Parties trade blame over House ruckus; 5 Democrat MPs face ethics probe
Play
The ruling Pheu Thai Party and the opposition Democrat Party are seeking action against MPs from their opposing camps for alleged violation of ethics codes following last week's commotion during a House of Representatives meeting.
Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit said yesterday the party would on Friday request the Lower House’s ethics committee, which is chaired by House Speaker Somsak Kiartsuranond, to investigate the five Democrat MPs he said committed “improper conduct” during the meetings last Thursday and Friday.
The spokesman said Democrat MPs Apichart Supapaeng, Pongvech Vejjajiva and Thani Thaugsuban manhandled the speaker when they tried to pull him out of his chairman’s seat. He also accused Democrat MPs Rangsima Rodrassami and Warong Dejkitwikrom of improper conduct. Rangsima tried to remove the speaker’s seat while Warong threw meeting documents at the speaker.
Prompong said if the House panel found the allegation to be convincing, it was likely to forward the matter to the Ombudsman’s Office for impeachment of the Democrat MPs.
“This move is to protect the dignity of the Parliament,” the spokesman said. He also called on Democrat and opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva to apologise to the public and investigate the Democrat MPs.
“If he takes no action, it means he was behind all the incidents,” the spokesman said. He called on Abhisit to resign to take responsibility for what happened.
Abhisit had said the Democrats resorted to the aggressive tactic after the speaker failed to heed protests by opposition MPs. He said the move was aimed at protecting the country’s interest, as the government was pushing for a law that would absolve former premier Thaksin Shinawatra and others of their criminal offences.
Democrat MP Boonyod Sukthinthai yesterday said that in order to avoid allegations of double standards, Pheu Thai should also seek an investigation into Somsak’s alleged violation of the ethics code in chairing the House meetings.
He said that if Pheu Thai MPs did not do so, the Democrats would seek such an investigation against the House Speaker, who is an MP from Pheu Thai.
Senior Democrat MP Ong-art Klampaiboon yesterday called on the Speaker to perform his duty straightforwardly and in accordance with the House meeting regulations in order to avoid a repeat of last week’s commotion.
