5 replies to this topic

[Sexpat]

"The Group of 40 Senators demanded yesterday that the Committee for Reconciliation and Political Reform record its meetings to create transparency and prevent politicians from putting the country at risk.

Led by appointed Senators Paiboon Nititawan and Anusak Kongmalai and Rayong Senator Sai Kangkawekin, the group issued a statement calling for the committee to map out measures to ensure politicians don't reveal sensitive details and announce resolutions after every meeting.

He said the committee should record every meeting and make them into CDs to be distributed to the public or broadcast via the Parliament website to let the public know what each committee member proposes or says about amending the Constitution.

The group, which earlier opposed any constitutional amendment, has changed its stance. It says they are willing to support a rewrite of the Constitution if the committee undertakes a public referendum. "Even though the country has to spend up to Bt2 billion for the purpose, but the money spent can be viewed as stimulating the economy,'' he said.

However People's Alliance for Democracy co-leader Suriyasai Katasila objected to calling a referendum, saying the country would be forced to choose between the Thaksin regime and bureaucratic polity or a military-installed government. "It is just a waste of time and money because the problem is not the Constitution but the behaviour of rogue politicians,'' he said."

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2009/05/07...cs_30102173.php

[Hedda]

Led by appointed Senators...

Once again, the legacy of the coup and its Constitution with 50% of the senators appointed by the establishment indicate how easy it was for the coup's sponsors to influence and control the government long after they sent the generals back to their barracks and allowed elections to be held in December, 2007. Those election results were eventually undone when the network of friendly courts, junta-appointed election commission members and the PAD mob swung into action. Now, it's the appointed senators' turn to throw as many wrenches into the machinery as possible. Look for delay, delay, delay.

Did you notice that the same appointed senators who were calling for complete transparency want "to map out measures to ensure politicians don't reveal sensitive details and announce resolutions after every meeting." Sounds like something PM Opposite would sponsor: Transparency with secrecy. I'm still not convinced that Opposite is doing nothing but playing for time, fully intending to dump this amnesty concept and most reforms, if and when he thinks he can survive without them and without elections.

[B.I.G.]

Look for delay, delay, delay.

"Democrat Party MP Niphit Intharasombat Friday suggested that the political reconciliation committee should spend at least 3 months for studying how to reform politics and amend the charter.Niphit, who sits on the reconciliation panel, said the 45-day working timeframe of the panel would be too short and real reconciliation could not take place within the short time.

He said the panel needs time to listen to opinions of the people of all groups."

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingne...-panel-extend-t

delay, delay, delay

[Sexpat]

"The Committee for Reconciliation and Political Reform has not accepted a proposal from Pracharaj Party leader Snoh Thienthong to replace the current Constitution with that of 1997 and to offer amnesty to banned politicians, a panel member said yesterday. Chinnaworn Bunyakiat, the government whip chief and a member of the committee, said Snoh's proposal was just a discussion position and not the committee's decision.

The committee will meet on Tuesday to discuss how to resolve political conflicts and bring about reconciliation through political reform and constitutional amendment. He said the committee had received many ideas but would make a resolution after sounding opinion from all sides and reporting on the progress of it work in the media.

Democrat Party MP Nipit Intarasombat, a committee member, denied allegations that the Democrat Party was not sincere in solving the political crisis, saying that otherwise it would not have appointed the committee to take opinion from every sector of society before amending the Constitution to achieve national reconciliation.

Chinnaworn said the committee was divided on whether to conduct public hearings or call a public referendum on its conclusions after 45 days. . .

In a related development, Sirichai Maingam, a leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy, said the PAD was ready to stage a protest if the committee whitewashed banned politicians or favoured former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra by dissolving independent agencies, interfering with courts of justice. He said the PAD would first pressure the Democrat Party not to amend the Constitution on those issues and if the party backtracked on its stance the PAD would call a rally to oppose the move."

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2009/05/10...cs_30102305.php

[Kirkland]

delay, delay, delay

'The People's Alliance for Democracy Monday promise not to rally against charter amendments if a public referendum votes to support the amendments. Praphan Khoonmee, a leading PAD member, said if most people vote in a referendum to support charter amendments, the PAD will have to accept the decision.

He said the PAD is not against charter amendments in general but it is opposed to any attempt to amend the charter to benefit politicians, especially to grant amnesty to banned politicians. He said if the reconciliation committee has sound reasons to back charter amendments, the PAD would accept the amendments."

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingne...n-on-charter-am

[Gene]

More delay ?

"House Speaker Chai Chidchob Monday conceded that the 45day deadline given to the Committee for Reconciliation, Political Reform and Constitution Amendment might have to be extended. He said the committee might not be able to complete the work in detail within the given time. It probably can only come up with guidelines for political reform. Subcommittees will need to be set up to study the points in detail."

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingne...-more-time-Chai