Thai DPM dismisses possibility of appointed PM

BANGKOK, December 6 (TNA) - Deputy Prime Minister Pongthep Thepkanjana has strongly dismissed the possibility of an appointed prime minister under Section 7 of Thailand's 2007 Constitution. Pongthep, who is a legal expert, told journalists on Friday that the proposal of the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), now the largest anti-government group, for the royal appointment of a prime minister is impossible under the present Constitution. Regarding the PDRC's claim that a Thai prime minister was royally appointed after the October 14, 1973 uprising, Pongthep explained that the appointment was based on Thailand's 1972 Constitution, in which qualifications of a Thai prime minister had not been specified. Pongthep insisted that there is a very few chance to invoke Section 7 of the present Thai Charter, which is actually aimed to be only applied for during an emergency situation, like a war, but under present circumstances, normal mechanisms remain functioning. The deputy prime minister called on all parties to look into His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej's speech on April 15, 2006 on Section 7 again. According to the deputy premier, Prime Minister and Defence Minister Yingluck Shinawatra assigned him and Justice Minister Chaisakem Nitisiri to gather opinions from academics, business operators and demonstrators, for public comments for 10-15 days, before an official scrutiny is followed thereafter. The deputy prime minister acknowledged that he has assigned Permanent Secretary for Justice Kittipong Kittirak to design a process to gather the public opinions, and that he will invite PDRC secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban, who is a former MP and a former deputy prime minister under Thailand's main opposition Democrat Party, to discuss the matter to ensure national progress. Representatives of political science students from 14 universities have, in the meantime, sent a letter containing several proposals to Deputy Premier Pongthep, including the one for an open negotiation between the government and anti-government demonstrators to work out a constitutional solution to the ongoing domestic political strife. Regarding the PDRC's announcement to escalate its anti-government protest, Thai Supreme Commander General Tanasak Patimapragorn told reporters, meanwhile, that armed forces chiefs have discussed updates relating to the PDRC's protest every day, expressing his wonder why Suthep has not yet ended the PDRC's protest. The Royal Thai Armed Forces chief then proposed a democratic forum in which all parties can participate to discuss solutions.(TNA)