Charupong vows unity, charter bid

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Charupong vows unity, charter bid

Decision about Section 291 changes 'due soon'

Published: 2 Nov 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

New Pheu Thai Party leader and Interior Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan has vowed to press ahead with the controversial reconciliation and charter amendment bills, renewing fears of a new round of political unrest.

In an exclusive interview with the Bangkok Post, he said the government would proceed with amending the charter while at the same time push the so-called national reconciliation bills through a referendum and public forums. The whole process should be completed within this parliamentary session, said Mr Charupong.

Earlier this week, Pheu Thai secretary-general Phumtham Wechayachai said the ruling party's leadership was restructured especially to expand membership, a strategy that will support an attempt to change the charter.

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wakeup
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Discussion 10 : 02 Nov 2012 at 08.1410
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Let me get out my secret Peua Thai decoder ring. Unity, charter bid = Thaksin-whitewash, autocratic consolidation of country.
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whatajoke
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Discussion 9 : 02 Nov 2012 at 07.209
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I don't think you can mention unity and charter re-write in the same sentence. Charter amendment is more realistic but even that is going to be controversial given the hidden agenda that the sponsors have. As for the amnesty bill, in its current form its just going to bring the protesters and coup protagonists back on to the streets.
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bkposter
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Discussion 8 : 02 Nov 2012 at 07.108
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RE: D5 seems to me that the polls I saw said that the majority were in favor of both these bills. Also seems to me that the majority of MPs are in favor.....And the biggest hanging point on both are the changes in democratically elected Senators instead of "appointed by the elite only" senators. And this seems to be a contentious point as the senate appoints the courts. The Elite had total control on the courts until the 1997 constitution leveled the field and stopped them from using the courts as a personal political tool as they alone had say over who would be the judges. I have never seen a scholar that claimed the 06 constitution was Su
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howell
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Discussion 7 : 02 Nov 2012 at 07.027
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'Thaksin/Pheu Thai would try to persuade the public to accept the reasons for the changes'.

And they are ? What difference will any change make ? How will they improve life for anyone other than the fugitive ?
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mrsdonesh
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Discussion 6 : 02 Nov 2012 at 06.596
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Sorry I might have missed something in all of this. Has the Gov actually ever said what the changes will be? Can BP please provide its readers with a breakdown of the suggested changes? If unable to do so then BP should be instruct its journalists to do nothing but ask the relevant questions. "What are the changes? What are the changes? etc etc etc." Never give up and never surender
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oldairman
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Discussion 5 : 02 Nov 2012 at 06.395
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Mr Phumtham said Pheu Thai would try to persuade the public to accept the reasons for the changes.

And if the public doesn't accept the reasons they will go ahead anyway.

Quote
All the reconciliation and charter amendment bills would be aired together at the public hearings to reduce the costs of organising the forums, according to Mr Charupong.
"Both issues [reconciliation and charter amendment] are equally important," he said.
The minister conceded that society is still greatly divided on the two issues. He said, however, that the the charter amendment bills could not be left pending in parliament and had to be passed within this c
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franklin
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Discussion 4 : 02 Nov 2012 at 06.384
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In other words this so-called new Pheu Thai Party leader has the same goal of all Pheu Thai top members; to work for the good of the party (not the country) and bring home the fugitive. The Thai people, daily killings in the south, corruption, Dark Age’s education system, preparing the people for the AEC, evolving from 2G, finding a lasting solution to water management and basically anything to help the country can all sit on the far back burner and wait. The goal is absolute power that has already absolutely corrupted this government and most everything it touches. And they do it all in plain sight with no respect for the peoples intellige
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amazed
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Discussion 3 : 02 Nov 2012 at 05.443
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It becomes very obvious how contrived, manipulated and disingenuous this whole thing has been when you consider the quotes, facts_only, (Disc. 2) offers along with the rejection of early elections during the riots which the red shirts leadership claimed was key to ending the occupation. The insult to the intelligence of the average person in the face of the transparency of the details behind, "reconciliation", is quite telling.
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facts_only
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Discussion 2 : 02 Nov 2012 at 04.492
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"The best solution for the current political crisis is to amend the constitution to pave the way for political reform." Abhisit, Feb 26, 2006

"Before dissolution we need to first to agree to amend the constitution." - Abhisit, March 28, 2010

"A joint sitting of parliament on Friday passed two constitution amendment bills in the final reading without the presence of MPs of the opposition Puea Thai Party, who staged a walk-out." - BangkokPost, Feb 11, 2011
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spiceman
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Discussion 1 : 02 Nov 2012 at 03.201
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May be we should call it "Disunity Bill," because it will have just the opposite effect by destabilize the already bad situation even more. The Yellow Shirts will sure come out and raise hell on the streets again. And if "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" is in effect, they will join the Pitak Siam, and the Muti-Colors crowds. Although, all of them combined can't outvote the Red Shirts at the Poll, they can create plenty of havocs for PM YS. And if they all are successful in creating another absolute anarchy, another unwanted coup will become a real possibility. But at the end, for what, other than more needless bloodshed and violence?
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Charupong vows unity, charter bid | Bangkok Post: news