ON THE Record
Sukhumpong: Without a House dissolution there could be political chaos. |
People Power party deputy secretary-general Sukhumpong Ngonkam explains to Nattaya Chetchotiros why a House dissolution is a good way out of the political standoff, and why he cannot wait for justice to run its course.
Why are you proposing that Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej dissolve the House, even though the Election Commission will decide tomorrow whether to recommend the disbanding of the PPP?
I have not put my idea to the prime minister. I only told the media that dissolving the House before the court hands down its verdict would be better for Thai politics.
If we wait for the party dissolution case to conclude, the coalition government might have only 14 MPs remaining - nine from Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana party and five from the Pracharaj party.
There is speculation the other five parties with 466 MPs between them could be disbanded too and their executives barred from politics for five years.
If things turn out this way it will be chaotic because some 380 MPs will have to find new parties to join.
Is the situation ripe for a House dissolution?
It is more than ripe. The grounds for the 13 previous dissolutions cannot match the present, with cracks both inside and outside the House. MPs are at odds over amending the constitution and the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) opposes the cabinet's every move.
A House dissolution would bring us back to square one, allowing the public to think about whether they support or oppose amending the charter.
But dissolution means you will have to accept the charter the PPP opposes.
The charter amendment move cannot succeed anyway with the tide going so strongly against us. The PPP has made it clear from the start that our goal is to rewrite the charter and 10 million people shared our view and voted for the PPP in the December elections.
Still, some people argued our rationale was unclear. We should return the power to the people, so they can decide for themselves.
You are confident the PPP or the Puea Thai party, the PPP's back-up party, will have the upper hand if there is an election, aren't you?
As an MP, no one wants to let go of the 100,000-baht plus salary, which is more than enough to support your family and people in your constituency. No one wants to be made jobless without a 100% guarantee of a comeback.
But as a member of the PPP executive it would hurt much more to see the party's MPs stand in fresh elections while the executives might be banned from running [if the PPP is dissolved.]
Why did many PPP MPs rush to launch the new party with the decision on the party's dissolution still many months away?
Politicians must prepare for the battle. Most MPs are terrified of the prospect of the PPP being disbanded, but we calm each other with the thought that it is not going to happen. We are like seriously ill patients trying to comfort ourselves with the though we won't die soon.
Article 237 of the constitution stipulates that party executives who fail to stop any election violations must face the consequences. That is why we really need to rewrite the constitution.
Would a House dissolution do Mr Samak any good?
It is up to Mr Samak to decide whether he cares more about himself or the country. The longer we hold on, the more the country will suffer.
A House dissolution is like handing politicians a death sentence, sacking them all.
Many questioned the motive behind your push for a House dissolution. Some claimed you came up with the proposal because you have missed out on many key positions, including Prime Minister's Office minister, House speaker, deputy House speaker and government chief whip.
This is untrue. My name came up for all the positions you mentioned, but I don't belong to any group so I was the last on the list and I have no regrets. I did not beg for the job of party deputy secretary-general. I applied based on experience gained during four consecutive terms as an MP, for Thai Rak Thai and the PPP.
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