No mention of 'crisis panel' in new charter draft

 

 

Members of the former National Reform Council gather on Sept 6

 this year at parliament, where they voted down the previous

 charter draft. (Photo by Phrakrit Juntawong)

The latest version of the draft constitution will not include a

 "crisis panel", a spokesman for the charter drafters assured

 on Friday.

The Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) had no intention

 to propose reviving the National Strategic and Reform for

Reconciliation Committee, CDC spokesman Udom Ratamarit said.

The CDC would consider the point again early next month,

he added. The first complete draft is scheduled to be released

 on Jan 29.

The committee, which the public and media quickly dubbed

 the "crisis panel", was one of the main reasons the previous

draft constitution was rejected in September by the former

National Reform Committee.

 The previous group of drafters envisioned a panel made up

 of top military figures, senior civil servants, senior political

 figures and others. It would have the power to override

 an elected government whenever political conflict appeared

 to be leading to a deadlock. Politicians, scholars and other

 critics condemned the idea, saying it would institutionalise

 coups and make the military a permanent presence in

Thai politics.

Mr Udom also said on Friday that the constitution draft had

 been 70% completed and drafters were trying to finish

sections on local administration, reform and provisional clauses.

 

 Meanwhile, he said, drafters were designing approaches for

 national reconciliation that they hoped would be generally

acceptable to all sides.

He admitted that politicians so far did not appear to accept the

 draft. He said that some political parties were prejudiced against

 the process from the start.

 He urged political parties to be more open-minded because,

 he said, the drafters were trying to make the new constitution

acceptable to all parties for the sake of national peace.

 

News,Politics,Bangkok Post,11 December 2015.

 

The purpose of the crisis panel is to avoid coup if the

elected goevernment  get into crisis.

 For me as Thai people not a politician the constitution

include it or not is not important for me.

 

The important points are that the new constitution should

lead to sustainable and true democracy.

And how Thai democracy can avoid coup cycle and the

Controversial in the society is the point to think more.

Sincerely Yours.