Thai opposition cries foul over lack of debate on MOUs with Cambodia

Opposition MPs cried foul today over what they described as a broken promise by the government, when Deputy House Speaker Chaiya Promma, of the Pheu Thai party, abruptly adjourned the House sitting before a closed-door debate on the controversial MOU 43 and 44 between Thailand and Cambodia could take place.

Opposition leader and leader of the People’s party, Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, told the media after the adjournment this afternoon that this is not the first time that the government has adjourned a House meeting to avoid debate on an important issue, because its slim majority could see it defeated.

He cited a similar incident on Wednesday, when the sitting was suddenly adjourned when a bill on a joint ticketing system for train services was about to be debated.

He said that the motions on MOUs 43 and 44 were included as urgent items on the meeting agenda by the House Speaker last week and the government and opposition whips had agreed that a joint committee would be set up to scrutinise the two documents, with the motions being debated today.

He also said, however, that the government whip changed its mind on the joint scrutiny committee and proposed a closed-door debate on the two MOUs, due to the sensitivity of the issues involved.

Nonetheless, the sitting today was abruptly adjourned by Chaiya, without advance warning or explanation.

Meanwhile, Bhumjaithai party spokesperson Nan Boonthida Somchai said that both government and opposition MPs were caught completely unaware by Chaiya’s action.

Bhumjaithai party secretary-general Chaichanok Chidchob told the government admit that it is politically unstable with such a slim majority in parliament.