Democrat-led chaos on House floor was unavoidable: Abhisit
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Members of the Democrat Party had no choice but to be rude in order to block a dangerous legislative move that could bring the country to ruin, party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday.
“Insolence on the part of the Democrats was unavoidable because they were denied the right to speak on the House floor,” he said.
Abhisit went on to say that the chaos in the House of Representatives on Wednesday and Thursday had happened because the ruling coalition refused to let the opposition air its dissenting opinions on the draft provisions for national reconciliation.
“Certain academics reminded the Democrats to abide by the majority vote, but I think the majority rule does not apply to nor sanction the other side’s bullying the opposition to abuse the legislative process,” he said.
The fracas between Democrat and Pheu Thai MPs broke out after House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont decided to give the reconciliation draft top priority without allowing for the issue to be debated first.
The Democrat Party leader said the prime minister should take the lead in resolving differences over the draft instead of trying to skirt the issue.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra cannot deny that there is a conflict of interest in the proposed amnesty bill, because she has a Bt900-million stake in the Bt46 billion in assets seized from her brother Thaksin, Abhisit said.
He went on to insist that the draft should be deliberated upon as a financial issue, because the government would be obliged to return the seized assets. Although the 35 House committees voted to classify the draft as a non-fiscal issue, this decision was arbitrary, he said.
As for the rallies being held in protest of the draft, he said he hoped they would encourage the Parliament to resolve the differences. However, Abhisit denied Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung’s allegations that the Democrats were backing the protests led by the yellow-shirt People’s Alliance for Democracy.
Pheu Thai Party spokesman Promphong Nopparit has also said that the Democrats under Abhisit’s leadership have brought shame to Parliament.
Promphong has also promised to spearhead an impeachment drive against certain Democrats, including Rangsima Rodrasamee, Warong Dechgitvikrom and Apichat Supapang.
Meanwhile, Deputy Agriculture Minister Natthawut Saikua said Abhisit should quit the Democrat Party because of his role in trying to undermine Parliament.
“Abhisit’s action was meant to destroy Parliament,” he said, adding that the Democrat leader wanted |to make it appear as if mainstream politics had failed in order to pave the way for an intervention to usurp power.
Thaksin’s legal adviser Noppadol Pattama said Abhisit and Democrat MP Suthep Thaugsuban had shown their true colours – they were not democracy advocates but opportunists who wanted to grab power regardless of the means and consequences.
