Charter judges told to review their role
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Professor Ukrit Mongkolnavin, chairman of the Independent National Rule of Law Commission, yesterday urged the Constitutional Court judges to review their role in order to avoid a political crisis and also called on the red shirts to not opt for violence
Ukrit said his commission agreed that the judges’ decision went beyond their jurisdiction.
“I do not wish to see the conflicts getting intensified and jeopardising the country.
The judges should review their role because people are not buffaloes. If they run out of patience they may resort to violence. The red shirts should also respect the rule of law and not use force,’’ he said.
The red shirts have been rallying in support of Pheu Thai MPs who say the court does not have the authority to hear a case against them involving their move to amend the Constitution.
Parinya Thewanaruemitkul, a lecturer at Thammasat University’s Faculty of Law, said that though people had the right to push for the judiciary to carry out their duty correctly, they should not pressure them wrongly.
He believes that in a move to prevent the conflict from worsening, the judges should review their ruling on provision 291 of the charter amendment by going beyond their authority as indicated in the Constitution.
Meanwhile, red-shirt leader Pongpisit Kongsena, who is spearheading a campaign to oust the Constitutional Court judges, said the group would file a complaint with the police, accusing former Constitutional Court president Chat Chonlaworn of lese majeste.
He alleged that Chat had stepped down as president on August 10, 2011, but continued to carry out his duty as judge despite not getting a royal endorsement.
Also, he voted for the nomination of Wasant Soipisit as the new president, an act Pongpisit says is in violation of Article 208 of the Constitution.
