Pheu Thai will today file a Department of Special Investigation complaint accusing acting Senate Speaker Surachai Liangboonlertchai and the Group of 40 senators of breaching insurrection laws by supporting People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) leader Suthep Thaugsuban.
Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit yesterday accused the acting Senate Speaker and the 40 senators of breaking the law by aiding and abetting Mr Suthep.
Mr Suthep is wanted on an arrest warrant for alleged insurrection, but Sen Surachai on Monday allowed him to enter parliament and preside over a closed-door discussion regarding the PDRC’s plans for an interim prime minister.
The Senate meanwhile held an informal session to discuss ways to end the political impasse.
A number of senators, including the Group of 40, supported the proposal for an interim premier to be installed under Section 7 of the constitution.
The Senate session came after Mr Suthep on Saturday called on the Election Commission chairman, the acting Senate Speaker and presidents of the Constitutional, Supreme and Administrative courts to work out a plan to nominate an interim government for royal endorsement under Section 7 of the charter.
Mr Prompong argued that the closed-door discussion with Mr Suthep was undemocratic and the proposal to install an interim prime minister breaches the constitution, insisting the only way out of the political deadlock is through a solution that complies with the law.
He said the actions of Sen Surachai and the 40 senators could have breached Section 113 of the Criminal Code by supporting Mr Suthep, which relates to insurrection.
Mr Prompong also criticised the group known as Rattha Bukkhon, or State Citizens, for trying to seek the armed forces’ support for their plan to request His Majesty the King’s intervention in ending the political crisis.
Mr Prompong said the group was trying to shift the burden of solving the conflict to the military and its proposal was no different from Mr Suthep’s, since both “share the same aim”.
Rattha Bukkhon is made up of retired senior military personnel led by former supreme commander Gen Saiyud Kerdpol.
Gen Saiyud said on Monday that the group has the right to draft a royal command on solving the country’s political problems.
The draft will be sent to armed forces commanders for consideration. If they agree with it, the commanders can then present it to the King for royal endorsement, he said.
But Mr Prompong said the Council of State — the government’s legal arm — has confirmed that acting caretaker prime minister Niwatthamrong Bunsongphaisan has the full authority to present a royal decree setting the date for a general election to the King for royal endorsement.
Mr Niwatthamrong will today meet the Election Commission to discuss the poll, tentatively scheduled for July 20.
Election Commissioner Somchai Srisuttiyakorn previously said government must make clear whether Mr Niwatthamrong has the authority to call for a royal decree on the vote.