Code by accepting a petition against the ongoing amendment of Article 68. He said Article 166 bars anyone from interfering with the work of the authorities and from damaging that work.

Aren't courts part of what can be described as 'authorities'? Is it really unlawful to petition a court to investigate and rule on a given situation? No wonder a red-shirt faction doesn't petition but demands and is blocking a court and threatens them with impeachment. They're just trying to stay within the law of course :-)

[backtonormal]

Boworn Yasinthorn...The United Front for Solving National Crises, led by Boworn Yasinthorn...Also... People’s Volunteer Network for the Protection of the Monarchy, led by Boworn Yasintorn . Another Amart paid for crackpot. Using the same things to hopefully prick the nations (not the newspaper) conscience. Just another Facist Gob <deleted>. All I can say is "Shut your Pie Hole nobody is listening"