The junta's plan to meet parties to discuss lifting its longheld ban on political activities in June might not come to fruition as a bill concerning the election of MPs may not have been enacted by that date, Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday.
The bill has been sent to the Constitutional Court to ensure it does not violate the charter. That process could take weeks and may not be wrapped up in time for the planned talks with the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), he said.
It is one of two bills the court accepted on Wednesday for interpretation. The other focuses on details regarding political parties. Both must be approved in order for the general election, penciled in for next February, to go ahead.
The Democrat and Pheu Thai parties have asked the court, through the ombudsman, to check if the bill is constitutionally valid. They claim the NCPO issued its instruction to amend the bill in a way that hinders parties from reconfirming the memberships of their respective parties.
They said the junta's order failed to protect the rights party members, who they claim have already had to go t rough a tedious, costly and time-consuming process to confirm their membership.
The court said the leaders of both parties have until April 25 to provide a written explanation to support their respective cases.
Mr Abhisit said the political situation after the Songkran festival is likely to remain in a state of flux for the foreseeable future. He said the NCPO is duty-bound to straighten out any legal issues that could derail and further postpone the road map to the poll.
One of the issues, according to Mr Abhisit, has to do with the junta's Order 53/2560, which stipulates that it must discuss election-related issues with various agencies, and possibly with political parties, once the bill on the election of MPs becomes law.
On April 10, Mr Abhisit warned the NCPO may break its own rules if it fails to convene the June meeting.
The warning came in response to Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam's comment that the talks could be cancelled if no parties accept the invitation to attend.
However, Mr Abhisit said he was ready to show up and engage in meaningful dialogue with the body.
He said the junta must do likewise as it convened the meeting.
The Democrat leader said the two bills on MPs and political parties are now being deliberated over and there was no way to tell when this would be concluded.
Only after the checks have been completed and the NCPO shows it is committed to the June meeting will there be a clearer picture as to whether the poll can be held on time, he said.
Mr Abhisit said the NCPO could offer assurances to the public that the election will not be delayed.
For example, it could shorten the 90-day period before the MP bill takes effect, he said. He said parties cannot recruit new members or set up branches on account of the activities ban.
He said it was unfair that existing parties cannot expand their respective bases in the lead-up to the election.
