Govt 'must push agenda'
Samudcha Hoonsara
The Nation

Pheu Thai can't bow to opposition any longer on amnesty, charter change, infrastructure: party chief

BANGKOK: -- With only two years left on its electoral mandate, delay is not an option for the ruling Pheu Thai Party, which badly needs to push ahead with its planned mega-projects, charter amendment and amnesty bill, party secretary-general Phumtham Wechayachai told reporters on Tuesday.

The government must deliver the policies it promised before the election, despite the many anti-government forces besieging the gates of Government House who are looking to bring the administration down, Phumtham said.

A group of 312 MPs and senators who support constitutional amendment earlier announced their intention to defy the Constitutional Court, which has accepted requests to review the constitutionality of proposed charter-change legislation.

The People's Movement for a Just Society (P-Move) group is currently staging a protest at Government House calling on the government to keep its promises to help farmers and the poor. Another group, calling itself the Thai Patriots and Territory Protection Front, is protesting against the government's positions on constitutional amendment and the Preah Vihear dispute with Cambodia.

The latter group has vowed to continue its protest until Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's government leaves office.

"Earlier, when faced with strong opposition, as if we had run into a wall, we always sought other ways. But although we have chosen alternative ways, we are still blocked," Phumtham said.

"Our party has been pushed to the brink of a ravine. We launched an election campaign saying that we would rewrite the entire charter, but [charter-change] opponents submitted a petition against it and the Constitutional Court ruled that we have to amend the charter one article at a time.

"But when we tried to amend particular articles, the same group submitted another petition to the Constitutional Court, which accepted it by a vote of 3-2. The party did not know how to react because we were already acting on the court's advice, but we still faced obstacles. As a result, we resolved not to accept the court's authority and we had to inform the public that the Constitutional Court is interfering in the work of the legislative branch," Phumtham said.

Pheu Thai has so far failed to keep its pre-poll promises because of this strong opposition, so the party has no choice but to rush to implement the policies, he said.

The Pheu Thai-led government will have to move quickly to implement the comprehensive flood-control projects and develop the railway transport system, or Thailand will be left far behind by other countries, he warned.

Phumtham said Pheu Thai had no choice but to push quickly for enactment of amnesty and charter-amendment bills because its earlier efforts always faced strong opposition, despite the party seeking alternative options.

The secretary-general said Pheu Thai has launched awareness campaigns to explain to the public the need to enact reconciliation and amnesty bills. The campaigns ask people to consider whether the conflicts that date back to 2005 should be ended once and for all.

Phumtham said the government did not regard those on the other side of the political divide as enemies. He urged the government's opponents to stop regarding Pheu Thai as their enemy and said he was ready to hold talks with all sides.

He said Pheu Thai's opponents should be asked why they would not open their minds to talk with Pheu Thai for the sake of the country.


-- The Nation 2013-05-09

It's clear that there are parts of the constitution that cannot be savaged.

Accepting a petition for review is hardly a block.

A reconciliation bill which one side doesn't want simply isn't reconciliation.

As far as I know the Democrats are quite happy to see the red shirts who are alleged to have committed minor crimes released. They are more interested in the leaders and Thaksin in particular. Abhisit and Suthep have also refused amnesty for themselves and it's likely that the relatives of those killed in 2010 would agree. If the government could agree to the release of those merely caught up in the riots and continue with a proper legal process for the rest they may be able to move forward a bit.

delay is not an option for the ruling Pheu Thai Party, which badly needs to push ahead with its planned mega-projects, charter amendment, and amnesty bill, party secretary-general Phumtham Wechayachai told reporters on Tuesday.

Revealing, but unsurprising, that exactly the same 3 points came from the party czar in Dubai when he told reporters last month.

PTP are desperate's of the highest order. They have failed in so many ways and putting the continuing amnesty argument forward is just wasting time and resources. If they were real in any way, they would be handling the issues such as to P-Move who have very valid problems but that does not rate I suppose when compared to getting the criminal back from Dubai (may he Rot In Peace). After all, it is now nepotism to the agenda of dictatorship and amnesty is their stumbling block.

Perhaps someone should explain that a government's legislative desires over-rides their parliamentary opposition (assuming they can get enough MP votes), but not that of the courts and anti-corruption agencies. It's called democracy.

Perhaps someone should explain that a government's legislative desires over-rides their parliamentary opposition (assuming they can get enough MP votes), but not that of the courts and anti-corruption agencies. It's called democracy.

Yeah Mick , saves me writing the same , fully agree, they've lost sight of the big picture, what little they have , that is Democracy.

Our party has been pushed to the brink of a ravine.

Good. Let's hope you fall in soon.

Anyone else noticed a drop in "red" supporters posting's here on TV?

"Our party has been pushed to the brink of a ravine. We launched an election campaign saying that we would rewrite the entire charter, but [charter-change] opponents submitted a petition against it and the Constitutional Court ruled that we have to amend the charter one article at a time.

The only reason that is Mr Party Chief is that your party refused to take the issue of rewriting the charter to a referendum as called for by law.

The government must deliver the policies it promised before the election, despite the many anti-government forces besieging the gates of Government House who are looking to bring the administration down, Phumtham said

Are not those " besieging the gates of Government House" right now demanding that Govt promises be kept?

As per

The People's Movement for a Just Society (P-Move) group is currently staging a protest at Government House calling on the government to keep its promises to help farmers and the poor

"Earlier, when faced with strong opposition, as if we had run into a wall, we always sought other ways.

That's right call out the reds, but it hasn't worked this time for someone didn't pay them.

The way I read this is... Please let us push through big ticket items so that we can fill our pockets before we run out of time.

PS I was born cynical... but reading TV made it a chronic condition.

Anyone else noticed a drop in "red" supporters posting's here on TV?

They're too busy thinking up new usernames.

If the amnesty wasn't a mask to whitewash the criminal conviction and block the outstanding criminal charges against one person, then it woudl have all been agreed. PTPs opponents know full well this is all about being able to bring back Thaksin, continue placing clan members in key positions to negate checks, balances and threats and voila - instant dictatorship.

Why does this clown think the Constitution Court is so named? PTP are desparate because their leader has run out of patience. Democracy isn't on the radar.

Anyone else noticed a drop in "red" supporters posting's here on TV?

They're too busy thinking up new usernames.

Or reality may have dawned!

Anyone else noticed a drop in "red" supporters posting's here on TV?

They're too busy thinking up new usernames.

Or reality may have dawned!

You wish.

It's not only red supporters though.

"Pheu Thai has so far failed to keep its pre-poll promises because of this strong opposition"

Democracy can be tough especially when the party leading the government is not willing to compromise and is being pushed by their parties owner who skypes in orders.

It's so tough when you can't get your own way. Now if PTP really acted as though it was a party - with real cabinet & party discussions allowing real opinions, they might get somewhere. But when they have to obey dictatorial orders from the big cheese and spend so much time with his absolution, they get themselves into a right muddle.

You've made your bed Mr Secretary General (love the meaningless title) now sleep in it.

Well they could form a mob and demand the change or threaten to hold their breath until they turn "red".

"BANGKOK: -- With only two years left on its electoral mandate, delay is not an option for the ruling Pheu Thai Party, which badly needs to push ahead with its planned mega-projects, charter amendment and amnesty bill, party secretary-general Phumtham Wechayachai told reporters on Tuesday.
The government must deliver the policies it promised before the election, despite the many anti-government forces besieging the gates of Government House who are looking to bring the administration down, Phumtham said....We launched an election campaign saying that we would rewrite the entire charter,"

I cant recall this being an election promise.........

PTP election promises

A national minimum daily wage of Bt300 ($10) nationally
Universal medical care with patients making a co-payment of Bt30 ($1) per consultation
Credit cards for farmers and a guaranteed price of Bt15,000 – Bt20,000 ($488 – $651) per ton for unmilled rice
A moratorium for household debt up to Bt500,000 ($16,285) per household, with emphasis on debt reduction for teachers, farmers and civil servants
A minimum monthly salary of Bt15,000 ($500) for university graduates and a “One Tablet-PC per Child” project for school children
A 23.3 per cent reduction in corporate tax rates in the first year (from 30 to 20 percent) with a further 13 percent reduction in its second year to a flat 20 percent.
Reduced taxes for first home and first car buyers
A standard Bt20 (65 cent) fare for all Bangkok’s mass transit rail lines (MRT)
High-speed rail lines linking major provincial cities in the north, northeast, east and upper south regions
Rural village development funds of between Bt300,000 and Bt1 million ($9,770 – $32,573) per year
A welfare allowance of Bt600 ($19.55) per month for citizens over 60, increasing by Bt100 ($3.20) at 70, and 80, and rising by a further Bt200 ($6.40) at 90.
Free Wi-Fi and Internet access in public places
30km (18.8 mile) of levees to protect Bangkok and satellite towns from Gulf of Thailand tidal surges.
Special administrative status for Muslim provinces in the violence-plagued southern provinces
A war on drugs
Amnesty for political offenses committed since 2006
Read more: Thailand economy ignored in the 2011 Thailand general election - Thainess http://photo-journ.com/thainess-the-economy-the-2011-thailand-general-election/#ixzz2So4CemJI

Hmmm cant see any charter amendments there. However, there are a few still unfulfilled or partially done.

Anyone else noticed a drop in "red" supporters posting's here on TV?

That's right call out the reds, but it hasn't worked this time for someone didn't pay them.

same reason I guess

Anyone else noticed a drop in "red" supporters posting's here on TV?

Maybe Mr. T stopped paying for their internet access.

Anyone else noticed a drop in "red" supporters posting's here on TV?

Saving their energy for the 100,000 red rally next week?

"BANGKOK: -- With only two years left on its electoral mandate, delay is not an option for the ruling Pheu Thai Party, which badly needs to push ahead with its planned mega-projects, charter amendment and amnesty bill, party secretary-general Phumtham Wechayachai told reporters on Tuesday.

The government must deliver the policies it promised before the election, despite the many anti-government forces besieging the gates of Government House who are looking to bring the administration down, Phumtham said....We launched an election campaign saying that we would rewrite the entire charter,"

I cant recall this being an election promise.........

PTP election promises

A national minimum daily wage of Bt300 ($10) nationally

Universal medical care with patients making a co-payment of Bt30 ($1) per consultation

Credit cards for farmers and a guaranteed price of Bt15,000 – Bt20,000 ($488 – $651) per ton for unmilled rice

A moratorium for household debt up to Bt500,000 ($16,285) per household, with emphasis on debt reduction for teachers, farmers and civil servants

A minimum monthly salary of Bt15,000 ($500) for university graduates and a “One Tablet-PC per Child” project for school children

A 23.3 per cent reduction in corporate tax rates in the first year (from 30 to 20 percent) with a further 13 percent reduction in its second year to a flat 20 percent.

Reduced taxes for first home and first car buyers

A standard Bt20 (65 cent) fare for all Bangkok’s mass transit rail lines (MRT)

High-speed rail lines linking major provincial cities in the north, northeast, east and upper south regions

Rural village development funds of between Bt300,000 and Bt1 million ($9,770 – $32,573) per year

A welfare allowance of Bt600 ($19.55) per month for citizens over 60, increasing by Bt100 ($3.20) at 70, and 80, and rising by a further Bt200 ($6.40) at 90.

Free Wi-Fi and Internet access in public places

30km (18.8 mile) of levees to protect Bangkok and satellite towns from Gulf of Thailand tidal surges.

Special administrative status for Muslim provinces in the violence-plagued southern provinces

A war on drugs

Amnesty for political offenses committed since 2006

Read more: Thailand economy ignored in the 2011 Thailand general election - Thainess http://photo-journ.com/thainess-the-economy-the-2011-thailand-general-election/#ixzz2So4CemJI

Hmmm cant see any charter amendments there. However, there are a few still unfulfilled or partially done.

Oh heck, don't fact check him, he's on a roll,

and the transcript is being sent to Dubai!