Pheu Thai alleges bias in new law
THAKSIN PARTY ‘IS BEING PICKED ON’
>> The Pheu Thai Party has slammed the new organic laws on political parties, claiming harsh penalties enclosed in the draft now before the public were deliberately designed to hobble it.
Acting leader Wirote Pao-in said Pheu Thai, the political instrument largely funded by fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, was being singled out for unfair treatment.
Among the penalties originally included in the draft, but now dropped, was the death penalty for buying or selling political positions.
Pol Lt Gen Wirote said ahead of a major debate on the laws on Wednesday that such a provision treated political parties as criminals.
He criticised the Constitution Drafting Committee for not designing laws that encouraged the public to participate more fully in politics, saying the CDC preferred instead to lay down stiff penalties and restrictions.
He said a party that failed to solve the country’s problems through peaceful means or allowed non-members or “prohibited persons” to influence or interfere in their internal affairs “directly or indirectly” was also liable for dissolution.
The CDC has invited political parties to a forum on Wednesday to air their views on the draft.
Issues to be discussed include party membership fees, start-up capital to establish a party and Section 23 of the draft which sets out the criteria for forming a new party.
The draft stipulates that members must pay an annual fee of 100 baht or have their membership terminated.
In its first year after establishment, a party is required to have at least 5,000 eligible members, and 20,000 members after four years. If not, it will be dissolved.
Pol Lt Gen Wirote said Pheu Thai was willing to attend the forum, though he disagreed with the new law.
He also urged the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to lift a ban on political gatherings so that parties can resume their political activities and call meetings to prepare for the next general election.
Pheu Thai’s former foreign minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul, addressing the death penalty proposal, echoed the view that Pheu Thai was often singled out for unfair treatment.
He felt Pheu Thai would be more vulnerable to harassment and dissolution unless the law is enforced fairly.
Meanwhile, Chartthaipattana Party will send former MP for Ang Thong Paradorn Prissananantakul to the CDC meeting to give the party’s position on the draft law.
Party director Nikorn Chamnong said the new criteria for membership fee payments would not affect smaller or new parties, but rather medium-sized parties like Chartthaipattana.
Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said his party agreed in principle with the draft law which is aimed at reforming political parties so that they can serve the public better.
But some of the proposed requirements under the draft law, such as the proposed annual membership fee, are impractical.
Many people still cannot understand why they should pay membership fees given that being a party member tends to restrict several rights, Mr Abhisit said.
Party members are prohibited from holding certain public offices or from applying for candidacy in certain selection processes, he said. He was also concerned that members of a particular political party would risk persecution from those in power from an opposing side at the height of a political conflict.
Mr Abhisit also disagreed with the proposed new criteria for existing political parties to verify party members within 150 days of the draft law coming into effect, which is also impractical.
It would be a tough job to contact all 2 million members of the party within that time frame, Mr Abhisit said.
It would also take some time to explain what party members will get in return for paying membership fees, he said.
He also supported calls for the NCPO to allow parties to resume meetings to prepare for the next general election.
Mr Abhisit said it is necessary for political parties to follow up on the problems facing the public, and this should not pose a threat to national security.