Wants to work’within the program ‘
The main opposition People’s Party ( PP ) announced it would not take part in former protest leader Sondhi Limthongkul’s planned anti-government protests, saying it would work within the parliamentary system to fulfill its role.
PP official Parit Wacharasindhu said on Wednesday the group may rely on the president’s work and solve problems that were of people concern through political mechanisms.
These issues, including the justice management method, the Khao Kradong area discussion and the 2001 memorandum of understanding on joint growth in the Gulf of Thailand signed by Thailand and Cambodia, may be examined as usual, he said.
The group would also do it best to advocate for changes and procedures by submitting payments or proposing constitutional amendments, many of which were approved by parliament, he said.
Mr Parit was responding to remarks by Nattawut Saikuar, an assistant to the prime minister, who said PP followers may join the anticipated street protests.
The PP official dismissed Mr Nattawut’s remarks as debate, saying he had no thought on what it was based.
Nevertheless, he insisted the group supports women’s freedom of expression whether the gathering agrees with the problems and it hopes that political appearance will not offend political principles.
” The party has no purpose to slap up social activities outside parliament.
” We’re determined to work within the system to keep the government in check and advocate for change,” he said.
Mr Sondhi, former leader of the now-defunct People’s Alliance for Democracy ( PAD), caused a stir this week when he announced his plan to hold regular activities next year.
Some observers warned these activities may escalate into large demonstrations against the Pheu Thai-led state and perhaps lead to the seizure of power.
Mr Nattawut said earlier demonstrations against the Thai Rak Thai-led state and the Pheu Thai management culminated in the 2006 and 2014 dictatorships.
PM’s Office Minister Chousak Sirinil on Wednesday called on the people to consider the effect of previous yellow-shirt demonstrations and the dictatorships, saying they were important training for the region.
He said these incidents brought political instability which posed a major obstacle to the country’s development.
Mr Chousak said there were no conditions which could trigger mass protests and added that no negotiations under the 2001 MoU were in progress.
He said the result of the talks would have to be reviewed and approved by parliament.
” Such a crisis is way behind us, and I do n’t want the country to go back to that point,” he said.
The Pheu Thai Party member also brushed off speculation the Paetongtarn Shinawatra administration would be short-lived.
Paiboon Nititawan, secretary-general of the Palang Pracharath Party ( PPRP ), on Wednesday warned the government not to mess things up especially when dealing with charter amendments and the referendum bill, which are controversial matters.
He was commenting on Mr Chousak’s remark that the waiting period for the referendum bill would be much shorter if it was classified as a finance-related law after the Senate last week won the joint House-Senate panel vote to retain the double majority rule needed to pass a charter amendment referendum.
The House is likely to affirm the simple majority when the bill is returned for a vote, as it has backed such a change in the past. In this case a 180-day mandatory” cooling-off period” would apply before the bill is passed.
However, if the bill is classified as a finance law, it will be suspended only 10 days, instead of 180 days.
Mr Paiboon said the government should respect the House regulations and the House Speaker’s judgement that the referendum bill is not a finance bill.
He also said he agreed with some analysts ‘ observations the Paetongtarn government might not last a year.