Call to air charter testimony

 

“This case is of great interested to the people,” Vicharn said.

 

He dismissed an allegation by amendment opponents that writing a new charter would allow the creation of a new political system and the dissolution of independent agencies that are part of the current Constitution’s checks-and-balances system.

 

It is very rare for a Thai court to have its hearings broadcast on national TV, although closed-circuit TV broadcasts of verdict readings within a court’s compound are not uncommon.

 

The Pheu Thai and Chart Thai Pattana parties, the two largest coalition partners, are among the defendants in the case, brought separately by five groups, including political activists and opposition politicians.

 

The Constitution Court will not hand down a verdict in the case this week, its the court’s chief spokesman Pimon Thammapitakpong said yesterday.

 

Yesterday was the last day the court accepted submissions of additional documents from the two sides, and of written testimony from witnesses. However, the spokesman said, it was likely the court would extend the deadline for witnesses who failed to complete their necessary paperwork by yesterday.

 

The spokesman yesterday confirmed that Anand Panyarachun, chairman of the drafting committee of the 1997 constitution, was withdrawn as a witness by one of the petitioners, Senator Somjet Boonthanom. Pimon added, however, that the court has the authority to summon the former premier to act as a witness. 

 

Most of the 15 others listed as witnesses by complainants were members of the drafting assemblies for the last two constitutions – 1997 and the current charter. Opposition and Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva is also on the list. 

 

The defendants have named four witnesses including Pheu Thai leader Yongyuth Wichaidit, Pheu Thai secretary-general Jarupong Ruangsuwan, former constitution drafting assembly member Bokin Palakula, and House of Representatives secretary-general Pitoon Pumhirun, according to the court’s spokesman. 

 

Yongyuth, who is also deputy premier and interior minister, yesterday insisted that the government-sponsored charter-amendment bills were not aimed at changing the country’s democratic regime with the King as head of state. He said it was unlikely for the entire Constitution to be changed by a drafting assembly to be formed after the amendment is completed.

 

Democrat Party lawyer Rames Ratanachaweng yesterday submitted to the court Abhisit’s 17-page testimony as a witness for one of the complainants, Democrat MP Wirut Kalayasiri. Additional documents were also submitted to support Wirut’s case. 

 

Rames said written testimonies were submitted yesterday for Wirut’s other witnesses, who include former constitution drafters Chirmsak Pinthong and Watchara Hongprapat.

 

Regarding a planned protest by the red shirts at the Constitution Court on Thursday and Friday, the Democrat lawyer yesterday called on the prime minister to ensure that the law is applied to everyone fairly, including the government’s supporters. He called on all the parties involved to respect any verdict by the court.

 

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who is a member of Pheu Thai but holds no executive post in the party, yesterday called on the Constitution Court to “make the judgement fairly and base their decision on facts”.

 

When asked to comment on moves by the government’s red-shirt supporters to pressure the court, Yingluck said they have the right to hold public rallies under the law.