Bangkok:Associate Professor Thanaporn Sriyakul has expressed support for House Speaker Sophon Saram's initiative to reorganize parliamentary committees, clarifying that the move is not intended to silence opposition voices.
According to Thai News Agency, Thanaporn, a political scientist, highlighted that the guidelines introduced by Sophon are meant to standardize parliamentary procedures. This comes in response to objections regarding the functioning of the Committee on Law, Justice, and Human Rights, led by Rangsiman Rome. She emphasized that the objective is to ensure adherence to the Constitution and parliamentary rules, rather than suppress dissent.
Thanaporn explained that while parliamentary committees play a crucial role in overseeing the executive branch, they must operate within established legal frameworks. She pointed out that committee chairs do not possess unchecked authority to dictate agendas or convene meetings without committee consensus.
The issue arose when Mr. Supachai Jaisamut, a committee member alongside Rangsiman, raised an objection to the House Speaker. Thanaporn asserted that this was a legitimate exercise of his rights, focusing on the correct procedural conduct rather than opposing investigations.
She further advocated for defining committee authority, preventing overlapping probes, and utilizing meeting resolutions for important tasks to avoid undue burdens on government officials and citizens. Thanaporn stressed that the rules apply universally to all parties, including the government's and opposition's, dismissing claims of opposition-targeted restrictions.
Thanaporn also suggested that if the opposition finds the parliamentary rules restrictive, they can seek amendments through democratic means. She reiterated the importance of government scrutiny by the opposition, underlining the necessity of uniform rules for all parties involved.