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Published on April 19, 2008

PIYANART SRIVALO, YOSSAWADEE HONGTHONG

THE NATION

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej yesterday said that his government would revamp just two independent organisations and dismissed as inaccurate press reports about a complete overhaul of another seven agencies.

Samak said the Election Commission and the National Counter Corruption Commission would be under new offices after constitutional changes come into effect.

"Incumbent commissioners in the two independent organisations secured their offices inappropriately in the wake of the coup and without a royal command," he said.

He said he would explain the planned amendments during his weekly public address to be aired on Sunday by NBT.

He said the changes had nothing to do with helping ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra evade graft charges, or pre-empting punishment of party-dissolution for three coalition parties: People Power, Chart Thai and Matchima Thipataya.

The government has a sufficient majority to rectify perceived flaws in the charter, and deems it appropriate to do so in order to benefit future administrations, he said.

PM's Office Minister Choosak Sirinin said the draft amendments would be completed and ready for a review by coalition whips next week.

Choosak also said he would push for a gradual phase-out of the mixed system of appointed and elected senators in order to revert the upper chamber to an elected body. He also wanted to enlarge the bench of the Constitution Court from nine to 15 judges.

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said the government - in its concern about graft cases - tried to invoke a pretext to rein in the NCCC.

Abhisit said upon the expiry of the tenure of the Assets Examination Committee, many high-profile cases will be transferred to the NCCC's jurisdiction, and unfavourable findings could sink the government.

He called on the government to involve all sectors of society in any review of the charter instead of making a unilateral push in order to escape accountability. He also said the government was advancing a false argument by linking constitutional changes to investor confidence.

"Before and after a general election, there is never a problem of confidence. The problem lies with the government, which appears to have stirred up tension and divisiveness by its every move," he said.