NLA won't pull back govt bills

General news - Friday December 14, 2007

NLA won't pull back govt bills

PM refuses to budge, says laws are needed

POST REPORTERS

The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) will press ahead with its task of making and passing laws despite mounting pressure from its critics, NLA Speaker Meechai Ruchupan said. He insisted that bills which have already been accepted by the assembly for deliberation cannot be pulled back.

However, Mr Meechai said the legislature will no longer accept new bills for consideration.

Among the 11 government-sponsored bills before it is the controversial Internal Security Bill, which is expected to be tabled for its second and third readings next week.

Mr Meechai said he will continue to carry out his duty as an NLA member regardless of opposition by activists.

However, talks could still be held with opponents of those bills, he said.

On Wednesday, an NLA session was disrupted when 50 activists led by former senator Jon Ungpakorn stormed into parliament to demand the assembly stop passing laws which they claimed could damage human rights and harm democracy.

Mr Meechai said the NLA had been flooded with bills and it would probably not be able to finish them all before its tenure ends.

''It is wrong to say that the NLA has to deliberate 30-40 bills in each session. All those bills were sent by the government and have been vetted by various committees.

''The NLA could not finish them all in one day,'' he said.

However, Mr Meechai said he was ready to talk to opponents to find a solution to their problems.

If they were unhappy with the bills, they had better talk the problems through and find a way out to help the public.

The bills were related to internal security, community forests, water resources management, privatisation of state enterprises, autonomy of universities, broadcasting, and the proposed National Agricultural Council.

The NLA resumed its session amid tight security yesterday as 800 activists rallied outside parliament demanding the NLA stop passing the laws.

The rally continued peacefully until protesters dispersed about 2pm.

They said they would stage a rally in front of parliament again on Monday.

Yesterday, Mr Meechai told members that the NLA will act as the legislative body until the end of the month.

After the Dec 23 general election, a new batch of MPs will be elected and sworn in.

They would take over the task of making and passing laws. The NLA then will take on the role of a senate until a new senate is installed.

Mr Meechai also asked committees set up by the NLA to stop their meetings.

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont refused to cave in to pressure from opponents of the bills.

The prime minister said the government will not withdraw the 11 government-sponsored bills, including the Internal Security Bill. They were all necessary tools for running the country.

The task of deliberating the bills now rests with the assembly, he said.

Deputy Prime Minister Sonthi Boonyaratkalin said the Internal Security Bill should not be delayed, as security was a pressing matter.

Somchai Sawaengkarn, spokesman for a committee vetting the bill, said the panel had finished revising the bill and will present it to the NLA next week.

He said the new version would be more acceptable to the public.

Meanwhile, Mr Jon and other activists met Deputy Prime Minister Paiboon Wattanasiritham at Government House yesterday.

Mr Jon asked the government through Mr Paiboon to pull back the 11 government-sponsored bills before the NLA.

Mr Paiboon said he would convey the activists' concerns to the prime minister and the NLA Speaker.

After leaving Government House, Mr Jon said Wednesday's protest was not an act of violence.

''We did not hurt anybody. NLA members are not representatives of the people. Had the assembly been elected by the people, we would not have resorted to this protest action.'

Bangkok Post