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Published on October 12, 2007

Nitya said a provision in the new charter - Article 305 (5) - allowed the government to proceed with free-trade agreements initiated before the constitution came into effect on August 24.

"Before the signing, we also provided [the public] with information and after the signing, we revealed details to all parties too."

Nitya said measures had also been prepared to help sectors that might be affected by the agreement.

NLA member Somchai Sawaengkarn was unconvinced and told Nitya during the censure debate he and his peers may petition the Constitution Tribunal to review the legality of the free-trade pact.

Somchai also questioned why Nitya wrote two classified letters to the Cabinet secretary about the matter on two consecutive days. The first, dated September 17, suggested Cabinet get the NLA to approve the Jtepa, but the letter the following day dropped the suggestion, he said.

Nitya maintained there was nothing unusual about the letters. The second letter on September 18 was a result of more thorough consideration of the matter, he said.

Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation