Thai Senate postpones debate on amnesty bill

BANGKOK, November 8 (TNA) - The Thai Senate has postponed its deliberation of the controversial amnesty bill to either November 9 or November 11 due to the lack of quorum. Senate Speaker Nikom Wairachpanich announced the postponement on Friday afternoon, after only 54 senators turned up after 2pm to attend the session, causing the lack of quorum. Nikhom announced on Thursday afternoon that he 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. 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. 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. Meanwhile, Minister Attached to the Prime Minister's Office Varathep Ratanakorn, who is also Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister, said if the Senate rejected the amnesty bill, the draft bill could be reconsidered by the House of Representatives within 180 days after the rejection. The minister explained that the Thai government, in the meantime, can do nothing and every party concerned should not, thus, be worried that the government would introduce the controversial bill or fresh bills to the House. (TNA)