Thai PM vows to amend constitution despite protests from political opponents

The Associated Press ,  Bangkok   |  Sun, 07/13/2008 7:41 PM  |  World

Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, whose government faces streets protests and a barrage of corruption allegations, vowed Sunday to amend the post-coup constitution, despite strong political opposition.

In his weekly radio television program, Samak also said he would go through with an anticipated Cabinet reshuffle but gave no details.

Samak blamed the constitution for a spate of problems confronting his government, including legal action that has forced the resignations of three cabinet ministers.

Samak has been accused of trying to change the constitution to hold onto power and to prevent ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra from facing corruption-related charges.

The document was written by a military government last year after a bloodless 2006 army coup that toppled Thaksin. The interim government relinquished power after more than a year in office, allowing a democratic election last December that saw Thaksin's ally Samak sweep into power.

Opponents charge that Samak and his People's Power Party are merely proxies of Thaksin, who still wields the real power behind the scenes.

Samak said the constitution makes it easy for political parties to be disbanded by court order, thus creating a dangerous vacuum in governing of the country.

Several parties, including the People's Power Party, are being threatened with dissolution on various charges including fraud during last December's election which brought Samak and a six-
party coalition into power.

"The current constitution is a political trap to destroy this government, so this constitution must be changed and I will propose to amend the constitution once Parliament resumes next
month," Samak said.

Samak said he had been warned that pressing to change the constitution would lead to a severe political crisis, but added, "I am ready to face whatever crisis comes. I have to do it or
die," he said.

The government had proposed to amend the constitution June but the motion was withdrawn after thousands of people, led by the People Alliance for Democracy, staged protests which entered their 50th day Sunday.

Thaksin and members of his family face a slew of court cases related to corruption and abuse of power during his 2001-2006 premiership.(**)

Copyright © 2008 The Jakarta Post - PT Bina Media Tenggara. All Rights Reserved.