ID :
106057
Thu, 02/11/2010 - 19:06
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http://m.oananews.org//node/106057
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Parliament postpones charter amendment motion
BANGKOK, Feb 11 (TNA) - Thailand's joint-session of Parliament on Thursday resolved to postpone the charter amendment motions lodged by the coalition parties and the People's Committee for Amending the 2007 Constitution amid fears that the amendment will raise the temperature of the country's already politically heated atmosphere.
Government chief whip Witthaya Kaewparadai said before the joint-parliamentary session that a meeting of government whips agreed to postpone the two charter amendment motions as there are six urgent memorandums of understanding with foreign countries awaiting consideration by te lower House which must be completed by March.
Mr Witthaya reaffirmed that the delay is not an exchange of political benefits between the coalition partners.
Five coalition partners submitted the motion endorsed by 102 MPs to the House Speaker to amend the constitution concerning electoral system and signing of international agreements, which requires parliamentary approval.
The People's Committee for Amending the 2007 Constitution, led by Weng Tojirakarn, key member of the anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship—the UDD Red Shirts—filed their draft charter amendment to Mr Chai in 2008, but the motion’s consideration has been delayed several times.
As the joint parliamentary session began, opposition MPs and some senators disagreed with the proposed delay, reasoning that the charter amendment is an urgent matter as earlier suggested by the then National Reconciliation Committee.
Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij said, however, that consideration of six international agreements must be done as soon as possible, particularly the agreements on the establishment of Credit Guarantee and Investment Facility (CGIF) and Chiang Mai Initiative.
The House members finally voted 278-212 to give priority to the six international agreements.
Meanwhile, the UDD leader Weng threatened to mobilise 200,000 demonstrators to protest at Parliament against any further delay.
At the same time, the key leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) Pipob Thongchai on Thursday filed a complaint to Senate Speaker Prasobsuk Boondej seeking the impeachment of House Speaker Chai for violating the Constitution by putting its rival group's motion on agenda.
(TNA)
Government chief whip Witthaya Kaewparadai said before the joint-parliamentary session that a meeting of government whips agreed to postpone the two charter amendment motions as there are six urgent memorandums of understanding with foreign countries awaiting consideration by te lower House which must be completed by March.
Mr Witthaya reaffirmed that the delay is not an exchange of political benefits between the coalition partners.
Five coalition partners submitted the motion endorsed by 102 MPs to the House Speaker to amend the constitution concerning electoral system and signing of international agreements, which requires parliamentary approval.
The People's Committee for Amending the 2007 Constitution, led by Weng Tojirakarn, key member of the anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship—the UDD Red Shirts—filed their draft charter amendment to Mr Chai in 2008, but the motion’s consideration has been delayed several times.
As the joint parliamentary session began, opposition MPs and some senators disagreed with the proposed delay, reasoning that the charter amendment is an urgent matter as earlier suggested by the then National Reconciliation Committee.
Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij said, however, that consideration of six international agreements must be done as soon as possible, particularly the agreements on the establishment of Credit Guarantee and Investment Facility (CGIF) and Chiang Mai Initiative.
The House members finally voted 278-212 to give priority to the six international agreements.
Meanwhile, the UDD leader Weng threatened to mobilise 200,000 demonstrators to protest at Parliament against any further delay.
At the same time, the key leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) Pipob Thongchai on Thursday filed a complaint to Senate Speaker Prasobsuk Boondej seeking the impeachment of House Speaker Chai for violating the Constitution by putting its rival group's motion on agenda.
(TNA)
