Political leaders push to get assembly formed
MONGKOL BANGPRAPA
Four leading political figures have confirmed their intention of forming a constitution drafting assembly, but a group of 40 senators yesterday voiced their opposition to the move. The senators are opposed to setting up an assembly to amend the charter and have demanded that an independent panel be formed to undertake democratic reforms instead.
Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, Opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, House Speaker Chai Chidchob and Senate Speaker Prasopsuk Boondej met yesterday for the second time in an effort to find a breakthrough.
House Speaker Mr Chai spoke after a three-hour meeting with political party leaders, saying they agreed to push ahead with political reforms as suggested in the four-party talks.
He said the party leaders would set up a working panel with representatives from every political party and the senate to discuss how to form a constitution drafting assembly.
Mr Chai said they welcomed the approach suggested by university rectors, who proposed an independent political reform commission.
The panel would sound out opinions from all stakeholders and write a charter to be submitted to the government.
He said they would meet again on Oct 20 to discuss the matter. A decision on the formation of a draft assembly should be reached by then, he said.
He said he would talk today to Weng Tojirakarn about the draft amendment, but stressed he could not withdraw the draft.
''It will undergo the legislation process in which it could be rejected or left undebated,'' he said.
Democrat leader Mr Abhisit said the meeting was against Mr Weng's draft and welcomed the formation of a drafting assembly to amend the charter.
The Prime Minister said yesterday the government would proceed with the planned amendment to Article 291 to clear the way for public participation in the amendment process because it was welcomed by several parties.
A group of 40 senators released a statement opposing the proposed establishment of the assembly and demanded the setting up of an independent panel to undertake democratic reforms.
In their statement read out by appointed senator Prasarn Maruekapitak, the senators strongly objected to the present charter amendment bids, including a proposal to amend Article 291.
The group's objections followed the arrests of two leading members of the People Alliance's Democracy (PAD), Maj-Gen Chamlong Srimuang and Chaiwat Sinsuwong.
They called for the setting up of an independent body to study democratic reforms and recommended that charter amendments should not be attempted in the next three years.
The statement said the arrests of Maj-Gen Chamlong and Mr Chaiwat shattered the negotiation process between the PAD and the government and would incite a confrontation.
Tuang Anthachai, one of the 40 senators, said the group's stance on charter amendments changed because the situation had changed.
He accused the government of hypocrisy, pointing to the government's proposed amendment to Article 291 and the draft proposal of Mr Weng, who called for the replacement of the 2007 charter with the 1997 charter.
Mr Chai accepted Mr Weng's proposal and put it on the House agenda for deliberation.
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