Thai PM : Neutral person to head street clash probe committee

Written by Writer on Friday, October 10th, 2008

Thai PM : Neutral person to head street clash probe committee

BANGKOK (TNA) - Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat said Friday he is still seeking an appropriate personality, “an outsider”, to head a committee responsible for investigating the clashes in Bangkok between police and the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protesters on Tuesday.

He had contacted at least one possible candidate, he said, but as yet his search has not achived a neutral person to head the committee probing the clashes which left two people dead and more than 400 others injured.

An exact number for the committee has not been specified, as it will be left to the chairman to decide, he explained, noting that the government will not intervene.

The cabinet, according to Sukhumpong Ngonkam, minister attached to Prime Minister’s Office, had agreed to the prime minister appointing the investigative committee but advised that committee members be neutral, not involved in politics and respected by society.

On a plan to establish another committee to assist and rehabilitate clashes victims, Mr. Somchai said there should not be a problem and that he would appoint one of the deputy prime ministers to be responsible. He did not say which deputy prime minister.

On demands made by several circles that the prime minister must resign or dissolve the House to show his responsibility for the incidents, Mr. Somchai said he would listen to opinions because the country belongs to everybody, but that hehimself would decide which is the “most appropriate way” to resolve the crisis.

Reiterating that the prime minister will continue to administer the country, Mr. Sukhumpong said the prime minister had asked representatives of political parties to meet October 20 to discuss a plan to amend the Constitution’s Article 291 to allow formation of a Constitution Drafting Committee.

Leaders of the legislative and executive branches, together with the opposition Democrat Party, a week ago agreed to allow every sector to participate in amending Article 291 of the 2007 Constitution, written during the administration installed by the September 2006 coupmakers, designed to end Thailand’s political turbulence. (TNA)