asianews

In another flip-flop, the opposition Puea Thai Party on Thursday said it still supported constitutional amendment, but wanted a public referendum to also include a comparison between the 1997 and 2007 constitutions.

The main opposition party made its latest about-turn at today's meeting of government, opposition and senate whips on the charter amendments and public referendum proposals.

"The party is still firm in getting the charter amended on six points as recommended by the parliament committee on reconciliation,'' said opposition chief whip Witthaya Buranasiri.

"But, since a referendum would cost as much as two billion baht, we do not think it should cover only amendments to the six points. We think it should also include a comparison between the 1997 and 2007 charters."

On Wednesday, Chalerm Yubamrung, chairman of Puea Thai MPs, said the party had changed its mind and would not join the coalition parties and the Senate in supporting the proposed six amendments.

Mr Chalerm, who recently publicly allied himself with the red-shirt movement, also said the party disagreed with any plan for a public referendum on the charter changes. Puea Thai would insist in having the 1997 constitution reinstated, he added.

Mr Witthaya said he believed Mr Chalerm made his remarks out of his concern that the government would not expedite the amendment process. After a conversation with Mr Chalerm on the telephone, he understood the party still adhered to its previous resolution to join the amendment process.

Chief government whip Shinaworn Boonyakiat said the meeting resolved to send a letter to Parliament President Chai Chidchob and ask him to order the law offices of the House of Representatives and the Senate to form a committee to draft the charter amendments in two forms - one bill covering all six changes, and six bills each covering one of the six points.

The committee would also be asked to make a report comparing the 1997 charter to the 2007 constitution.

The amendment drafting committee is to finish its work and send it to the joint parliamentary whip by Oct 22, Mr Shinaworn said.

Mr Shinaworn said the whips agreed that each party should take into consideration the Council of State's recommendation there should be a public referendum before the amendment bills are presented to the parliament.

Opinions of all parties would be put up for discussion at the meeting of the whips on Oct 22. The whips would meet again on Nov 5 to again go through an agreement expected to be reached at the previous meeting, Mr Shinaworn said.

The government chief whip expected the whole process would take 30 days.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban reaffirmed the government will move ahead with the proposed constitutional amendments, even in the face of strong opposition from the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD).

“The charter changes will be in line with the six points recommended by the special committee for reconciliation and constitutional amendment, and the people will be encouraged to take part in the process,” Mr Suthep said.

He insisted the government has a real intention to amend the charter, without collusion with any particular people, and will not allow anybody to cause unrest in the country.

Meanwhile, the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) announced plans for a protest on Oct 11, the date the 1997 constitution was first promulgated, to show their opposition to the retaining and amending the 2007 constitution.

UDD supporters believe the 1997 charter was the best yet and want it brought back. It was abolished after the 2006 military coup.

The red-shirts will gather at the Democracy Monument from 4pm until midnight on Sunday and call for the reinstatement of the 1997 constitution, and in opposition to the plan to retain and amend the 2007 constitution, UDD leader Nattawut Saikua said.

Fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra would make a phone-in address to protesters around 8.30pm, he said.

The theme of the protest would be "Get Abhisit out, bring back 1997 charter", he said.

The UDD leader said the red-shirts opposed the charter rewrite because it was not aimed at resolving the hardships of the people. The proposed public referendum on the changes was also just a pretext to prolong the government’s stay in office.

Mr Natthawut said UDD will on Sunday also launch a signatures collection campaign to seek the impeachment of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on the grounds his government has no legitimacy.