ID :
10607
Mon, 06/23/2008 - 13:50
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/10607
The shortlink copeid
Security tightened at Government House; debate kicks off in Senate
BANGKOK, June 23 (TNA) - Security measures have been stepped up at and
around Government House on Monday morning as Prime Minister Samak
Sundaravej returns to work today, his first visit to his office since
anti-government demonstrators began their siege Friday demanding his
resignation.
Speaking to journalists while visiting his men at the government seat,
Metropolitan Police commander Pol Lt-Gen. Assawin Kwanmuang vowed the
2,000-strong police would not allow any untoward incident or intrusion to occur at the Government House compound.
The protesting People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) earlier announced
that its supporters would not enter the grounds of the government seat, and would not obstruct the prime minister from entering the compound and returning to work.
Meanwhile, the Senate's general debate targeting the entire Samak
Sundaravej administration kicked off Monday morning -- on the eve of the no-confidence debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday.
The lone opposition Democrat Party earlier submitted two no-confidence
motions to thoroughly question and examine the prime minister and seven of his cabinet ministers.
Mr. Samak, also defence minister and leader of the People Power Party
(PPP) which forms the core of the six-party coalition government, said
Sunday that he hoped his government agreeing to be grilled by the Senate and the opposition this week will bring to an end the political turmoil in the country.
The other seven ministers of his ruling PPP targeted by the opposition
include Deputy Prime Minister/ Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee,
Deputy Prime Minister/Commerce Minister Mingkwan Saengsuwan, Transport
Minister Santi Prompat, Deputy Transport Minister Songsak Thongsri,
Justice Minister Sompong Amornwiwat, Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama and Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung.
The Democrats claimed in their censure motion that the Samak government is a weak, ineffective and corrupt stand-in for the deposed government of Thaksin Shinawatra.
The move is aimed to prompt government as well as opposition MPs to cast votes of no-confidence against Mr. Samak and the seven other ministers.
Mr. Samak said he is confident that all of the five political parties
participating in his four-month-old coalition government would not desert him.
The six-party government coalition controls about two-thirds of the 480 seats in the lower house of Parliament. The Democrat party has 164 seats.
around Government House on Monday morning as Prime Minister Samak
Sundaravej returns to work today, his first visit to his office since
anti-government demonstrators began their siege Friday demanding his
resignation.
Speaking to journalists while visiting his men at the government seat,
Metropolitan Police commander Pol Lt-Gen. Assawin Kwanmuang vowed the
2,000-strong police would not allow any untoward incident or intrusion to occur at the Government House compound.
The protesting People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) earlier announced
that its supporters would not enter the grounds of the government seat, and would not obstruct the prime minister from entering the compound and returning to work.
Meanwhile, the Senate's general debate targeting the entire Samak
Sundaravej administration kicked off Monday morning -- on the eve of the no-confidence debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday.
The lone opposition Democrat Party earlier submitted two no-confidence
motions to thoroughly question and examine the prime minister and seven of his cabinet ministers.
Mr. Samak, also defence minister and leader of the People Power Party
(PPP) which forms the core of the six-party coalition government, said
Sunday that he hoped his government agreeing to be grilled by the Senate and the opposition this week will bring to an end the political turmoil in the country.
The other seven ministers of his ruling PPP targeted by the opposition
include Deputy Prime Minister/ Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee,
Deputy Prime Minister/Commerce Minister Mingkwan Saengsuwan, Transport
Minister Santi Prompat, Deputy Transport Minister Songsak Thongsri,
Justice Minister Sompong Amornwiwat, Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama and Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung.
The Democrats claimed in their censure motion that the Samak government is a weak, ineffective and corrupt stand-in for the deposed government of Thaksin Shinawatra.
The move is aimed to prompt government as well as opposition MPs to cast votes of no-confidence against Mr. Samak and the seven other ministers.
Mr. Samak said he is confident that all of the five political parties
participating in his four-month-old coalition government would not desert him.
The six-party government coalition controls about two-thirds of the 480 seats in the lower house of Parliament. The Democrat party has 164 seats.
