Abhisit calls on "Thai MPs" to vote against PM

Abhisit, who is also the Democrat Party leader, said Samak and Noppadon had exceeded their authority under Article 190 of the Constitution, which would have an impact on Thailand's sovereignty.

The foreign minister has signed a communiqué with Cambodia over that country's map of the Preah Vihear compound, which was presented as part of its bid to register the ancient temple as a World Heritage site. The Thai Cabinet endorsed the agreement.

The government insisted that because the agreement would not result in changes to Thailand's territorial area, it did not need to seek approval from Parliament, as required by Article 190.

Samak and Noppadon are among eight Cabinet members to be targeted by the opposition in the censure debate, which is scheduled to begin today. The targeted Cabinet members are all from the People Power Party (PPP).

"I hope that all Thai MPs will show their distrust of the prime minister and the foreign minister. And I ask all Thai MPs to be openminded and listen to the opposition's information, so that they will realise what to do next," Abhisit said.

"I am sure the opposition has convincing proof to show that damage has been done," he told a press conference at the Democrat Party headquarters.

Abhisit also accused Samak of lying by saying during his Sunday's talk programme a Thai team of lawyers, led by the late former premier MR Seni Pramoj, had accepted Cambodia's map that showed the Preah Vihear Temple was on Cambodian soil. Samak blamed this on the International Court of Justice ruling in 1962, which favoured Cambodia in the court battle for the Khmer ruins.

The opposition leader also disputed the premier's claim that the Democrat Party was secretly supporting the ongoing street protests by the antigovernment People's Alliance for Democracy. He said the party had nothing to do with the PAD.

"On many occasions, the PAD people have criticised the Democrat Party when they addressed the crowd. They have the right to do so," Abhisit said.

He also disagreed with Samak's description of the PAD as "a roadside gang".

"I don't view the PAD, or any other group that exercise their constitutional rights, as a roadside gang. They are Thai people who are just exercising the rights they are entitled to," Abhisit said.

Meanwhile, Democrat spokesman Ongart Klampaiboon said that the opposition had not targeted Cabinet members from other coalition parties because they have not been involved with any mismanagement or irregularities.

"If in the future, any minister from other coalition parties commits mistakes involving their job, they will face a censure motion," the spokesman said.

The prime minister has claimed that the nonPPP Cabinet ministers were spared in the hope that their parties would join a Democratled coalition government.

In a related development, House Speaker Chai Chidchob said yesterday he believed two days would be sufficient for the censure debate. Voting will take place on Thursday morning, he said.