Thailand's joint parliamentary session convened for Charter change deliberations

BANGKOK, February 23 (TNA) - A joint Thai parliamentary session was convened Thursday to deliberate constitutional amendments, amid tight security measures provided by police to prevent any clash between opponents and proponents of the Charter changes. Parliament President Somsak Kiartsuranont said that the joint parliamentary sitting of both Upper and Lower Houses' lawmakers is to deliberate three constitutional amendment drafts of the government, the ruling Pheu Thai Party and the coalition Chartthaipattana Party, as officials are, in the meantime, verifying signatures of people supporting other Charter amendment drafts proposed by the civil sector. Somsak, who is also Thailand's House Speaker, told journalists that both proponents and opponents of the Charter changes have the right to rally, promising that he will strictly follow parliamentary regulations and will try to keep good atmosphere during the joint parliamentary session. Opposition chief whip Jurin Laksanavisit said that without protests, the joint parliamentary sitting should be smooth and proceed as scheduled. Meanwhile, Deputy Metropolitan Police Chief Police Major General Wichai Sangpraphai inspected security operations in front of the Parliament building, where both proponents and opponents of the constitutional amendments arrived this morning. Police Major General Wichai dismissed the possibility of any untoward incident, as he told proponents to stay in front of the Parliament building on U-thong Nai Road and opponents to gather beside the Parliament compound on Ratchavithi Road near U-thong Nai Intersection. According to the deputy metropolitan police chief, about 100 police officers have also been deployed to separate both groups of people and a total of some 400 police have also been deployed in the vicinity of the Parliament compound and the police forces, equipped with only shields for self-defence, have been ordered to exercise patience and refrain from using force against both groups of the demonstrators. (TNA)