The opposition Puea Thai Party's attempt to derail a session of the House has ended in futility after coalition MPs managed to push through three key pieces of legislation.
ngered by the heavy deployment of troops and barricades, more than 100 Puea Thai MPs boycotted the session yesterday and some stood in front of a main security checkpoint blocking access to the building.
The blockade held up the meeting for a while before it was eventually convened. The Puea Thai MPs dispersed after learning House Speaker Chai Chidchob had begun the meeting.
Despite the boycott, it was the first time in weeks that a House session had a quorum.
In a smooth two-hour session with 245 MPs present, including two from the opposition, the House passed three draft bills - on forming a body governing telecommunications and radio and television broadcasting, on land appropriation for an expressway construction project and on the setting up of a national farmers' council.
"Three draft bills are fine," said Mr Chai, who raised three fingers and drew laughter from the chamber as he brought the session to a close.
The House is expected to convene again today amid tight security.
Hundreds of police and troops are being deployed with barbed wire fencing, concrete barriers and trucks placed around the compound.
The heightened security follows two grenade attacks at the Public Health Ministry on Tuesday where a cabinet meeting was held.
There is also concern that red shirt demonstrators camping out at Phan Fa Bridge might seize the compound and cause a repetition of the Oct 7, 2008, violent confrontation in which two people died and scores were injured.
Puea Thai MPs have filed a complaint against Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban and Mr Chai in connection with the heavy military presence.
In their complaint with the Crime Suppression Division, they said the layers of barricades had prevented them from entering the parliament compound and deprived them of their freedom to do their jobs properly.
They are expected to boycott today's meeting of the House as well.
A group of coalition MPs plan a counter move by seeking the impeachment of Puea Thai MPs who obstructed others from entering parliament.
The coalition MPs are also considering filing a complaint with police against the opposition MPs who blocked access to the parliament entrance.
Mr Abhisit yesterday denied accusations the government had violated the MPs' rights, saying the security measures were to ensure smooth and safe legislative work in parliament.
He said as long as the red shirt leaders continued to make threats against cabinet ministers, the government was required to consider and take the security measures it deemed appropriate.
"We will get things back to normal this week. The cabinet meetings and parliament meetings should proceed unhindered."
Mr Abhisit said he was concerned about Deputy House Speaker Apiwan Wiriyachai's address to the red shirts' rally. He said Mr Apiwan's remarks indicated a dissolution of the House was not the red shirts' ultimate goal.
Mr Apiwan called on the prime minister to hold talks with Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda to find a solution to the political impasse.
"There is an indication that it is not going to end [with a dissolution of the House]. Their demand goes from one to another. First they want to talk to the prime minister only. Now they want to involve the privy council president. What next?
"If we are to have talks, we have to be clear about what we are going to talk about," the prime minister said.
