March 26, 2008
BANGKOK - The People Power Party (PPP) is planing broad changes to the constitution, but appears divided over whether to lift an amnesty for the junta.
The PPP has set up a team to draft amendments to the 2007 charter, which was approved at referendum last.
"We will try to amend four or five sections," said the team's leader and PM’s Office Minister Chusak Sirinil.
"We will do it as soon as possible, but it might take time because the language of the charter is quite complicated."
Party spokesman Kudeb Saikrajang told AFP that they would also push to amend article 309, which grants amnesty to members of the junta.
But Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama said that changing the article -- which also forbids the prosecution of any anti-corruption bodies set up by the junta -- could fuel unrest.
"We should make amendments to the undemocratic sections -- changing section 309 will raise conflict and should not be touched. The country needs to move forward," he told reporters.
A conclusion on article 309, or on any amendments to the constitution that might reverse a five-year politics ban imposed on Thaksin and 110 of his allies by an army-installed tribunal, has not been reached yet.
A section which bans senators, MPs and their families holding positions in state companies is likely to be changed as well.
Prime Minister Samak Sudaravej had earlier indicated he would only seek to amend the constitution after two years.
The People's Alliance for Democracy, which led street protests against Thaksin when he was in office, said it was too early to change the constitution, but a poll showed the PPP's move had popular support.
A survey of 3,426 people across Thailand by Assumption University found that nearly 60 percent of those polled supported amending the charter to make it more fair towards all sectors of society.
