POLITICS
The People Power party (PPP) is about to try several ways to get the National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC) disbanded, allegedly for violating the 2007 constitution.
PPP deputy spokesman Boonjong Wongtrairat said yesterday his party had gathered enough signatures from MPs to push for the dissolution of independent organisations, which would certainly include the NCCC.
He claimed the NCCC violates the charter as it was not appointed by His Majesty the King, as required by Article 246 of the constitution. The NCCC was formed by the Council for Democratic Reform (CDR) that toppled the Thaksin Shinawatra government on Sept 19, 2006.
The PPP will push for the dissolution through two channels - the Senate and the Supreme Court's Crime Division for Holders of Political Positions.
Article 248 of the constitution requires that at least one quarter of MPs sign a motion for the impeachment of the NCCC. The impeachment will be achieved if at least three quarters of the senators vote for the dissolution.
However, the PPP thinks its complaint with the Supreme Court should yield faster results.
Mr Boonjong said one-fifth of MPs can ask the Supreme Court to rule if the NCCC is legitimate. Once the court accepts the case for consideration, the NCCC must be suspended immediately.
NCCC member Phakdi Pothisiri yesterday hit back, saying his panel was legitimate. He quoted a clarification from the Office of His Majesty's Principal Private Secretary that the establishment of the NCCC had been done when the CDR had the absolute power to do so and the formation took immediate effect and was verified by the present constitution.
The PPP's impeachment bid is apparently in response to the NCCC taking into consideration the constitutionality of the whole cabinet, which has been accused of violating Article 190 of the constitution that requires it to seek parliamentary approval before signing any international agreements.
This concerns the joint communique former foreign minister Noppadon Pattama signed with Cambodia to support Cambodia's bid to have the Preah Vihear temple listed as a World Heritage site. If the NCCC rules against it, the cabinet will be suspended immediately.
The PPP's legal working group will decide on Tuesday if any other independent organisations should be impeached, Mr Boonjong said.
The PPP will also push for the amendment of the 2007 constitution. It wants only elected senators, not appointed ones, every constituency to be represented by one MP, a political party to be protected from dissolution resulting from electoral fraud by an executive, and the eradication of Article 190.
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