Appointed senators to boycott policy debate, gov't to scale down debate

Somchai said some 80 of 150 senators, including 74 appointed senators, would not attend the debate.

He said the government had gone overboard in dispersing the crowds led the People's Alliance for Democracy.

He admitted, however, that the boycott might not stop the debate as the coalition alliance had the majority in Parliament.

Coalition whip Withaya Buranasiri said the government might scale down the debate in light of recent developments.

Under the Constitution, the government is obliged to announce its policy statement to Parliament within 15 days of assuming office, the deadline of which falls on October 9.