Thaksin supporters to rally during two-day Parliament meeting
Thaksin supporters to rally during two-day Parliament meeting
BANGKOK: — Red-clad demonstrators will rally continuously on December 29-30, when Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva will deliver the government’s policy statement, according to Veera Musikapong, a leader of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD).
The UDD leaders began addressing the demonstrators at 4pm from their Sanam Luang platform on Sunday, one day ahead of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva’s delivery of the government’s policy statement in Parliament.
Mr. Veera said UDD leader Nuttawut Saikua planned to talk on stage about financial support from TPI Polene Pcl to the Democrat Party and show evidence of money transaction. He said the wrongdoing can be punished by the party’s dissolution.
UDD leader Chatuporn Promphan said that the UDD will announce at 8 pm Sunday evening whether it will move its widely publicised protest to Parliament to pressure the government on Monday or not.
If there is no so-called ‘third party’ joining the protesters and the UDD leader can control the crowd to protest in a peaceful manner, he said, the group will move to Parliament.
After the New Year the UDD activists will decide whether to prolong their protest, he added.
About 5,000 police officers have reinforced security at Parliament.
Meanwhile, Puea Thai party spokesman Pormpong Nopparit said that the content of 40,000 pamphlets distributed by the police in Bangkok, surrounding areas and other provinces is considered threatening.
The pamphlets said those, who obstructed the government’s policy statement delivery in the parliamentary seesion, would be charged with insurrection, said Pormpong.
While calling on Prime Minister Abhisit to dissolve the parliament, he told those who received the pamphlets from the police that peaceful protests without weapons is not against the law.
Abhisit government finish delivering policy statements
Dec 30 2008
Abhisit government complete its delivery of policy statements on Tuesday at 1.15pm after having to switch meeting venue from parliament to Foreign Ministry.
The switch came after red shirt protesters blocked access to parliament for the second day on Tuesday.
When the session which lasted about two hours finished, House speaker Chai Chidchob wished all MPs and senators a happy new year.
Government of Abhisit started delivering policy statement at Foreign Ministry on Tuesday at 11.10am.
The venue of the parliamentary session to deliver the policy statements was moved from the parliament to the foreign ministry after red shirt protesters blocked parliament for the second day on Tuesday.
The delivery started as red shirt protesters moved from parliament to the ministry. Hundreds of police were deployed along the ministry’s fences.
The protesters, who are loyal to fugitive ex-Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra, demanded that Abhisit dissolved the House and general election be held.
Abhisit government is required by the constitution to deliver policy statements within 15 days after they sworn in. It has until January 7 to deliver the statements.
The state-run NBT TV station broadcast the session.
Opposition asks court to rule whether govt violates law
BANGKOK, Dec 30 (TNA) – Thailand’s opposition Puea Thai Party on Tuesday asked the Constitution Court to rule whether the coalition government violated the law by carrying out the delivery of the government’s policy statement at a location other than the official chamber of the Parliament which took place earlier in the day.
Traditionally, the presentation of government’s policy statement is held at the Parliament but the recently-appointed coalition government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva was forced to change the venue to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for safety reasons as several thousand anti-government protesters of the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) blocked entrances to the Parliament building in an attempt to prevent the session from taking place.
Leaders of the Puea Thai Party attacked the coalition government after Mr. Abhisit had completed his presentation on the government’s policy statement.
They also lashed out at Parliament President Chai Chidchob for what they alleged was not following the Parliament’s rules on changing the venue by informing members of parliament on such short notice.
Puea Thai MPs boycotted Tuesday’s session while party leaders assigned party-list MP Manit Chitchanklub to gather evidence and submit to the Constitution Court to rule whether the coalition government violated the law.
Mr. Chai, however, said there was no problem in changing the venue because 330 MPs voted in favour of changing the place of the government’s policy statement to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The delivery is now completed and the government should be allowed to work, said Mr. Chai.
He said he disagreed with demands made by UDD for the prime minister to dissolve the House and call for a general election because the people are suffering while the national economy is poor.
Chatuporn Promphan, a leading member of UDD, said his group’s stance remains unchanged on the prime minister to dissolve the House.
The UDD will continue the rally at least until Tuesday night and probably then take a rest on Wednesday to celebrate New Year’s Eve, Mr. Chatuporn said. UDD leaders will meet late Tuesday to decide when to resume the rally after the New Year
Police may cut Thaksin’s rank
BANGKOK: — The Royal Thai Police is considering revoking former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s police rank of lieutenant colonel because he received a jail term in a final court verdict.
Police Maj General Panya Engchuan, commander of the force’s Disciplinary Division, said Thursday his office had suggested to the personnel division on Monday (Jan 5) that Thaksin be deprived of his police rank.
He said the suggestion was in line with the regulations for police personnel.
Panya said that, according to the regular procedures, the personnel division was likely to refer the case to police commissioner-general Patcharawat Wongsuwan for further action.