TRT factions united on ruling
A WOMAN hangs a ereath on a wall outside the Constitution Court yesterday following its ruling to reject a petition by a group of senators against Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
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Despite having different reasons for supporting the Constitution Court’s decision not to review a petition to impeach Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the Thai Rak Thai Party’s factions were united in support of the ruling.
MP Chalermchai Ulankul, a member of a faction allied with deputy House speaker Suchart Tancharoen, said that if the court had decided to review the petition, it would have sent a message to the public that Thaksin was involved in the Shin Corp sale. “However, the judges decided in only 48 hours … When they rejected it the momentum shifted back to the premier again,” the MP said. Despite the court’s decision, he called on the prime minister to explain the Shin deal to the public. Wang Nam Yen faction member Suphon Fongngam said the court was correct to reject the petition because reviewing it would have worsened the political situation. Suphon added that he was concerned about a public backlash to the decision, saying crowds at future anti-Thaksin rallies may be larger. A source from another faction in the ruling party said MPs had expected the court to turn down the petition. “After they refused to review it, our PM was able to breathe easily ,” the source said. Wang Nam Yom MP Likhit Dhiravegin said he supported the ruling because there was not enough evidence to prove the premier was involved in the deal. “The petition didn’t have enough evidence proving a violation of Article 209 of the Constitution. We shouldn’t use our feelings to make judgements, but rely on reason,” he said.
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