Govt is abusing the emergency decree
Play
So the government has started its abuse of power in earnest by bypassing Parliament and using emergency decrees to force through its controversial debt transfer. The opposition and the press seem to be meekly watching this flagrant misuse of the emergency
A quick consultation of the 2007 Constitution reveals that Section 184 says, “For the purpose of maintaining national or public safety or national economic security, or averting public calamity, the King may issue an emergency decree which shall have the force as an act.” It does however continue: “The issuance of an emergency decree under Paragraph One shall be made only when the Council of Ministers is of the opinion that it is the case of emergency and necessary urgency which is unavoidable.” And further requires: “In the next succeeding sitting of the National Assembly, the Council of Ministers shall submit the emergency decree to the National Assembly for its consideration without delay.”
So quite what the government is seeking to do is unclear, but its misuse of the emergency decree is crystal clear.
Fred Morrice
Bangkok
