CDA member Karun Sai-ngam tried but failed to reduce the minimum number of eligible voters required to sign a petition to have people in power removed from office.

The people listed under Article 261 are: prime minister, minister, member of the House of Representatives, senator, president of the Constitu-tion Court, president of the Supreme Court of Justice, president of the Supreme Administrative Court and Prosecutor General.

Impeachment is meant for those who are believed to have become unusually wealthy or allegedly engaged in corruption or abuse of power.

Karun told the assembly the number should be reduced because it's not easy to find people to sign such a petition because those signatories could be sued for libel. "We can't initiate impeachment otherwise," said Karun.

The Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) defended its draft saying such serious charges against politicians and especially top judges should not be easily set in motion. The assembly eventually voted 51 to 9, rejecting Karun's proposal.

It also rejected another Karun proposal to have the number of senators required to initiate the impeachment process from one-fourth of the existing members of the Senate to one-fifth. The assembly voted 48 to 12 against.

The assembly also approved - without voting - the alteration of time limits required by the National Counter Corrup-tion Commission (NCCC) to complete investigating those facing impeachment from 30 days to a vague wording of "quickly".

The CDA also agreed to increase the penalties and make it a crime when those in political positions fail to declare their assets to the NCCC or intentionally file a false asset declaration.

Article 254 indicates the NCCC could file complaints against the wrongdoers with the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office Holders. Those found guilty could also face criminal penalties, apart form losing their positions and being banned from politics for five years as indicated in the 1997 Constitu-tion. The assembly was expected to discuss Buddhism as the national religion last night or today.

Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation