BANGKOK
An impeachment process against a former Senate and an ex House speaker began Thursday at the Thai national legislative assembly - seen by protesters as an attempt by the military-appointed government to exclude two opponents from politics.
A similar process will start Friday against former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, whose elected government was overthrown by the junta in a coup May 22.
Ex-Senate speaker Nikhom Waratphanich and a lawyer for ex-House speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont appeared in front of the 220-member military junta handpicked National assembly accused of abuse of power for having supported a constitutional amendment which would have made the Senate fully elected
The National anti-corruption commission - which initiated the impeachment process - says such a change would have totally transformed the political system. If the senate was open to election, neither the military nor the royal establishment would have been able to fill it with proxies, as has previously been the case.
Both men are liable to a five-year ban from political activities, if three-fifths of the assembly - 132 members - vote for impeachment. The debate will last several weeks.
On Tuesday, junta chief and Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha warned against street demonstrations to oppose the impeachment process, saying he will “take action under martial law” if protests occur.
“People cannot protest and decide what is right or wrong. What is the condition of martial law? That there can be no political movement,” he told local media.
Over the New year, Chan-ocha was joined by an unlikely bedfellow in his efforts to keep protesters from the streets. According to Thai political daily Matichon, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra - the elder brother of Yingluck and the figure behind her administration - called during the New Year holiday for his supporters – the "Red Shirts" – to “let the military work in the fullest way."
“Puea Thai (the party regrouping his supporters) and Red Shirts must not oppose the military, because there are already serious problems right now,” he is reported to have said by the daily.
Some commentators, including disappointed Red shirts, have ruminated on social networks that Thaksin has turned his back on the movement, suggesting he has made some kind of deal with the junta.
Despite Thaksin's overtures, several Puea Thai executives have strongly criticized the impeachment process. Former Foreign Affairs Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul has said he considers it illegitimate. According to the Bangkok Post, he has threatened lawsuits against any assembly member who votes for it.
Another Puea Thai member, former MP Cherdchai Tantisirin, warned Thursday that unfair rulings by the assembly could trigger a new round of protests.
“This is not a threat, but we’d better not look down on people," he said. "The military should honour their word that justice will be ensured,” he told the Bangkok Post.
Former PM Yingluck Shinawatra has announced through her lawyer that she will appear in front of the National assembly on Friday to defend herself during the impeachment debate.
She is accused of neglect of duty in relation to a rice-subsidies scheme, which her opponents claim was ridled with corruption.
