Attorney-general backs the amendments

The Nation

"Who told the prime minister [Samak Sundaravej] that I opposed the amendment?" he said in response to Samak's remark that the government would ignore comments from the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG), which is said to have shown disagreement with the government's planned charter amendment.

"The Office of the Attorney-General has a specific law to back its independence from political interference," he said.

Although the OAG would under the current proposals have to change its status as an independent agency to that of an agency under the government's authority again, he insisted it would still have authority to pass cases to the courts without having to consult the government.

The OAG has been an independent agency since the introduction of the 2007 Constitution, along with the National Counter Corruption Commission and the Election Commission.

However, opponents of the People Power Party-led government have cried foul over a proposal by some members of the party to amend the charter and turn the OAG into a government body,

They are concerned that several charges against former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, which need the OAG's approval, would be dropped if such a change takes place.

PM's Office Minister Choosak Sirinin said his People Power Party had no plans to revamp the OAG as part of the constitutional changes.