Thailand’s Parliament Passes Measures to Bolster Democracy

BANGKOK, Thailand — After a month of demonstrations culminating in the resignation of a controversial prime minister, Thailand’s Parliament on Monday quickly adopted long-sought constitutional reforms.

The most significant piece of legislation was a constitutional amendment requiring that the prime minister be an elected member of Parliament.

The amendment was proposed after Suchinda Kraprayoon, the former supreme commander of the Thai armed forces, was appointed prime minister April 7. Suchinda did not run in an election but was named to the post by a coalition of five pro-military parties.

Suchinda resigned Sunday after accepting responsibility for the deaths of at least 40 people and the wounding of more than 600 when army troops opened fire on unarmed pro-democracy demonstrators last week.

Although the amendment requiring the prime minister to hold a parliamentary seat was debated hotly just two weeks ago, it passed Monday with 533 votes in favor and five abstentions.

The session of Parliament took place with demonstrators outside demanding that trials be held for Suchinda and top military officers who were responsible for ordering troops to open fire on unarmed demonstrators.

A royal decree issued Saturday night granted the prime minister and military officials a blanket amnesty from criminal charges arising from the repression of the protests. An effort is now under way to have the amnesty decree declared illegal by a constitutional tribunal.

The Bangkok Post reported that the nation’s top military leaders had visited Suchinda at home to express their support for him. The article said that the new supreme commander, Air Chief Marshal Kaset Rojananil, and the top army commander, Gen. Issraprong Noonpakdee, had appealed to the pro-democracy movement to honor the amnesty deal worked out by Thailand’s king. Otherwise, it said ominously, “the political crisis will not be solved.”

The newspaper also reported that Suchinda may leave soon on a holiday abroad but that military officials insist he is not seeking asylum elsewhere.

Parliament also hastily adopted three other measures designed to increase the level of democracy in the government.

The measures will become law after a final vote June 10.