Charter change hits another obstacle

[CrazyExpat]

Democrat MP for Nakhon Nayok Chanchai Issarasenarak has threatened that he and 30 other party MPs will try to topple the coalition government if the prime minister presses ahead on charter change.

“We will also seek to impeach party secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban. The government has no duty to please its coalition partners,” Mr Chanchai said, adding that he was not worried about negative consequence from his movement.

“Whether or not the charter is rewritten must be decided by the people, not politicians. I do not see what benefit the people will gain from the changes. Only politicians will benefit,” he said.

He said he has the constitutional right to act against the party’s resolution and that his announcement did not reflect rifts within the Democrat camp.

Mr Chanchai insisted he was not acting on anyone's orders, and he had no idea whether Banyat Banthatdan, a party adviser, also opposes the charter changes.

The nine-member charter amendment drafting committee held its first meeting on Friday despite the ongoing confusion over whether there would be any change to the 2007 constitution at all.

The committee, chaired by Jareh Panprueng, deputy secretary-general of the House of Representatives, comprises appointed members from the law offices of the lower and upper Houses.

Mr Jareh said the committee would consult on guidelines with the parliament committee on reconciliation, political reform and charter amendment which recommended rewriting six provisions in the charter.

For the rest of the story:

http://bangkokpost.com/news/politics/157246/charter-change-hits-another-obstacle