Bangkok Post
The joint meeting of the House of Representatives and the Senate on Thursday resolved to postpone indefinitely deliberation of the two charter amendment bills in the first and second readings.
The joint meeting, chaired by Parliament President Chai Chidchob, wasy scheduled to consider two amendment bills. They were both put onthe agenda by Mr Chai.
The first motion was proposed in 2008 by the People's Committee for Amending the 2007 Constitution led by Weng Tochirakarn of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD).
The second was proposed this month by the five junior parties in the coalition government - Bhumjaithai, Chart Thai Pattana, Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana, Puea Pandin and Social Action.
Members of parliament voted 278 to 212, with 25 abstentions, to postpone deliberation of the two bills until a date yet to be fixed and instead move up six international agreements for consideration. The meeting was attended by 515 parliamentarians.
The six international agreements moved up for consideration are: three memorandums of understanding - with Laos, Turkmenistan and Turkey; a draft agreement to participate in the assessment of chemical substances with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD); a draft agreement under the Chiang Mai Initiative; and a draft agreement on the setting up of the Credit Guarantee and Investment Facility (CGIF).
The postponement of the charter amendment debate was not unexpected. On Wednesday the government whips decided to delay deliberation of the two motions and accompanying bills.
Earlier on Thursday, before parliament resolved to postpone debate, Mr Weng submitted a letter through opposition chief whip Witthaya Buranasiri opposing the postponement.
Mr Weng said his group's draft charter amendment was a way of solving the country's political crisis through peaceful means.
The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), represented by Pibhop Dhongchai, submitted a petition to Senate Speaker Prasopsuk Boondej seeking to impeach Mr Chai for putting Mr Weng's charter amendment draft on the parliament agenda.
Mr Pibhop said Mr Weng's motion contravened Section 291 (1) of the 2007 constitution. Although the bill was signed by more than 50,000 people, as required by the constitution, parliament had not yet passed an organic law to allow people signing up to a petition for charter amendment.
Despite this legal snag, Mr Chai put Mr Weng's bill on the agenda in violation of Section 270 of the charter.
Therefore, the PAD wa seeking the impeachment of Mr Chai under Sections 164 and 271 of the constitution, Mr Pibhop said.
Mr Pibhop said the 2007 constitution was supported by 14.7 million people in a public referendum. Therefore, it should not be amended just a number of parliamentarians, he added.
The joint meeting, chaired by Parliament President Chai Chidchob, wasy scheduled to consider two amendment bills. They were both put onthe agenda by Mr Chai.
The first motion was proposed in 2008 by the People's Committee for Amending the 2007 Constitution led by Weng Tochirakarn of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD).
The second was proposed this month by the five junior parties in the coalition government - Bhumjaithai, Chart Thai Pattana, Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana, Puea Pandin and Social Action.
Members of parliament voted 278 to 212, with 25 abstentions, to postpone deliberation of the two bills until a date yet to be fixed and instead move up six international agreements for consideration. The meeting was attended by 515 parliamentarians.
The six international agreements moved up for consideration are: three memorandums of understanding - with Laos, Turkmenistan and Turkey; a draft agreement to participate in the assessment of chemical substances with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD); a draft agreement under the Chiang Mai Initiative; and a draft agreement on the setting up of the Credit Guarantee and Investment Facility (CGIF).
The postponement of the charter amendment debate was not unexpected. On Wednesday the government whips decided to delay deliberation of the two motions and accompanying bills.
Earlier on Thursday, before parliament resolved to postpone debate, Mr Weng submitted a letter through opposition chief whip Witthaya Buranasiri opposing the postponement.
Mr Weng said his group's draft charter amendment was a way of solving the country's political crisis through peaceful means.
The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), represented by Pibhop Dhongchai, submitted a petition to Senate Speaker Prasopsuk Boondej seeking to impeach Mr Chai for putting Mr Weng's charter amendment draft on the parliament agenda.
Mr Pibhop said Mr Weng's motion contravened Section 291 (1) of the 2007 constitution. Although the bill was signed by more than 50,000 people, as required by the constitution, parliament had not yet passed an organic law to allow people signing up to a petition for charter amendment.
Despite this legal snag, Mr Chai put Mr Weng's bill on the agenda in violation of Section 270 of the charter.
Therefore, the PAD wa seeking the impeachment of Mr Chai under Sections 164 and 271 of the constitution, Mr Pibhop said.
Mr Pibhop said the 2007 constitution was supported by 14.7 million people in a public referendum. Therefore, it should not be amended just a number of parliamentarians, he added.
