constitution is known, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha
has called on National Reform Council (NRC) members to
exercise fair judgement before they vote on it. Gen Prayut
reassured the public in his weekly speech on Friday that
neither the government nor the National Council for Peace
and Order (NCPO) had intervened to suggest the direction of
the vote.
But he urged all NRC members to "study the draft carefully"
as it was written to serve the people and set the tone for reforms
to continue. The charter writers, he said, had no intention to
draft a constitution to please political parties or the NCPO.
"People should be the centre, not political parties, not any one
group and not the NCPO," he said on his Returning Happiness to
Thai People programme.
"If [the charter is] passed, we should be confident that national
reforms will take place without conflicts," he continued.
"If it is rejected, we should go over the draft and amend
problematic provisions."
"But if the only reason behind the rejection is because it is
perceived as undemocratic, I think that would be unfair to the
people."
In any case, Gen Prayut said the decision of the NRC should be
"logically made" on Sunday. There are 247 NRC members and
at least 124 votes are needed to pass the draft. It will be a straight
yes-no vote with no further changes allowed.
The Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) has 36 members
in total and 21 of them hold seats on the NRC. Critics have said
it would be a conflict of interest to allow the drafters to vote.
However, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said
recently that there was no law or rule that prevented the charter
writers from voting on the document they had written.
Even after being pared back from 315 sections to 285, the draft
charter, at 124 pages, is one of the longest in the world.
(The constitution of India, at 117,000 words or about twice
as many as the Thai draft, is the longest.) The draft has attracted
considerable criticism, not only for its bulk but also for the
last-minute addition of a "crisis panel" that would be able to
take over from an elected government if such action is deemed
necessary. Other contentious features include a provision that
allows an "outsider" or non-MP prime minister, and a Senate
dominated by appointed members.
CDC chairman Borwornsak Uwanno and Mr Wissanu defended
the proposed crisis panel, saying it would not be formed to
steer a government after new elections. The committee, which
would include all military chiefs and other senior figures, would
help solve national problems and prevent future conflicts,
they say. Mr Borwornsak also said the charter was intended to
cater to the needs of all stakeholders across the political
spectrum, which is one reason it is so bulky.
Both the Pheu Thai and Democrat parties oppose the draft
on the grounds that it runs counter to democratic principles.
But former protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban has thrown his
support behind the draft, saying it would help move the
country forward through reforms. The former Democrat power
broker now leads the Muan Maha Pracha Chon for Reforms
Foundation.
Many provincial NRC members are known to be opposed to
the draft, saying they would have trouble explaining the
"undemocratic" parts to people in their regions.
The vote is expected to be very close. The NRC will start its
meeting at 10am on Sunday and the vote on the draft is
expected by noon. All members will be asked one by one
whether they accept or reject the draft, NRC whip
Alongkorn Polabutr said on Friday.
Mr Alongkorn acknowledged that members were being
lobbied by their colleagues to vote one way or the other,
saying it was normal practice in any kind of political body.
If the NRC endorses the document, a national referendum
will be held, probably no later than January.
If it rejects the draft, the junta will appoint a new CDC to
draft another charter within 180 days. Regardless of the
outcome, the NRC will be dissolved after the vote.
News,Politics,Bangkok Post, 4 September 2015.
In my viewpoint,I believe that the CDC write this charter to
serve people and to prevent the conflict of political affair
although it is a “special one”,I think it because of the nature
of Thai people are special one also.
Hope the NRC member use the logical though to vote it
and think for the benefit of the people and the country first.
Sincerely Yours.
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