Rush to change charter 'may trigger new crisis'
ANUCHA CHAROENPO & MANOP THIP-OSOD
The rush by the People Power party (PPP) to amend the charter will trigger a political crisis which could lead to another military coup, prominent social critic Thirayuth Boonmi warned yesterday.
The comments by the former student leader in the Oct 14, 1973 uprising were ridiculed by the PPP but in line with the concerns of Democrat party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva.
The criticism came as the six-party coalition government prepares to submit a motion to rewrite the constitution to parliament next week, after the party leaders hold talks on a unified stance.
"If the government still insists on amending the charter to clean up its wrongdoings and save its people from [corruption] cases, that will be the beginning of a second crisis," Mr Thirayuth said. The first crisis he was referring to were the rallies against then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra that were confronted by his supporters, and which culminated in the military coup that drove him from office in 2006.
The Thammasat University academic said that with the push for a new constitution, the country was heading for a rift in society between those who support and those who oppose amending the charter.
The PPP and its political allies have shot down proposals to form a charter writing panel to design a new constitution, even though they were suggested by outsiders and even some politicians who were in the now disbanded Thai Rak Thai party.
The charter amendment effort began after the Election Commission (EC) found then PPP deputy leader Yongyuth Tiyapairat guilty of vote buying in last year's general election.
The poll agency's decision still needs endorsement from the Supreme Court. If the court goes along with the EC, the PPP could be disbanded under Article 237 on the grounds that it colluded with executive members in poll fraud.
The Chart Thai and Matchimathipataya parties are facing dissolution orders by the EC for similar reasons.
Another target for the PPP is Article 309, which backs the actions of the Assets Scrutiny Committee in investigating alleged wrongdoings by Mr Thaksin and his cabinet ministers.
The PPP has strongly denied those issues were the motive behind its desire for a new constitution. It has said the present charter is not legitimate because it was crafted by charter writers handpicked by the coup-makers.
Mr Thirayuth called for public participation in amending the charter to prevent future conflicts in the country, and rejected the government's claim that it can go ahead and amend the charter because of its mandate from the voters. The PPP has the most MPs following last year's election.
"The rush for charter amendment by the PPP to clean itself of guilt should not happen because it hampers the rule of law," he said.
"To prevent a political crisis in the future which could be used by the army as a reason to stage a coup, the government should give importance to all sectors in society to participate in charter amendment," he added.
But he also warned the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) not to use the issue to justify holding rallies aimed at overthrowing the administration of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej. The PAD could not justify overthrowing an elected government, and the government could not use force to suppress its opponents, Mr Thirayuth said.
Mr Thirayuth predicted that fierce opposition to the government would be seen in six months or no more than a year if it continues to make enemies due to the way it wields power.
PPP spokesman Kuthep Saikrajang described Mr Thirayuth's comments and predictions as groundless, not constructive and underlining his character.
"This criticism shows the public that his comments have no academic substance. They're simply to show off his idea of coming up with new terminology," he said.
"Mr Thirayuth always criticises all governments with strong words. That is because Mr Thirayuth is an academic who opposes state authority. He is a pessimist about politics and governments," Mr Kuthep added.
Mr Abhisit, meanwhile, urged the government to try its utmost to prevent clashes occurring between those with differing views on amending the charter as emotions were running high on both sides. The government should be aware of possible confrontations and attempts to create the conditions for another coup, he said.
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