POLITICS
MANOP THIP-OSOD
The government is renewing its attempt to amend the charter prior to dissolving the House and calling a new election, the Democrat party said yesterday. The opposition party warned that the constitution amendment bid, if renewed, could be a new time bomb in the wake of the Preah Vihear temple controversy.
Democrat MP for Nakhon Si Thammarat Thepthai Senpong, an assistant to the Democrat secretary-general, said charter changes seemed to be topping the government's agenda again, pointing to Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej's earlier remarks that the 2007 charter was a key factor leading to the current political problems.
He said that in a recent People Power party (PPP) meeting, some party MPs had also floated an idea of amending the constitution.
''The House of Representatives has set up a panel to study implementation of the constitution.
''But I am afraid that before the committee comes up with a conclusion, the government will proceed with charter amendments to escape the party's dissolution by the court,'' he said.
The guilty verdict against former House speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat handed down by the Supreme Court has sparked concerns that the PPP could end up like the Thai Rak Thai party, which was dissolved on the orders of the Constitution Tribunal last year for violating election law.
Mr Thepthai also predicted that once charter amendments were completed, the government would opt for a House dissolution, which would likely come after the annual reshuffles of police, armed forces and civil service officials.
Mr Samak had earlier scoffed at the suggestion of a House dissolution and the resignation of his cabinet.
Mr Thepthai criticised Mr Samak for calling a party meeting to console its MPs amid social pressure for the prime minister to take responsibility for the Preah Vihear saga.
House Speaker Chai Chidchob said yesterday he is obliged to put a draft bill on amendment of the charter on the agenda as soon as it is proposed to the House of Representatives.
Mr Chai said MPs have the right to propose draft bills except finance-related ones to the House for deliberation.
''I do not have personal opinions about this matter. If they [People Power MPs] submit the draft, I will do what is required by the House rules,'' he said.
Mr Chai also said he had no idea about the progress of the work of the special committee established to study the enforcement of the constitution.
Democrat spokesman Ongart Klampaiboon yesterday took the government to task for blaming the constitution for its problems, saying that if the government had done nothing wrong then the constitution could not touch them.
He said the government would face tremendous pressure if it decided to push ahead with amendments to the charter, especially given the current political situation.
''The government should not do it because it will only escalate the crisis,'' Mr Ongart said.
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