Debate continues on charter redrafting
Play
The debate remains inconclusive on whether to form an elected assembly or to appoint a panel to take charge of redrafting the charter.
Arguing in favour of the appointed panel, Ukrit Mongkolnavin of the Independent National Rule of Law Commission said Tuesday that the Cabinet should appoint a panel of 34 charter writers, including legal scholars, to rewrite the 2007 Constitution within the 60-day deadline.
“It is unnecessary to amend the charter’s Article 291 in order to pave the way for the formation of the Constitution Drafting Assembly,” Ukrit said.
He said he deemed it unfair that each province would elect one charter writer because of varying population sizes. Furthermore, an elected writer might not have the experience nor the skills for amending the charter, he added.
The past CDA spent Bt1 billion for the redrafting, hence imposing an unnecessary financial burden on the state coffers, he said, arguing an appointed panel would not be costly.
In regard to public participation in the drafting process, he said appointed writers would be obliged to allow the public access to the writing of each provision. The draft would vetted in Parliament and subject to a public hearing before passage. The final draft would also be presented for a referendum vote.
Ukrit has already submitted his proposal for the appointed panel to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, arguing it would be an option for the government to consider how best to chart the new political system.
In a counter argument, Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said he preferred the CDA to Ukrit’s idea for appointed charter writers.
He said the coalition whips’ decision to support the formation of the CDA was a move in the right direction although it was still unclear how the CDA should be elected and formed.
