ID :
10735
Tue, 06/24/2008 - 13:47
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/10735
The shortlink copeid
Opposition set to grill PM, cabinet ministers in no-confidence debate
Bangkok, June 24 (TNA) - Thailand's Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and seven other cabinet ministers will be taken to task by the sole opposition party, the Democrat Party, in a no-confidence debate starting Tuesday, after the PM weathered grilling in the Senate's one-day general debate Monday.
The seven other ministers of the ruling People Power Party 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.
Speaking to journalists hours before the censure debate begins, Abhisit
Vejjajiva, the Democrat party leader, said he would lead the debate
himself against the premier and Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama over the
controversial Preah Vihear temple issue.
"I am confident that with all the damning evidence the opposition has will
be so convincing that the ruling MPs with righteous minds must feel
compelled to vote against both the premier and the minister," Mr. Abhisit
said.
The opposition leader emphasised that the Samak government mishandled the
Preah Vihear issue and that has nothing to do with Cambodia.
The government on June 17 approved the new map drawn by Cambodia, which
defines the temple's boundary to be proposed to the United Nations
Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) World Heritage
Commitee meeting in Quebec starting on June 2.
"The opposition did not expect to topple the six-party coalition goverment
but the main focus of the centure debate is on the mismanagement and
inefficiency of the administration," Mr. Abhisit stated.
Meanwhile, Chief Government Whip Samart Kaewmeechai said the prime
minister and the seven other ministers targeted have no cause for concerns
and all five coalition partners reaffirmed their full support.
The six-party government coalition controls about two-thirds of the 480
seats in the lower house of Parliament.
The Democrat party has only 164 seats.
The premier is attending Tuesday's cabinet meeting at Government House
without any interference from demonstrators led by the People's Alliance
for Democracy (PAD) which is protesting to bring down Mr. Samak's
government.
It was the first time that the prime minister entered his office since it
was under siege for five consecutive days by the demonstators who demand
the resignation of his four-month old coalition government, accusing it of
acting as a proxy for deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Dozens of supporters greeting Mr. Samak with flowers at the rear gate of
the compound. (TNA)
The seven other ministers of the ruling People Power Party 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.
Speaking to journalists hours before the censure debate begins, Abhisit
Vejjajiva, the Democrat party leader, said he would lead the debate
himself against the premier and Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama over the
controversial Preah Vihear temple issue.
"I am confident that with all the damning evidence the opposition has will
be so convincing that the ruling MPs with righteous minds must feel
compelled to vote against both the premier and the minister," Mr. Abhisit
said.
The opposition leader emphasised that the Samak government mishandled the
Preah Vihear issue and that has nothing to do with Cambodia.
The government on June 17 approved the new map drawn by Cambodia, which
defines the temple's boundary to be proposed to the United Nations
Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) World Heritage
Commitee meeting in Quebec starting on June 2.
"The opposition did not expect to topple the six-party coalition goverment
but the main focus of the centure debate is on the mismanagement and
inefficiency of the administration," Mr. Abhisit stated.
Meanwhile, Chief Government Whip Samart Kaewmeechai said the prime
minister and the seven other ministers targeted have no cause for concerns
and all five coalition partners reaffirmed their full support.
The six-party government coalition controls about two-thirds of the 480
seats in the lower house of Parliament.
The Democrat party has only 164 seats.
The premier is attending Tuesday's cabinet meeting at Government House
without any interference from demonstrators led by the People's Alliance
for Democracy (PAD) which is protesting to bring down Mr. Samak's
government.
It was the first time that the prime minister entered his office since it
was under siege for five consecutive days by the demonstators who demand
the resignation of his four-month old coalition government, accusing it of
acting as a proxy for deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Dozens of supporters greeting Mr. Samak with flowers at the rear gate of
the compound. (TNA)
