Monday, November 09, 2009

P. Thai: [Thai] Parliament must debate MoU

9/11/2009
Bangkok Post

The opposition on Monday called for a general debate on the government's intention to scrap a memorandum of understanding with Cambodia on overlapping maritime boundaries during this week's joint sitting of parliament.

Opposition chief whip Witthaya Buranasiri said that before the MoU could be revoked the government is required to seek opinions from members of parliament under Article 179 of the constitution.

Mr Witthaya said Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to seek approval for the debate at tomorrow's weekly cabinet meeting.

The cabinet meeting is due to consider cancelling the MoU, which is a framework for officials to negotiate demarcation of the disputed area in the Gulf of Thailand and joint development of gas and oil resources there. The memorandum was signed in 2001 during the first Thaksin Shinawatra government. As Thaksin is now economic adviser to the Cambodian government, the Abhisit government views the terms as an inappropriate framework for negotiations.

Mr Witthaya said if the prime minister did not agree to a debate, the oppostion would seek the support of one-third of the Senate under Article 161 of the constitution for a general debate.

He said the issue was sensitive and was affecting relations between Thailand and Cambodia, but Mr Abhisit based his decision on his own opinions.

The opposition chief whip said whether or not former prime minister Thaksin visits Cambodia this week, as announced by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, it ws apersonal matter him to decide hoimself.

Government chief whip Chinnaworn Boonyakiat said the coalition whips had discussed the MoU issue.

All cabinet members, particularly Mr Abhisit, were ready to explain how necessary it was to revoke the MoU to protect the country's interests.

Mr Chinnaworn said he did not believe it was necessary for the government to seek approval from parliament before it could revoke the MoU. Article 190 requires parliamentry approval only for making an agreement. Revoking an agreement does not need the parliament's approval.

However, to make this matter clear, the government should seek an interpretation from the Constitution Court, Mr Chinnaworn said.

Mr Chinnaworn confirmed that if Thaksin visits Cambodia on Thursday for a meeting with economic officials, as announced, Thailand would seek his extradition under the existing treaty between the two countries.

If Cambodia turns down the extradition request, Thailand would pursue the matter through diplomatic channels, Mr Chinnaworn said.

Mr Chinnaworn said the Thai people felt Cambodia had interfered in Thailand's internal affairs of Thailand and he heard talk of people boycotting the casinos just across the border.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

"Mr Chinnaworn said the Thai people felt Cambodia had interfered in Thailand's internal affairs of Thailand and he heard talk of people boycotting the casinos just across the border".

The above remark should be changed to cambodian felt the opportunist siam poloticians have interferred cambodia's internal affairs (i.e. Preah Vihear listing)to gain political power game from their stupid siams who are in denial and know cambodian have started boycotting siam products. PM ..sit, thus dont make another mistake - the next move as proposed by your purple-faced deputy PM.

Now this group of siam thugs understand what it is like when playing with fire and get burned.

Anonymous said...

Once Mr. Thaksin is in the office,
Preah Vihear place will become normal again.

Anonymous said...

To Hun Sen (Leader of the Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime)

Since you and the CPP assassinated, executed, killed and murdered jurnalists, political opponents, leaders of the free trade union, innocent men, innocent women and innocent children;

Do you have any plan to assassinate the Thai prime minister (Abhisit Vejjajiva)?

Are you going to send Brigade 70 (Hun Sen's Death Squad Unit) to assassinate the Thai prime minister (Abhisit Vejjajiva)?

Is it true, you only kill your own peoples, you will not kill Thai and Veitnamese peoples that cannot get enough of our land?

Is it true, you only kill innocent Khmer peoples with no weapon in their hands?