Many fear charter-related crisis: poll
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Idea of electing all senators has support, but 67% believe govt's push to change Constitution might end in violence
Fewer than half the respondents to a recent survey by Abac Poll approved a move to amend the Constitution, with many believing the attempt could bring about a political crisis because the change would be geared for politicians’ interests and not that of the Kingdom.
Of 2,298 respondents, 67 per cent feared charter amendment might result in political violence; 41 per cent believed the government was running the country with difficulty under the current charter, (but 30 per cent did not believe so); and 44 per cent believed it was a good time to amend the charter, while 29 per cent did not believe so.
However, 70 per cent agreed with amending the charter to remove appointed senators; 62 per cent believed the current charter was good enough at protecting people’s basic rights; and 47 per cent believed politicians benefited from the charter change, not members of the public.
Green group coordinator Suriyasai Katasila said it would not be easy for the coalition parties to take a short cut to amend the charter by resorting to their voting majority because all 17 previous charters received public approval through referendum.
He said the ruling Pheu Thai Party must seek a public referendum to determine if people across the country approved the charter amendment. Besides, Article 122 of the Constitution also banned MPs and senators from carrying out their duties with conflicts of interest. He said he believed MPs and senators teamed up to decide who should endorse their signatures supporting amendment of provisions which do not concern them, to prevent being charged with violating Article 122.
The Green group is planning to file a petition seeking a Constitution Court ruling if the charter amendment is in violation of Article 122. The group is also transcribing taped scripts of all lawmakers who took to the House floor and would file complaints with the National Anti-Corruption Commission if they are believed to have violated the law.
Meanwhile Democrat party-list MP Ongart Klampaiboon called on government MPs to respect the Opposition and give it a chance to carry out their parliamentary duty. He said the government resorted to a majority vote to close the House session even though the Opposition still had time left to debate, as agreed over time allotment.
He cited the occasion when House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont resolved that the number of days House committees should scrutinise the charter amendment bills was 15. This was not lawful, because at that time the House lacked a quorum. He said Somsak must recall a House meeting to set things right, otherwise the Opposition would seek a Constitution Court ruling which would delay the amendment process.
Ongart added that Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra should show leadership by solving the dispute.
Pheu Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit insisted the party believed the House Speaker did not violate the Constitution over the dispute. Even though the Democrat Party Pitsanulok MP proposed the House committees take 60 days, he did not declare it before the House and was not at the House meeting. The ruling party viewed the Democrats’ move to seek the court ruling as a delaying tactic.
House adjourns
Three House meetings have been cancelled for Songkran. “On April 18, the original schedule will be followed. There are no urgent motions tabled for debate on that day,” chief whip MP Udomdej Ratanasathien said yesterday.
The chamber meets on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Udomdej said MPs from the provinces asked the Speaker to call off sessions over the new year. They feared they would not be able to secure tickets to visit their constituencies, when many people return home, he said.
