GROUP FEARS CONSTITUTION WILL HURT CONSUMER RIGHTS

Consumer advocates have criticised the draft charter for lagging behind its predecessors amid fears it will leave activist groups “toothless”.

Under previous constitutions, independent bodies had influence over government decision-making regarding consumer rights, but the new charter strips these bodies of power.

Consumers still have the right to gather information and set up independent bodies to deal with issues, but are left “toothless”, consumer protection network representative Saree Ongsomwang said.

Ms Saree said the Constitution Drafting Committee’s latest draft fails to meet the group’s demands for authority in consumer-related issues, ranging from suggesting ideas and helping the government draft and enforce laws to inspecting consumer rights violations.

The proposed charter prepared by the Meechai Ruchupan-led CDC has confused the network, she said, referring to a statement in the draft that allows consumer groups to “gather and form an independent body to reinforce them in protecting consumers’ rights as well as commits the government to sponsoring the organisation in accordance with laws”.

Ms Saree questioned why the CDC has to state the right to gather information despite a fact that such a movement already exists. “What we want is clear state endorsement of our power to handle consumer-related problems,” she said.

CDC spokesman Chatchai Na Chiang Mai defended the draft, arguing the formation of an independent body with state support is designed to protect consumers.

He also said the CDC decided not to follow the earlier versions of the constitution, that clearly stipulate consumer advocacy groups as independent organisations under the charter, because, in other countries, this type of organisation is likely to be established “naturally” by well-intended people.

“If we wrote it in the same way as previous charters, it will turn out we have a single independent organisation and we can hardly predict its future, especially in a world of diversity,” Mr Chatchai said.

The CDC’s proposal states groups will be granted the right to gather and form independent bodies, while support from the government will come under organic laws, Mr Chatchai said.