CDC backs consumer, media bodies

Charter drafters have agreed on a proposal to include the establishment of two independent organisations in the new constitution.

One would protect consumers and the other would ensure media freedom, welfare and ethics, they said.

On the fourth day of deliberating proposals for the constitution yesterday, the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) agreed the charter should state that a new law will be passed on the formation of a new consumer protection organisation.

The organisation will be an independent body with a duty to provide opinions to state agencies whose duties are to issue and enforce laws concerning consumer protection.

It will also propose possible measures to ensure preliminary compensation for consumers and empower them to learn to protect themselves.

The CDC also agreed on a proposal to state in the charter that a sister law is to be issued to form a new professional media organisation. This will be in addition to the statement about media freedom protection in the 2007 constitution adopted into the new charter.

The new media organisation’s members will be professionals who care about the welfare, freedom, independence, ethics and standards of the media.

The organisation will also handle complaints lodged by people affected by the media.

The objective of the new organisation’s formation is empowering media professionals to keep a check on people in the same profession without interference by executives.

In other words, the media profession should not be controlled by the state or owners of media companies, according to the proposal.

As for the public right to access information from state agencies, the CDC is to maintain the same principle as in the 2007 constitution, despite objections.

Most state agencies cite internal security to reject requests to reveal information, CDC members said.