Gov't should appoint charter writers: NRLC
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The Independent National Rule of Law Commission (NRLC), led by Ukrit Mongkolnavin, has issued a statement on charter change, suggesting a government-appointed panel of 34 charter writers.
The NRLC, handpicked and appointed by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, argues against the mainstream idea of forming the Constitution Drafting Assembly to take charge of rewriting.
Instead, it has unveiled a suggested list of 34 writers. The 34 include former charter writers in charge of the 2007 Constitution and the suspended 1997 charter.
The other prominent figures on the list are academics seen as pro-Pheu Thai , such as Chusak Sirinil, plus well-known journalists like Kanchai Boonparn of the Matichon Group and Suthichai Yoon of the Nation Multimedia Group, publisher of The Nation.
The panel will include supporters of the People’s Alliance for Democracy, such as Parthep Pourpongpan but the Democrats would be excluded.
Legal scholars on the list are Bowornsak Uwanno of King Prajadhipok’s Institute who drafted the suspended people’s charter and Somkid Lertpaitoon of Thammasat University who drafted the 2007 Constitution.
The prominent figures, including those in the red and yellow camps, include Wissanu Kreangarm, Vorachet Pakeerat of the Nitirat Group, Somkiart Onwimol, Sak Korsaengreang, Surranand Vejjajiva, Pansak Vinyaratn, Parnpree Bahiddhanukara, Pongthep Thepkanchana, Prommin Lertsuridej and Chaturon Chaisang.
The gist of the NRLC’s road map to amend the charter is to entrust the panel to take charge of the charter draft in lieu of the CDA.
The government should sponsor the charter draft for legislative deliberation. The draft should undergo the three readings by Parliament. In the second reading, a public hearing should be held for each draft provision.
The referendum vote should be organised after the passage of the charter draft and before enactment.
