Revisions to charter await royal backing
CHANGES CLEAR WAY FOR REFERENDUM
Seven interim charter amendments have been sent for royal endorsement after receiving National Legislative Assembly approval last month, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam has said.
One of the amendments will pave the way for a referendum on the new constitution, if the draft is endorsed by the National Reform Council.
The process to organise the referendum will begin as soon as the proposed amendments are given royal approval, Mr Wissanu said.
The amendments, submitted by government and the National Council for Peace and Order, were passed by the NLA in three consecutive readings on June 18.
The changes allow for the dissolution of the NRC and the establishment of a national reform steering assembly to replace it. The steering assembly would be comprised of 200 members appointed by the prime minister to give advice on national reform. It would be disbanded after it voted on the draft charter.
Another amendment will allow politicians who were previously banned from politics to be appointed as National Legislative Assembly members, and to join the cabinet. This measure excludes anyone banned for involvement in corruption cases.
Mr Wissanu said the Constitution Drafting Committee is currently reviewing a draft of the new permanent charter based on recommendations from various stakeholders. The committee is required to submit its final version of this to the NRC for deliberation on July 23.
The NRC will then vote on the document on Aug 6, Mr Wissanu said.
A CDC source said the committee has so far made changes to 216 draft charter provisions. It has been reviewing the 315part charter section by section over the past 12 days.
The CDC will this week begin reviewing remaining draft charter provisions dealing with the rule of law, the judiciary and scrutinising the exercise of state powers.
Deputy CDC chairman Chuchai Suppawong yesterday chaired a meeting of a subcommittee responsible for drawing up organic laws dealing with reform as part of the new charter. The meeting considered proposals from the NRC’s 18 committees, which have been studying potential reforms in different sectors.
The meeting agreed that media reform, consumer protection reform and anti-corruption measures should be enacted into organic laws linked to the new charter.
NRC-approved action plans to implement reforms should also be included in those organic laws, the meeting concluded.
Mr Chuchai added that the CDC will submit its draft organic laws on reform to the NRC on July 23, along with the draft charter.
The NRC will have 15 days to consider the organic laws and the draft before voting on whether to accept them.
The Law Reform Commission of Thailand yesterday announced a list of 22 candidates who have been shortlisted to sit on its committee and will now be allowed to showcase their ideas to a selection panel.
Notable figures include former Prime Minister’s Office permanent secretary Thongthong Chandarangsu, f ormer National Human Rights Commission member Wasant Panich and NRC member Pradit Ruangdit.