PAD brands extensive rewriting of charter "Silent Coup"

The group called for a national referendum to be organised to decide whether the charter needs to be rewritten at this time.

It also threatened to hold street protests against any bid to change the charter for selfinterest and to begin a signature campaign against the MPs backing such an attempt.

In its statement, the PAD said the coalition parties had earlier planned to rewrite only a handful of clauses that threaten to cause certain government parties to be disbanded. However, after increasing suspicion that the changes are aimed at selfserving benefits rather than the public interest, the coalition has now opted for extensive amendments.

All five PAD leaders, Chamlong Srimuang, Sonthi Limthongkul, Somsak Kosaisuk, Piphob Dhongchai and Komkiate Pongpaiboon, who is also an MP in the opposition Democrat Party, attended yesterday's meeting.

Suriyasai Katasila, the PAD coordinator, read out their statement, which denounced the attempt to rewrite the charter for selfinterest. The PAD said the genuine targets of the amendment bid were Articles 237 and 309, with the goal of whitewashing the legal responsibilities from certain politicians and political parties.

The PAD said that in order to save the time, there was a plan to replace the current Constitution with the 1997 version, which was scrapped in the 2006 coup and described by exPM Thaksin Shinawatra's critics as severely abused during his time in power.

The PAD's statement said it was not against amending the charter as long as the goals were for public interest, not against the principle of good governance, and not affecting the balance of power between the Legislature, the Administration and the Judiciary.

In the amendment was needed, the group also called for a council to be set up and consist of representatives from all sectors in society, in addition to academics and experts. The PAD said the amendment should not be drafted by the current parliamentarians in order to avoid conflict of interest.

by Wattana Khamchoo

The Nation