Dems want foreign deals scrutinised by parliament

THE DEMOCRATS called yesterday for the modification of a charter amendment to allow the legislature to vet international agreements on natural resources and environment.
The call was made during debate for the second reading of a bill to amend Article 190 of the Constitution, which prescribes the framework for international agreements.
Democrat MP Apichat Sakdiset said the proposed change should cover negotiations related to natural resources and the environment in addition to territorial integrity. He said many saw issues related to energy and resources as sensitive, so the government should give parliament the ability to scrutinise such deals.
He voiced concern that in future the government may push to remove the Constitution Court’s ability to rule on disputes linked to Article 190. He suspected a move was in progress to form a tribunal to usurp the jurisdiction of the charter court. The tribunal, if formed, would be made up of pro-government members such as the Parliament president and Senate speaker, he said.
Democrat MP Kiat Sittheeamorn reminded the government to keep its pledge to hold a public hearing on any agreements that impact on peoples’ livelihoods. Chief opposition whip Jurin Laksanawisit said the opposition would vote against the move because the government had ulterior motives. The amended version of Article 190 would allow the government to strike a deal on oil and gas exploration without having to seek consent from the parliament, he said.
And the government could take advantage of non-treaty talks on territorial integrity in order to avoid legislative checks, he said.
Under the government-sponsored amendment, the coalition seeks to do away with the legislative vetting for two issues – one with severe impact on economic and social affairs, and the other with significant implications on trade, investment and budget. But the draft requires any free-trade agreement to be vetted first by parliament.
Midway through the debate, House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont adjourned the session for 10 minutes to allow all sides to cool down late in the afternoon. Tempers had soared after Democrat MP Sansern Samalapa showed a news clip of an interview former PM Thaksin Shinawatra did with Voice TV on his business and investments.
Sansern used the clip to show his suspicion that Thaksin might be one of pro-government figure to benefit from the amendment.
Pheu Thai MPs lodged protests on grounds that a third party had been attacked and had no right of rebuttal. Some coalition lawmakers called for an end to the debate in order to cast votes.
As the coalition and opposition lawmakers traded sharp words, Somsak intervened to ban Sansern from using the clip. But this failed to appease the opposing sides, and prompted the temporary break.
Democrat MP Rachada Dhnadirek, a member of the House panel on foreign affairs, said Article 190 did not block or hinder the government from making agreements with foreign countries – the problem was how parliament was managed. “The problem is the Parliament President did not call for a meeting. If he wants to push for any agenda, he always called a meeting and the parliamentarians came. The recent case of an agreement with China was an example,” she said.