PAD insists reconciliation bill be pulled
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The People's Alliance for Democracy is reiterating its demand for the withdrawal of the reconciliation bill, saying that the government's decision to suspend deliberation on it is just a ploy to push for the bill's passage at a later date.
“The PAD will immediately resume protesting if and when the reconciliation debate is revived on the House floor,” PAD spokesman Panthep Pourpongpan said yesterday.
He added that PAD would not accept the House resolution to delay the debate in lieu of dropping the bill from the legislative docket. Panthep also called on the House to avoid inflaming the political situation by permanently removing the bill from the agenda.
The House decided on Wednesday to defer debate on the reconciliation bill until it has completed deliberations on 10 other drafts.
PAD co-leader Chamlong Srimuang said the government could face another round of street protests for as long as it refuses to cancel the bill. He added that the PAD would never allow a bill that has been designed to rescue one man – fugitive former PM Thaksin Shinawatra – regardless of the adverse impacts it would have on the rule of law.
In a related development, Democrat MP Thepthai Senapong said House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont should cancel the bill unconditionally.
“Delaying the debate is simply a ploy to buy time and sway the sentiment before pushing the bill through,” he said.
Theptai added that the government was carrying a time bomb because the Opposition would never let it sneak the bill back for a vote on the House floor.
He also called on Somsak to step down and pave the way for the House committee on ethics to convene a hearing on his alleged impartiality.
The Democrat Party earlier petitioned for the hearing citing Somsak’s audio clip as evidence. The clip – a recording of Somsak’s speech to supporters during his birthday party in Phetchabun – outlined his and Thaksin’s role in manipulating legislative affairs.
