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Published on March 29, 2008

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej has clashed with the legal team of the People Power Party (PPP) over amendments to the Constitution, as he opposes the move to amend Article 309.

PM's Office Minister Choosak Sirinin said Samak only wanted to amend Article 237 to solve problems related to the dissolution of political parties. Choosak, who oversees the PPP's constitutional-amendment panel, said the PM might not have been given complete information and amending Article 309 is not a shameful act, as he believes.

"If Article 309 is revoked, all announcements and orders continue to take effect, but damaged parties have the chance to win if they take the matter to court by fighting on the grounds that the announcements are unconstitutional and violate the democratic process. If this section is not removed, the damaged parties will never win the case.

"It does not mean that the

Council for National Security and the Assets Examination Committee and other agencies will be dissolved if the section is removed," Choosak said.

He said he would inform Samak about the matter but if he still opposed the move, the party would be asked to rule.

He rejected reports that the PPP's 51 northeastern MPs disagreed with the rush to amend the Constitution as they wanted the party to focus on economic problems. Choosak insisted the PPP was determined to amend the charter.

"The issue is whether or not we make drastic changes," he said.

Samak insisted that he did not want the PPP to alter Article 309 for fear of negative consequences. "It is no use. The move will just be attacked, but I agree with amending Article 237," he said.

Samak refused to say who would have the final say over the matter. "That is not the issue. There is still time to discuss which sections need amendment," he said.

He admitted that the party was divided over the amendment move but said he saw nothing wrong with that. "Different opinions are not the problem because that proves that we are a democratic party, and not dictatorial," he said.

He insisted he had not thought of amending laws to grant amnesty to the former 111 Thai Rak Thai executives. "I would be criticised just for thinking about it, so I just let it go," he said.

PIYANART SRIVALO

THE NATION