Charter debate to restart today
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Fears of a rushed reconciliation bill favouring Thaksin
A joint meeting of the two houses of Parliament is scheduled to begin debate this morning on a second reading of a draft about amending the Constitution.
Meanwhile, chief government whip Udomdej Ratanasatien said yesterday he was ready to propose an extension to the Senate-House debate – until Thursday.
The second reading of the draft on constitutional amendment has been scheduled for 9.30am today and tomorrow, with 172 members of Parliament registered to speak. The Democrats have attacked the government for its moves, saying it is trying to rush the issue.
Pheu Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit said after a party meeting that MPs were asked to speak concisely, especially if they plan to make similar points.
First Deputy Senate Speaker Nikom Wairatpanij said the Senate would meet this morning before the House-Senate joint session on charter amendment to discuss the Upper House’s stance.
Nikom said he personally had no problem with the proposed change to Article 291, but he wanted the Constitution Drafting Assembly to have 200 elected members instead of 99 elected and selected ones. Article 291 is about the charter amendment process.
According to the government’s bill, 77 members of the assembly drafting a new charter will come from an election to represent the 77 provinces, while the other 22 would be experts in related fields.
Senator Surachai Liengboonlerschai said the Parliament should extend the discussion time from two days to three because as many as 172 parliamentarians have shown an intention to join the debate.
Surachai said members of the drafting body should come from an election so the government cannot favour its own people. Moreover, qualifications should be specified – such as experts in public laws and experts in political science, etc.
Instead of authorising the House Speaker to decide on a charter draft, Surachai said Parliament should do the job, then send the draft to the Election Commission to conduct a referendum.
If the people disagree with the draft in the referendum, the process should stop, he said.
Surachai said to prevent vote-buying there should be no election campaigning for candidates, who should only be allowed to introduce themselves.
A former charter drafter, Surachai said his group from the 2007 charter drafting process would issue a statement before today’s parliamentary debate.
Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Blue Sky Channel yesterday the current session of Parliament should be closed once the third reading of the charter bill is finished on April 27 or 28.
He said if the second reading is finished by Thursday, the third reading could take place on April 27. But if government MPs still want to extend the session, it was possible they plan to rush and push for a reconciliation law within the session to favour former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
The current parliamentary session was supposed to end on April 18 but the Cabinet has resolved to extend it indefinitely.
Democrat MP Thepthai Senapong said yesterday Pheu Thai MPs should not rush the debate. If it is not finished within two days, it should be extended.
However, Pheu Thai MPs looked to want to rush proceedings so the third reading of the charter draft is finished by the end of April, Thepthai said.
The third reading is required to take place at least 15 days after the draft passes its second reading.
Some observers said Pheu Thai MPs might want to finish the debate within two days so they can share Songkran greetings with Thaksin in Laos on Thursday.
