Puea Thai says minister broke the law
CRIMINAL COMPLAINT LODGED
- Published: 28/12/2008 at 12:00 AM
- Newspaper section: News
The Puea Thai party yesterday lodged a criminal complaint against Interior Minister Chavarat Charnvirakul and his deputy Boonjong Wongtrairat for giving unauthorised orders ahead of the government's policy statement to parliament.
As the Democrat-led administration has yet to deliver its policy statement, orders by the pair were illegal, said Puea Thai MP for Nakhon Ratchasima Somchai Petprasert.
Mr Chavarat's Dec 24 order to allocate responsibilities to his deputies breached Article 145 of the Criminal Code, which involves posing as state officials without proper authorisation, he said.
Mr Somchai said the interior minister could not give orders until the Abhisit government makes its policy address.
"The government has yet to deliver a policy statement, so he cannot execute an order. And I am not so sure if the government can make its policy address as planned," he said.
Mr Somchai said Mr Boonjong also violated the law when instructing provincial governors in a video conference to monitor the movement of anti-government United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) supporters.
The UDD, which is loyal to former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, plans to hold a rally at Sanam Luang today and move to parliament to disrupt the policy statement address, which will be delivered tomorrow and Tuesday.
Mr Somchai said the deputy interior minister's order undermined democratic rights and civil liberties.
"Do not rave on about exercising power when no policy presentation has been made," he said.
Mr Boonjong said yesterday the Interior Ministry had no plan to block UDD supporters from joining the rally at Sanam Luang. He said he was confident no violence would take place.
Several groups, which are allies of the UDD, have opted not to join today's rally. They are affiliated to veteran politician Newin Chidchob, leader of the Friends of Newin group who lobbied more than 30 MPs to support Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva as prime minister.
They include the association of van operators, an assembly of northeastern farmers and the Khon Rak Udon (Love Udon People) club.
Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban yesterday called a meeting with national police chief Patcharawat Wongsuwan and senior police to discuss security preparations for tomorrow and Tuesday. Pol Gen Patcharawat said police could ask the military to help contain the situation.
Under present plans, 24 companies of police will be deployed to step up security and all will be equipped with shields only, he said.
He said if the number of protesters is too large to handle, police may ask the government to consider delaying the policy statement.
Kwanchai Sarakham, also known as Kwanchai Praipana, who is chairman of the Khon Rak Udon club, said yesterday his group would organise a parallel rally at Thung Si Muang in Udon Thani.
With the New Year festival approaching, the timing was not right for the group's supporters to go to the capital. However Kanyaphak Maneechak, the leader of the Rak Chiang Mai 51 club, said the group's supporters will arrive in Bangkok in six buses to join the red shirt protest outside parliament.
Pol Lt-Gen Suchart Muenkaew, the Metropolitan Police Bureau commissioner, said crowd control police are on stand-by for the UDD rally.
Prime Minister Abhisit said the policy statement presentation would go ahead as planned despite the UDD's threat to block MPs from attending the session.
Under Article 176 of the constitution, the government has to make its policy statement to parliament within 15 days of assuming office. However, he said he would discuss with House Speaker Chai Chidchob whether a change of venue or date were necessary.
"We will make adjustments [if necessary]. So far I think the policy presentation can go ahead as planned," he said.
About the author
- Writer: Aekarach Sattaburuth
