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http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/loca...-confrontation

Opposition MP predicts confrontation

Published: 27/02/2012 at 06:41 PM
Online news: Politics

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Ideological conflict and confrontation between pro- and anti-Thaksin Shinawatra groups over constitutional amendments seem unavoidable, Democrat Party MP Thepthai Senpong said on Monday.

Mr Thepthai, an MP for Nakhon Si Thammarat, was formerly a spokesman for the party but resigned from the position.

He said the pro-Thaksin group look formidable, judging from the show of force against another military coup by red shirt supporters of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) at Khao Yai's Bonanza resort on Saturday night.

During the rally, Thaksin called in via a video link and voiced his political opinions to the red shirts and the general public. His intention was to show the strong backing he has from the red shirts, he said.

Mr Thepthai said this was a positive development for Thaksin, unlike his opponents who are now very weak and incoherent.

But he believes politics in the future will not be dictated by the pro-Thaksin elements as those opposed to the ousted premier will gradually stage a comeback.

Continuing to push through charter amendments will bring them back together. If Thaksin's people go ahead and amend the constitution as dictated by their boss, then anti-Thaksin sentiment will certainly re-emerge, he said.

Democrat Party MP Thepthai Senpong (Photo by Chanat Katanyu)

Mr Thepthai said there were three factors which would lead to the re-emergence of the anti-Thaksin movement.

First of all, the anti-Thaksin people will wait and see whether the constitution drafting assembly (CDA), to be set up following the amendment of Section 291, will touch on the monarchy, judicial power and independent agencies, and how it will be able to help whitewash Thaksin.

Second, they will become dissatisfied if those elected to sit on the CDA are mostly Thaksin supporters.

Third, they will watch to see if and how the new charter to be written by the CDA will serve Thaksin.

If the people feel the changes are intolerable, they will stage an uprising and the country could again face a dead end, Mr Thepthai said.

National army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha on Monday warned the People's Alliance for Democracy, the yellow shirt movement, to stay within the law if the PAD decides to stage protests against constitutional amendments.

"The yellow shirts can hold rallies but their movements must be made under the democratic system," Gen Prayuth told reporters before leaving for a five-day visit to China on Monday morning.

Clashes between protesters and authorities are not likely since there are laws in the country. People who violate the law will be taken to court, he said.

Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha (Photo by Wassana Nanuam)

Asked whether the army will intervene if clashes occur, Gen Prayuth said the army would not come out unless it received orders to do so.

The army chief said he, as a state official, will not comment on the government's move to amend the constitution as it is still going through the democratic process.

Government chief whip Udomdej Rattanasathian said the Pheu Thai Party will select members of the committee to amend Section 291 that will lead to the to establishment of the CDA.

"I'm not concerned that the opposition could create another committee to scrutinise the amendment because there are already opposition members on the amendment committee," Mr Udomdej said.

On the financial executive decrees, he said the Secretariat of the House of Representative had not yet received the document from the Constitution Court which ruled the decrees legal.

He said he has decided that once the official statement is released, the decrees will be ready for submission to the parliament within the week and any other scheduled events will be postponed.

Mr Udomdej also said the government whip's office has invited the Anti-Money Laundering Office secretary to a meeting on amending anti-money laundering legislation.

He said currently the whip is waiting for the draft from a subcommittee, which will be forwarded to the government, then the parliament, once completed.

He said he was worried about public rights and freedoms in the legislation, which required people to clarify every transaction with a financial institution.

He said if the legislation is considered for amendment, this might convince the global Financial Action Task Force (FATF) that Thailand is not a laundering hub for terrorists and their backers.