Drafters want referendums to decide future charter changes

Charter drafters have agreed that eligible voters should get to vote on future amendments to the constitution in order to boost participatory democracy.

Kamnoon Sidhisamarn, spokesman of the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC), said the draft charter will require that charter amendment proposals in the future be subject to national referendums.

A referendum on charter amendments will be carried out as specified by an organic law governing the holding of a public vote.

The referendum issue is included in Part 3 of the charter currently being drafted which deals with public participation.

Mr Kamnoon said the public also has the right to oppose, through non-violent means, any act or activities that seek to seize control of administrative powers through unconstitutional methods.

He said public scrutiny of the use of power is also recognised by the draft charter.

Public organisations, non-government organisations or non-profit organisations that are funded by the state will be required to disclose their activities and financial transactions to the public for transparency and accountability.

On public scrutiny of political office holders, the draft charter allows the public to directly seek an impeachment with the Senate. An impeachment petition must have at least 20,000 signatures and be submitted to the Senate speaker. Former political office holders can also face impeachment in the Senate. If impeached, they will be banned from politics.

“If a person is still in office, impeachment will be a removal process. If the person no longer holds office, it will be a move seeking a political ban,” Mr Kamnoon said.

On policy-making, Mr Kamnoon said the CDC has agreed the authority and the scope of administrative responsibility in formulating and implementing policies between central state agencies, regional state agencies and local administration bodies should be redrawn.

The CDC has also proposed that local administration organisations or local communities be able to efficiently provide public services should be allowed to take over those services from the state under proper supervision, he said.

The CDC this week has finished writing 90 articles for the new draft charter which deal with the monarchy and the people, Mr Kamnoon said.

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