Senators plan to use section 7 to oust PM
From Bangkok Post website today Wed 1 March
Senators aim to use clause to oust PM
Senators critical of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will seek to invoke Section 7 of the constitution after his resignation and ask His Majesty the King to install an interim government.
Senator Sak Korsaengruang made the announcement yesterday in the presence of more than 30 senators.
He said the senators will sign a declaration calling on Mr Thaksin to resign by Friday and propose the invocation of Section 7.
''We are asking him nicely to step down so the people of Thailand can finally carry on with their lives,'' he said.
Sen Chirmsak Pinthong said when a prime minister and his cabinet resign after House dissolution, and a new leader cannot be chosen, the only solution is to apply Section 7.
Section 7 states that customs and conventions practised under the constitutional monarchy will be applied in situations not covered by the constitution.
''The norm in the past is for His Majesty the King to establish an impartial interim government which would steer the country toward political reform and finally a fresh election. This is what our group thinks is appropriate,'' he said.
Sen Chirmsak said invoking Section 7 is not in any way bypassing the constitution since the constitution itself has come to a dead end.
Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday welcomed the senators' move, saying Section 7 could provide a way out of the crisis while Mr Thaksin had insisted on having things his own way.
But Thai Rak Thai deputy leader Pokin Polakul, meanwhile, said that invoking Section 7 would be unfair to Mr Thaksin.
The former House speaker said there were rules to follow and if members failed to play by the rules, society would face anarchy.
''We have to respect the system. We cannot follow our own standards. Morality and ethics are totally different issues. We have to stick to the rules first,'' he said.
Mr Pokin said that the case of the Sanya Thammasak administration, which was installed by the King, could not apply in the current situation.
The Section 7 proposal drew flak from leading academics, though.
Surapol Nitikrapoj, rector of Thammasat University, said that so far the situation did not call for Section 7.
''I don't see anything coming of this [invocation of Section 7]. The government has dissolved the House. If certain political parties do not stand in the election, it's their right,'' he said.
He said that even if Mr Thaksin resigned as prime minister, the constitution did not call for a replacement. But if the other cabinet ministers resigned, it may call for invocation of Section 7.
Suthachai Yimprasert, of Chulalongkorn University, said that it was inappropriate to involve the monarchy and resort to improper means to oust Mr Thaksin.
