Pheu Thai spokesman denies rift over Constitutional Court boycott

“Some MPs want to submit their testimony on a personal basis because they are not sure and worried about the [party’s] open letter. If they are enlightened, they will toe the party line,’’ he said.
The party plans to hold a meeting tomorrow to make its MPs understand the gist of the party’s open letter outlining its refusal to accept the Constitutional Court’s authority and why the court should not take up the case on the revision of Article 68.
The 12-page open letter would be completed and submitted to the court early next month.
The party had resolved to resort to civil disobedience
by not giving statements to the Constitutional Court in protest against the justices’ decision to rule on the dispute over the amendment of Article 68, as the party believes the court would be interfering in the work of the legislative branch, transgressing the democratic principle of the separation of powers.
Prompong also dismissed reports that ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra had summoned House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont to Dubai to rebuke him over his plan to give court testimony.
Democrat party-list MP Ongart Klampaiboon criticised Prime Yingluck Shinawatra for making an inappropriate comment in support of the red shirts who are campaigning to unseat the Constitutional Court justices.
The drafters of the 2007 Constitution issued a statement supporting the Constitutional Court justices.
Pressure for their removal has been mounting both from the red shirts rallying outside the courthouse and MPs and senators preparing to file impeachment motions.