ID :
10662
Tue, 06/24/2008 - 10:03
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/10662
The shortlink copeid
Thai PM defends himself before Senate
Bangkok, June 24 (TNA) - Thailand's Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej
reasserted Monday that he could run the country effectively, but said he needed more time to put his agenda to work since his coalition government got off the ground barely four months ago.
The prime minister, concurrently leader of the ruling People Power Party,
said he was not so absent of his senses that he needed to have someone
else replace him as head of government.
During Monday's general debate in the Senate on the Samak government's
performance, the prime minister assured his listeners that he will see to
it that the country's economic woes, which had highly jacked up the
people's costs of living, will be resolved, and said they had been in most
part caused by the steep rises in the world's crude oil.
Addressing the senators during the debate -- without subsequent votes of
confidence -- Mr. Samak said his PPP-led coalition government is an
elected one which simply needed more time to work for the best interests of the country and the people.
"I am not so insane that I would resign and have somebody else take my
place as some have speculated," Mr. Samak said.
Senator Sumon Sutaviriyawat earlier kicked off the debate by accusing the
prime minister of trying to amend the nation's military-backed
constitution to curtail the investigation into Thaksin's corruption cases,
while ignoring Thailand's economic problems.
"The government has failed to solve the economic problems and focused on
amending the constitution, which clearly shows that they want to help the
former prime minister," Senator Sumon said.
Mr. Samak refuted the charges, arguing he had by no means performed in
defence of his predecessor or sought to have the constitution of 2007
amended only to serve personal or partisan interests, but confirmed a
number of government MPs had already agreed to a charter change. A
provisional clause might be provided for retroactive reasons after the
planned constitution amendment has been made, the premier suggested.
Charged with being a nominee (proxy) for Mr. Thaksin, the premier
categorically dismissed the accusation and quoted the Election Commission
as saying no such word referenced in Thailand's law. (TNA)
reasserted Monday that he could run the country effectively, but said he needed more time to put his agenda to work since his coalition government got off the ground barely four months ago.
The prime minister, concurrently leader of the ruling People Power Party,
said he was not so absent of his senses that he needed to have someone
else replace him as head of government.
During Monday's general debate in the Senate on the Samak government's
performance, the prime minister assured his listeners that he will see to
it that the country's economic woes, which had highly jacked up the
people's costs of living, will be resolved, and said they had been in most
part caused by the steep rises in the world's crude oil.
Addressing the senators during the debate -- without subsequent votes of
confidence -- Mr. Samak said his PPP-led coalition government is an
elected one which simply needed more time to work for the best interests of the country and the people.
"I am not so insane that I would resign and have somebody else take my
place as some have speculated," Mr. Samak said.
Senator Sumon Sutaviriyawat earlier kicked off the debate by accusing the
prime minister of trying to amend the nation's military-backed
constitution to curtail the investigation into Thaksin's corruption cases,
while ignoring Thailand's economic problems.
"The government has failed to solve the economic problems and focused on
amending the constitution, which clearly shows that they want to help the
former prime minister," Senator Sumon said.
Mr. Samak refuted the charges, arguing he had by no means performed in
defence of his predecessor or sought to have the constitution of 2007
amended only to serve personal or partisan interests, but confirmed a
number of government MPs had already agreed to a charter change. A
provisional clause might be provided for retroactive reasons after the
planned constitution amendment has been made, the premier suggested.
Charged with being a nominee (proxy) for Mr. Thaksin, the premier
categorically dismissed the accusation and quoted the Election Commission
as saying no such word referenced in Thailand's law. (TNA)
