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(July 10, 2008/ Bangkok, Thailand) Abhisit Vejjajiva, leader of
opposition Democrat Party, said Wednesday his party plans to
seek impeachment proceedings against Prime Minister Samak
Sundaravej and Chusak Sirinil, Minister attached to the Prime
Minister's Office.
Mr Abhisit said the chairman of the opposition whips and legal
experts from the Democrat Party had been assigned to study the
details on filing impeachment proceedings against the duo.
The plan came just one day after he had said his party would
seek impeachment of Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama after the
Constitution Court ruled that the minister violated the
constitution by signing a joint statement with Cambodia on Preah
Vihear temple without prior parliamentary endorsement.
The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural
Organisation (UNESCO) World Heritage Committee, now meeting in
annual session in Quebec City, Canada, on Monday approved
Cambodia's application to list the 11th century temple as a
World Heritage site.
Thai law only allows impeachment proceedings to be lodged
against individual ministers, not the entire cabinet. And the
initial documents must explain clearly how an impeached minister
has violated the constitution, explained Mr. Abhisit.
Mr Chusak has been placed on the list because he oversees law
for the five-month-old government.
When asked whether Thailand's political impasse would ease if
Mr. Samak chooses to dissolve the House of Representatives and
call for a general election, Mr Abhisit said it is one of the
alternatives specified in the constitution.
He said if Mr Samak dissolves the House, he must have enough
reasons for doing so.
Urging the government to more quickly find ways to prevent a
Cambodian encroachment on Thai sovereignty after UNESCO approved
registering the temple as a World Heritage Site, Mr Abhisit said
"no one in the (Thai) government is doing anything presently."
(TNA)
Source:
Bangkok Post |
