ID :
18656
Tue, 09/09/2008 - 21:44
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/18656
The shortlink copeid
Thai court rules PM violated charter, must leave office
BANGKOK, Sept 9 (TNA) - Thailand's Constitution Court ruled on Tuesday that Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej must step down after he violated the country's supreme law by accepting payments for hosting TV cooking programmes while in office.
Elected members of the House of Representatives under the banner of the
ruling People Power Party (PPP) still support the beleaguered premier to
continue in the premiership, even though he has been stripped of his post
by the Constitution Court.
Whip Witthaya Buranasiri, a PPP member, said earlier his party is ready to
accept the court ruling whether or not Mr. Samak was guilty on hosting two
cooking programmes on two free TV stations.
The case was brought against him by a group of senators and Election
Commission members in the belief that Mr. Samak had violated Article 267
of the 2007 charter.
Article 267 of the Constitution stipulates that the prime minister is
prohibited from holding any position in a partnership, a company or an
organisation carrying out business with an intention to sharing profit or
income, or being an employee of any person.
Mr. Samak defended himself in the court on Monday that he appeared in the
programmes only on a freelance basis, without seeking any remuneration.
Mr. Samak could return as prime minister if the five other parties in the
coalition government nominate him because he still retains his membership
in the House of Representatives and also as leader of PPP, Mr. Witthaya
said.
"Executive members of the PPP will discuss with leaders of coalition
partners to support Mr. Samak to remain as prime minister, although some
have proposed that Chart Thai party leader Banharn Silpa-archa assume the
post," said Mr. Witthaya.
Mr. Banharn is a former prime minister.
The court ruling came amid a number of mounting pressures for the prime
minister to resign as anti-government protesters led by the People's
Alliance for Democracy (PAD) have occupied Government House since August
26.
The coalition of self-described democracy-activist protesters vowed not to
disperse until the premier calls it quits.
Mr. Samak was accused by the demonstrators of being a proxy of ousted
prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra who fled corruption charges to live in
Britain with his wife and family.
Elected members of the House of Representatives under the banner of the
ruling People Power Party (PPP) still support the beleaguered premier to
continue in the premiership, even though he has been stripped of his post
by the Constitution Court.
Whip Witthaya Buranasiri, a PPP member, said earlier his party is ready to
accept the court ruling whether or not Mr. Samak was guilty on hosting two
cooking programmes on two free TV stations.
The case was brought against him by a group of senators and Election
Commission members in the belief that Mr. Samak had violated Article 267
of the 2007 charter.
Article 267 of the Constitution stipulates that the prime minister is
prohibited from holding any position in a partnership, a company or an
organisation carrying out business with an intention to sharing profit or
income, or being an employee of any person.
Mr. Samak defended himself in the court on Monday that he appeared in the
programmes only on a freelance basis, without seeking any remuneration.
Mr. Samak could return as prime minister if the five other parties in the
coalition government nominate him because he still retains his membership
in the House of Representatives and also as leader of PPP, Mr. Witthaya
said.
"Executive members of the PPP will discuss with leaders of coalition
partners to support Mr. Samak to remain as prime minister, although some
have proposed that Chart Thai party leader Banharn Silpa-archa assume the
post," said Mr. Witthaya.
Mr. Banharn is a former prime minister.
The court ruling came amid a number of mounting pressures for the prime
minister to resign as anti-government protesters led by the People's
Alliance for Democracy (PAD) have occupied Government House since August
26.
The coalition of self-described democracy-activist protesters vowed not to
disperse until the premier calls it quits.
Mr. Samak was accused by the demonstrators of being a proxy of ousted
prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra who fled corruption charges to live in
Britain with his wife and family.
