'Controversial transfer was cabinet decision'
The claim that the Constitutional Court is treating Prime Minister Yingluck and her cabinet unfairly can hardly be sustained now that the Court has given Yingluck an extra two weeks to prepare her defense in the Thawil case.
This is what Paiboon Nititawan, one of the senators who petitioned the Court for the case, says. But the Court rejected Yingluck's request to bring in three witnesses. They are not heard by the Court, but may submit a written defence. Yingluck and the senators are due to appear in court on May 6.
According to Paiboon, it is crystal clear that the controversial transfer of Thawil, at the heart of this case, was a cabinet decision. That was taken on September 6. If the Court, following the administrative judge's view, considers that transfer to be contrary to the law, this means that the entire cabinet must leave the field and not just Prime Minister Yingluck.
According to the senators, the transfer of Thawil, then secretary general of the National Security Council, was intended to indirectly help Yingluck's brother-in-law to the position of chief of police of the national police. In doing so, Yingluk has violated the constitution. Thawil had been appointed Secretary General by the Abhisit government.
Senator Somchai Sawaengkarn, one of the co-signatories of the petition to the Court, is not concerned about the May 6 hearing. The evidence against the prime minister is strong and clear. There is really nothing the witnesses called in by Yingluck can say to make things go the other way.
Whether Yingluck herself will come on May 6, the legal team has yet to discuss with her. So far, Yingluck has said not to worry about the hearing. According to a source at the Ministry of Defense, the prime minister will talk to the military top at a meeting of the Defense Council today about the impending political deadlock that will arise if the cabinet falls.
Senator Khamnoon Sitthisamarn writes on his Facebook page that pro- and anti-government supporters will demonstrate on May 6. The red shirts have previously announced that they will hold a rally a day before the Court's verdict and the anti-government movement has said it will do so on the day of the verdict itself.
(Source: Bangkok Post, Apr 24, 2014)