Thai House holds no-confidence debate against PM, ministers

Thailand's oppositive Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva speaks during the non-confidence censure debate at the House of Representatives in Bangkok, Thailand, June 24, 2008.(Xinhua Photo)

BANGKOK, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's House of Representatives held on Tuesday a no-confidence censure debate, in which Thailand's Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and seven other cabinet ministers were to face a two-day-long grilling by the sole opposition party, the Democrat Party.

The special House session, chaired by House Speaker Chai Chidchob, kicked off at around 01:30 p.m. local time.

Thailand's Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej listen to the non-confidence censure debate at the House of Representatives in Bangkok, Thailand, June 24, 2008. (Xinhua Photo)

The censure followed a general debate in the Senate on Monday in which Samak cabinet faced grilling by a group of senators criticizing its poor performance.

The targeted cabinet members in the Democrat Party's no-confidence motion included Prime Minister and Defense Minister Samak Sundaravej, Deputy PM and Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee, Deputy PM and Commerce Minister Mingkwan Saengsuwan, Transport Minister Santi Prompat, Deputy Transport Minister Songsak Thongsri, Justice Minister Sompong Amornwiwat, Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama and Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung.

The censure followed a general debate in the Senate on Monday in which Samak cabinet faced grilling by a group of senators criticizing its poor performance. The targeted cabinet members in the Democrat Party's no-confidence motion included Prime Minister and Defense Minister Samak Sundaravej, Deputy PM and Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee, Deputy PM and Commerce Minister Mingkwan Saengsuwan, Transport Minister Santi Prompat, Deputy Transport Minister Songsak Thongsri, Justice Minister Sompong Amornwiwat, Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama and Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung. Thailand's oppositive Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva speaks during the non-confidence censure debate at the House of Representatives in Bangkok, Thailand, June 24, 2008.(Xinhua/AFP Photo)

They are all from the People Power Party (PPP), the core party of the six-party coalition government which took office just four months ago.

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva launched the grilling by stating the reasons why to file the no-confidence motion against Samak and his ministers, accusing them of having failed to address the economic plight of Thai people, citing surging oil and food prices, rising inflation, and the insurgent violence in the deep South, but focused on protecting interests of some ex-politicians -- implicating ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his allies.

Abhisit also accused Samak and the foreign minister of compromising the country's sovereignty by endorsing a bid of the Cambodian government to list the ancient Preah Vihear Temple located in a disputed boundary zone between the two countries as a World Heritage site.

Samak returned by accusing Abhisit of fueling tension between Thailand and Cambodia. He denied he was a proxy of Thaksin, and maintained he had the capacity to stay as the premier to lead the country.

The 73-year-old premier and veteran politician also told Abhisit that the latter was "too eager to become prime minister" and the Democrat Party's censure was aimed at seeking power for themselves.

The Democrat would cast some 50 members of parliament (MPs) to censure the eight cabinet members including Samak.

The debate is expected to last an almost non-stop 36 hours until midnight Wednesday, and to end with a voting on the non-confidence motion on Thursday.

Samak and the seven ministers would have to resign if a majority MPs in the House voted for the motion, but the chance seems slim as the six coalition parties led by PPP control nearly two-thirds of the seats in the 480-seat House, while the Democrat holds only 164 seats.

The PPP won most House seats in the December 23 general election. The PPP allied with five other smaller parties to form a coalition government, which took office on Feb. 6.

Opponents represented by the civilian coalition People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and the sole opposition party Democrat Party have branded the PPP a nominee party of the former ruling TRT party, which was disbanded, and the Samak administration a puppet of former Prime Minister Thaksin.

The PAD has staged street rallies in central Bangkok since May 25, first to oppose the government's bid to push for amendment to the junta-installed 2007 Constitution, then to straight call for the step-down of the Samak government. PAD protesters broke through police blockades last Friday in their march to the Government House and set new rally stages around the compound, vowing to stay put until the Samak resigns.

Samak has maintained that he will not resign, or dissolve the House to call a snap election. Public fear is that the restless confrontation between the government and the PAD could escalate to violence and deteriorate the political turmoil which started more than three years ago when PAD launched street protests against former Thaksin administration.