(BangkokPost.com)
The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) handed a petition letter to Senate Speaker Prasobsuk Boondech at the parliament on Monday morning, seeking impeachment of MPs and senators who want to amend the 2007 military-approved constitution.
Pipop Thongchai, a PAD representative, said he and others plan to gather 20,000 names to remove the lawmakers who backed the charter rewrite. About 10,000 names have been gathered so far.
The petition notes that the current constitution was approved by a large majority at a referendum last August.
It claims the attempt to amend the constitution is an abuse of power as it violates some articles of the constitution regarding conflicts of interest, and their intention to abolish the charter for personal advantage.
Mr Pipop expressed confidence that the group will be able to complete gathering all those names in the next few days. He was accompanied by fellow PAD core members Suriyasai Katasila, Somsak Kosaisuk and Chaiwat Sinsuwong .
Once 20,000 people have signed the petition, it will be forwarded by the Senate speaker to the National Counter Corruption Commission to being a tedious and time-consuming process of consideration.
Mr Prasobsuk said he was concerned that the street protests would escalate, and said he wanted to call on all conflicting parties to talk with each other rationally and address their differences peacefully.
Regarding mounting concerns that an emergency decree would be declared if the demonstration turned violent, he said it depended on the government's discretion.
Mr Suriyasai refused to consider a halt to the demonstrations. He said the PAD would continue its rally until the proposed constitutional amendment was considered void or removed. He said anti- and pro-constitution groups should rally separately and peacefully, and avoid violence.
Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej reportedly monitored the street protest from Government House until early Monday morning. He also discussed the protest with Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama before chairing the annual meeting of Thai ambassadors and consuls stationed around the world.
Deputy National Police Chief Pol Gen Vichien Pojanaphosri, who is in charge of security affairs, said police would not attempt to disperse the rally unless it turned violent.
He said he would seek the PAD's cooperation to rally on the footpaths of the road to prevent a traffic jam and to avoid moving demonstrators (from place to place) because it is more difficult for police to maintain safety.
Police issued a city-wide alert on Monday morning for motorists to avoid the area of the protest, particularly Ratchadamnoen Road, which was blocked by demonstrators as Bangkok began the Monday workday. But later on Monday, the protest moved to Government House, with most of the participants off the roadway.
The group started the rally Sunday evening to air opposition to attempts engineered by the People Power party to amend the charter.
The protest drew about 5,000 demonstrators at its height on Sunday.
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The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) handed a petition letter to Senate Speaker Prasobsuk Boondech at the parliament on Monday morning, seeking impeachment of MPs and senators who want to amend the 2007 military-approved constitution.
Pipop Thongchai, a PAD representative, said he and others plan to gather 20,000 names to remove the lawmakers who backed the charter rewrite. About 10,000 names have been gathered so far.
The petition notes that the current constitution was approved by a large majority at a referendum last August.
It claims the attempt to amend the constitution is an abuse of power as it violates some articles of the constitution regarding conflicts of interest, and their intention to abolish the charter for personal advantage.
Mr Pipop expressed confidence that the group will be able to complete gathering all those names in the next few days. He was accompanied by fellow PAD core members Suriyasai Katasila, Somsak Kosaisuk and Chaiwat Sinsuwong .
Once 20,000 people have signed the petition, it will be forwarded by the Senate speaker to the National Counter Corruption Commission to being a tedious and time-consuming process of consideration.
Mr Prasobsuk said he was concerned that the street protests would escalate, and said he wanted to call on all conflicting parties to talk with each other rationally and address their differences peacefully.
Regarding mounting concerns that an emergency decree would be declared if the demonstration turned violent, he said it depended on the government's discretion.
Mr Suriyasai refused to consider a halt to the demonstrations. He said the PAD would continue its rally until the proposed constitutional amendment was considered void or removed. He said anti- and pro-constitution groups should rally separately and peacefully, and avoid violence.
Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej reportedly monitored the street protest from Government House until early Monday morning. He also discussed the protest with Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama before chairing the annual meeting of Thai ambassadors and consuls stationed around the world.
Deputy National Police Chief Pol Gen Vichien Pojanaphosri, who is in charge of security affairs, said police would not attempt to disperse the rally unless it turned violent.
He said he would seek the PAD's cooperation to rally on the footpaths of the road to prevent a traffic jam and to avoid moving demonstrators (from place to place) because it is more difficult for police to maintain safety.
Police issued a city-wide alert on Monday morning for motorists to avoid the area of the protest, particularly Ratchadamnoen Road, which was blocked by demonstrators as Bangkok began the Monday workday. But later on Monday, the protest moved to Government House, with most of the participants off the roadway.
The group started the rally Sunday evening to air opposition to attempts engineered by the People Power party to amend the charter.
The protest drew about 5,000 demonstrators at its height on Sunday.
Discuss
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