POLITICS
Samak, cabinet accused of negligence on debate
PENCHAN CHAROENSUTHIPAN
Getting ready
Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej is escorted by defence permanent secretary Gen Winai Phattiyakul, third from right, army chief Gen Anupong Paojinda, second right, and police chief Pol Gen Patcharawat Wongsuwan, right, to a security meeting at the Army Club yesterday, as tensions rise between PAD supporters and the government. |
Sixty-one senators are to file a complaint of negligence against Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and his cabinet with the National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC) after the government refused to answer their questions in a general debate set for Monday. Mr Samak had his secretariat inform the Office of the Senate Secretariat that cabinet ministers were not available for the general debate proposed by a group of 61 senators for June 23, saying they were all busy preparing for the budget debate, which starts on June 25.
Representatives of the 61 senators yesterday held a press conference, saying they considered the Samak cabinet had failed to carry out their duty by answering the senators' questions as required by the constitution.
In other words, the cabinet has allegedly violated Article 157 of the Criminal Code and Article 275 of the constitution, said Khamnoon Sitthisamarn, one of the 61 senators.
He said the law allows senators to petition the Senate speaker to ask the NCCC to look into alleged negligence before forwarding the case to the Supreme Court's Crime Division for Holders of Political Positions. If the cabinet was found guilty of the charge, the Supreme Court would then remove them from office.
Mr Khamnoon said his group of senators would gather signatures for their petition today.
Once the NCCC began its investigation and the majority of the commission ruled there are grounds for negligence charges against the cabinet, the cabinet must immediately cease their roles, he said.
He added that the general public or MPs could also impeach the cabinet for their alleged negligence under Articles 270-274. Those articles allow up to 20,000 people, or one fourth of MPs, to initiate an impeachment motion.
Mr Khamnoon said his group is also considering asking for cooperation from MPs from all parties to open another special House session after the present special session is closed on June 28.
Meanwhile Suthin Khlangsaeng, the People Power party (PPP) MP for Maha Sarakham, said he is willing to lead a group of at least 80 MPs to support the Democrat party's attempt to open another special House session in July for its no-confidence censure motion if the Democrats can convince the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) to stop its political activities.
Deputy Democrat spokesman Sathit Pitutecha said Mr Suthin's condition did not make any sense as the Democrat censure motion has nothing to do with the PAD rallies. But he believed if the government could satisfactorily answer questions from his party during the debate, less people would take part in the PAD rallies.
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