ID :
306066
Fri, 11/08/2013 - 10:21
Auther :

Security tightened at Parliament building

BANGKOK, November 8 (TNA) – Police have tightened security at the Parliament building in Bangkok, as the Senate is rescheduled to deliberate the amnesty bill on Friday afternoon, instead of next Monday. The police have set up concrete barriers and barbed wire on several intersections and streets leading to the Parliament building, causing heavy traffic jams in the area and connected zones, intensified by the closure of part of roads going toward mass demonstration sites and impacts from widespread downpours overnight in the capital. Senate Speaker Nikhom Wairatpanich announced on Thursday afternoon that he has decided to exercise his authority as the Senate speaker under Item 15 of the Senate's regulations to reschedule a Senate session to deliberate the controversial amnesty bill, passed by the Lower House last week, from November 11 to November 8, starting from 2pm. Nikhom reasoned that the controversial draft amnesty bill is to be vetted by senators as soon as possible to rid prevailing political turmoil in the country. The Thai government-sponsored draft amnesty bill is slammed by the main opposition Democrat Party and academics for granting a blanket amnesty to all people involving in the country'a past political unrest, especially exiled ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the elder brother of Prime Minister and Defence Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. Two large groups of anti-amnesty bill demonstrators having rallied on Rajadamnoen Avenue, near the Parliament building, have even demanded the prime minister to dissolve the House. Thai senators are to complete deliberation the controversial draft amnesty bill within 60 days after it was approved by the House of Representatives on November 1, 2013. The Senate session has been postponed from 2pm due to the lack of quorum, as several senators, mostly elected, have voiced objection to Friday afternoon’s abrupt session, saying that the senator whip earlier informed them that the session would be held next Monday. Currently, there are 150 senators in Thailand's Upper House and a Senate session cannot be held if the number of participating senators is less than 76. (TNA)

X