Govt has mixed feelings as charter ruling looms
Play
The Pheu Thai Party is bracing for an unfavourable verdict on charter change, MP Phiraphan Phalusuk said yesterday, while voicing optimism that Friday's decision would not result in a worst-case scenario leading to party dissolution.
“I hope the verdict will bring peace and help the [community] to advance,” he said, though conceding there might be a setback for the charter amendment bill.
Phiraphan said in the closing statement, the ruling party reaffirmed that the proposed charter rewrite had not violated the ban against the toppling of democratic rule, as determined by Article 68 of the Constitution. Violation of the ban was tantamount to treason but there was no evidence that such a violation had taken place, he said.
Somjet Boonthanom, one of the five complainants against the bill, said his written closing statement, to be submitted today, would sum up his testimony. He would highlight how the bill was designed to rescue fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra. He insisted the first and second readings of the bill could be construed as tangible action to undo the Constitution, rebutting a defence argument the complainants brought up imaginary charges since no actual changes had been enacted.
Another complainant, Varin Thiemcharas, said his closing statement would point out that Parliament had no mandate to form the Constitution Drafting Assembly to overhaul the political system.
Varin said he would also argue that Article 68 of the Constitution has allowed individuals, such as himself, to bypass the Attorney General and put cases to the court.
