Charter change momentum hits a snag - Bangkok Post

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Writer: BangkokPost.com

Published: 25/09/2009 at 05:05 PM

The joint parliament whips' attempt to get the 2007 constitution amended hit a snag on Friday when Parliament President Chai Chidchob announced the tenure of the committee for reconciliation, political reform and constitutional amendment has expired.

The government, opposition and Senate whips on Thursday resolved to ask the committee, chaired by Senator Direk Thuengfang, to draft charter amendment bills, based on its own recommendation for constitutional amendments.

Mr Chai, also the House speaker, said the committee's term expired when it submitted its working report to parliament. If the whips wanted the committee to do additional work, it was the government's duty to make a request.

Government chief whip Shinaworn Boonyakiat said the whips would again meet to discuss this matter with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. In his opinion, the whips would send a letter to Mr Chai and ask him to reappoint the committee to draft the amendment bills.

"The whips will talk over this matter and consult Mr Chai about reappointing the committee, which will be given the new assignment. It should be completed in six months," Mr Shinaworn said.

The Peoples Network for Elections in Thailand (PNET) passed a resolution to oppose the move to amend the 2007 constitution.

“The six-point charter change proposed by the parliament’s committee for reconciliation, political reform and constitutional amendment are only for the self interest of politicians. None of the issues that have caused social conflict were touched on,” Somchai Srisutthiyakorn, a member of PNET, said on Friday.

Mr Somchai said the six recommendations for charter change should be turned down and new issues for reconciliation be proposed and the government should host the charter rewrite.

The proposal that a new charter drafting assembly be set up was just a pretext to justify the constitutional amendment, he said.

Political conflict was caused by current politicians. Therefore people with no interests at stake should take part in rewriting the charter - such as academics, lawyers, former politicians and former members of independent organisations, Mr Somchai said.

He did not think the dissolution of parliament as called for by the opposition party would help end th political dispute.

“Social disunity is occurring because the politicians keep on fighting for power, not because of the constitution,” he