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Published on September 28, 2007

The National Legis-lative Assembly came under fire yesterday for voting to impeach National Human Rights Com-mission member Jaran Dittha-apichai.

Jaran agreed to step down after being impeached by lawmakers, although he remained sceptical about the proceedings to expel him.

"I will abide by the impeachment vote of the NLA in order to avoid putting the NHRC in trouble," he said.

The September 19 Network against the Coup yesterday denounced the NLA decision to impeach Jaran. It said the Assembly, which was appointed after the coup, had no legitimacy to remove Jaran from office.

Jaran said the commission might face a financial audit if it continued to pay his salary in defiance of his expulsion.

"I am the world's first NHRC member to be fired from the job," he said, but vowed to continue working as a human rights advocate through non-government organisations. He said the junta-appointed NLA had no legitimacy to sanction the impeachment.

The Assembly, in a vote of 156-to-1 with three abstentions, censured Jaran for being involved in an anti-coup demonstration that turned into a riot two months ago. The NLA said the rampage was a clear violation of human rights, and he was supposed to uphold those rights.

NHRC chairman Saneh Chamarik said he was still waiting for official notification from the NLA to carry out the impeachment order.

"The NHRC view was that Jaran chose to act in an individual capacity," Saneh said, in reference to Jaran's involvement in leading anti-coup protests in front of the residence of Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda on July 22.

Saneh expected human rights advocates abroad would protest at the impeachment.

Meanwhile, Democrat Party chief adviser Chuan Leekpai voiced support for the decision on the grounds Jaran should have upheld the sanctity of his office instead of turning a blind eye to the violent mob.

The Nation