HOUSE TO DEBATE ON AMENDMENTS

       The House of Representatives is likely to convene next week to discuss constitutional amendments proposed by the parliamentary committee for political reconciliation.
       Chinnaworn Boonyakiet, the coalition chief whip, said the government whips had yesterday voted in support of holding a meeting to debate the panel's proposal that calls for six changes in the charter.
       Coalition whip, Democrat Chinnaworn, said he expects the session to last for two days and that it is aimed at hearing comments from MPs on a matter that has become the subject of public debate. He said there would be no voting at the end of the general debate.
       Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday the Cabinet would decide today on whether such a general debate was necessary, and if it was, the Cabinet would request the House speaker to include the topic in the House agenda.
       "Personally I want the meeting to take place between September 16 and 18," he said, adding that House Speaker Chai Chidchob would be the one setting the final date for the debate.
       When asked about clauses that should be amended, the PM said he agreed a change be made to Article 190, which requires parliamentary endorsement of international treaties. However, he warned that parliamentarians supporting certain changes proposed by the panel could be deemed as violating the Constitution in acting for their own benefit.
       Abhisit said before the Constitution is amended, parliamentarians should first be able to provide satisfactory explanations about the need for these changes.
       Some 10 MPs and senators yesterday presented a draft constitutional amendment along with a list of 152 parliamentarians who are its proponents to Senate Speaker Prasopsuk Boondet, who is also deputy Parliament president.
       Prasopsuk said he would refer the matter to Chai, who is the Parliament president, for further action.
       Senator Prasit Pothasuthon, one of the proponents, said the draft only covered the six points mentioned in the reconciliation panel's report submitted to the PM and the House speaker two months ago.
       MP Somkiat Soralum from the Puea Pandin Party, who is another proponent of the draft, said yesterday that more than 10 other senators and MPs had signed to support the draft but later withdrew their names due to fear the move might be in violation of the Constitution.
       Of the 152 proponents, 64 are senators - most of them elected - and 88 are MPs, of which 80 come from the opposition Pheu Thai Party.