House Speaker Chuan Leekpai has slammed the government's last-minute move to table an executive decree postponing the enforcement of key provisions of the law against torture and enforced disappearance.
Speaking on a radio show yesterday, Mr Chuan said he had to schedule a special House meeting on Tuesday to consider the decree following a consensus between government and opposition whips that the deliberation was urgently needed.
On Feb 19, the cabinet issued a decree postponing the enforcement of Sections 22–25 until Oct 1, citing a lack of budget for equipment, such as police body cameras, and a shortage of skills.
"The government tabled the decree to parliament on Thursday... Parliament is bound by duty to deliberate it," Mr Chuan said.
"There is only Feb 27–28 for the deliberation. The government and opposition whips chose Feb 28."
Mr Chuan said the decree contains some issues which could provide opposition parties with ammunition to attack the government during the meeting.
"Some MPs agreed the decree may violate the constitution and they may petition the Constitutional Court to rule on the matter," he said, adding that if the decree is voted down, the government must take responsibility.
"I wonder why the government tabled the decree to parliament [this late]," Mr Chuan said, noting the meeting is at risk of collapsing due to a possible lack of quorum, as in several previous meetings.
"We have to admit that right now the government can no longer control its MPs to ensure a quorum is met."
Natthawut Buaprathum, deputy leader of the Move Forward Party, said opposition parties decided they will vote against the decree as it does not warrant any urgency as stipulated by the constitution.