Thaworn threatens to take impeachment cases to charter court

“The National Anti-Corruption Commission [NACC] forwarded the case to the NLA, which empowers the assembly to impeach the wrongdoers as per the 2007 Constitution. If the NLA does not take any action, then it will certainly have to face the PDRC,” Thaworn said without elaborating. 

 

Empowered by interim charter

He went on to say that if the NLA decides not to take any action, he will take the case to the Constitutional Court himself under the interim charter’s Section 6. 

Section 6 states that the NLA shall act as the House of Representatives, the Senate and the National Assembly.

“I would also like to urge the National Council for Peace and Order [NCPO] to remind the NLA that they need to represent the people, and if they do not impeach corrupt politicians, then there will be no justification for the [May 22] coup,” Thaworn said.

The NACC found former Parliament president Somsak Kiatsuranon and his deputy Nikom Wairatpanich guilty of violating the 2007 Constitution by pushing for charter changes in relation to the composition of the Senate.

Thaworn explained that the assembly was divided in its opinion regarding the impeachment of Somsak, Nikom and former premier Yingluck Shinawatra.

He said the NLA was wavering between two options: Not accepting the case because the 2007 Constitution that it was filed under is now defunct; or accepting the case in its capacity as House of Representatives and Senate. 

Thaworn pointed out that if the NLA chooses the first option, then it proves that its purview of scrutiny is far too narrow. 

“However, I want to express my gratitude to those NLA members who support the case, while those who disagree should reconsider,” he said.

He reminded the NLA members that their job is to represent the people and that they had been appointed by the NCPO. He also wondered if the members might be afraid of certain political groups. 

“If the NLA wants to prove that their scrutiny of the case is transparent and sincere, then they should not hold the discussion behind closed doors this Thursday, but instead broadcast it to the public,” he said.

He said that he was glad that the NCPO has taken charge of the country and is considering many of the PDRC’s suggestions, including its six reform proposals. 

Thaworn added that the PDRC would monitor the public hearings held by the Internal Security Operations Command and also offer suggestions. 

“I will cooperate and attend every hearing,” he said. 

Thaworn said that though some NLA members don’t believe the case against Yingluck will succeed, he pointed out that she could be impeached on charges of dereliction of duty because she failed to terminate the rice-pledging scheme despite it being plagued with corruption and massive losses. 

 

‘It is not criminal to scrutinise’

When asked if some NLA members did not want to accept the case because they are afraid of being sued later, he said that scrutinising cases was not a criminal offence and that the NLA would be working as a representative of the people. 

However, he said, the NLA may be found guilty in the political arena and charged with not having the authority. 

“However, I will pursue the impeachment case according to the interim charter’s Section 5, which hands authority to the people who can also impeach the appointed NLA,” the PDRC co-leader explained.