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BANGKOK: Thai Senate voted overwhelmingly Friday to pass the first
reading of a public referendum bill aimed at breaking the current
political impasse in the country.
After a two-hour debate, the half-appointed,
half-elected 150-seat Senate voted 119-5 to pass the first reading.
The voting came after the government of Prime
Minister Samak Sundaravej gave the green light to the idea at a
special Cabinet meeting on Thursday.
The reading was passed during a speeded-up
process with an aim to end the political deadlock between
anti-government protesters led by the People’s Alliance for
Democracy (PAD) and the government led by Samak. The proposed
referendum woauld allow the people to decide either to follow the
PAD’s demand to oust the Samak government.
After a two-hour debate, the Senate has passed
its first reading of the referendum bill by a majority vote of
119-5. Two abstained.
A special panel of 29 members was appointed to
review the articles in the bill for the final two readings. The
final judgment is expected to be completed within 90 days.
Government Spokesman Wichienchote
Sukchoterat earlier said that if the Senate approves the proposed
referendum, the process could begin within 30 days or early October.
The Council of State would be assigned to draft a questionnaire for
the referendum.
But earlier the Election Commission (EC), which
will be responsible for organizing a public referendum as normally
required, threw cold water on the idea with EC member Prapan
Naikowit saying before attending the senate session that it would
take at least six to seven months to prepare for the referendum.
The opposition Democrat Party has voiced
disapproval of the referendum idea, saying it was just a tactic of
Samak to buy time.
The PAD continued its occupation of the
Government House into the 10th day on Friday and maintained its
demand for the Samak Cabinet to step down and vowed to carry on with
the anti-government street protest, despite the declaration of state
of emergency in the capital by the premier on Tuesday.
-- Xinhua
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