NCPO faces 2-year ban from politics

Charter drafters move to shut out regime

Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) members have proposed banning members of the junta and key parliamentary bodies set up after the May 22 coup from politics for two years when a new charter comes into force.

The “five-river organisations” which it wants banned comprise the National Legislative Assembly (NLA), the National Reform Council, the CDC, the cabinet and the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).

The ban is to ensure those directly involved with the change of rules and regulations do not have conflicts of interest and would not attempt to prolong their powers.

If the NCPO overrides the NLA, which by law has the last say on the charter, it would effectively be consigning itself to oblivion for two years if it approves the charter with the proposed ban in place.

Some believe key figures in the regime might seek to prolong their stay in power to oversee the transition. The ban would make that difficult, if not impossible.

Core members of the NLA and the National Reform Council (NRC) yesterday slammed the proposal.

The proposed ban was unveiled by Jade Dhonavanik, a member of the CDC, as the body moved to work on the provisional clauses of the draft charter.

The ban would apply to all members of the so-called five-river groups set up after last year’s coup.

“This issue is not yet finalised,” he said, adding the CDC will consider the proposal together with other issues in the provisional clauses today and tomorrow.

Mr Jade said he personally agreed that NCPO members should be barred to make sure they would not meddle in politics in an attempt to prolong their powers.

He said CDC members initially agreed they would be banned from politics for two years. The details would be discussed during tomorrow’s meeting.

NLA vice-president Peerasak Porjit said he opposed the idea, saying that as lawmakers, NLA members have no vested interest in the charter drafting. He said he would not have taken the job if he knew he would face a political ban. He added that if this was true, charter drafters should let him know as soon as possible so he could tender his resignation as an NLA member.

NRC member Paiboon Nititawan said he disagreed imposing the ban on the other four bodies because they did not draft the charter.

“I think the CDC can come up with such a proposal, but nobody will go for it. Eventually it will be rejected. I understand his good intent but he might not have seen things the way I have pointed out. But I hope he will understand,” he said.

He added that if the CDC was serious about the ban, it should bar every future former MP and cabinet minister in the same way.

Addressing the CDC’s work on the provisional clauses, Mr Jade said there would be about 20 of them. The provisions would also address the transitional period in which certain agencies would continue functioning until a general election is completed.

A CDC source said the provisional clauses might prohibit charter amendments within the first five years and call for the setting up of a committee to study its flaws. Other issues to be addressed include the status of the cabinet, the NLA and the NRC, and a requirement for the next parliament to recognise bodies to be set up by the charter.

Meanwhile, NRC president Thienchay Kiranandana said while there was no rule prohibiting NRC members from hiring family members as personal aides, the issue required an ethical decision.

His comment came after NLA deputy president Surachai Liangboonlertchai called on members who appointed relatives as assistants to heed public criticism against the practice.

Mr Thienchay said he had no idea if any of the NRC members had appointed their relatives because the appointments did not require his approval.

Meanwhile, Ombudsman Withawas Rottanant said his office has sufficient authority to examine the matter in the event someone files a petition with the agency.

However, if the problem concerns dereliction of duty, abuse of authority or a breach of discipline, the matter will fall to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), he said.

On Tuesday, social activist Srisuwan Janya, head of the Thai Constitution Protection organisation, lodged a petition over the issue with the NACC. NACC president Panthep Klanarongran said the anti-graft agency will look at the complaint today.