No need for experts in CDA: Thida
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The chairwoman of the red-shirt movement yesterday proposed a constitution drafting assembly (CDA) consisting of 100 elected members, and called for a new constitution that represents the interests of all political groups.
Thida Thawornseth said the red shirts wanted all 100 members of the CDA to be elected “to ensure that the new constitution belongs to the people”.
She added that there was no need for experts to take part in drafting the charter. “Experts are not more important than people,” she said.
“We have to see this constitution as one that belongs to all political colours.
It is an important step for sustainable reconciliation. We must give the most rights to the people and should not treat one group better than others when it involves rights and liberties.”
She was among representatives of civil groups that submitted separate bills on constitutional amendment. Their bills were not deliberated by Parliament, which recently approved three other amendment bills sponsored by the Cabinet, the ruling Pheu Thai Party and the coalition Chart Thai Pattana Party.
The bills seek to amend Article 291 of the charter to allow establishment of a 99-member CDA to draft a new constitution, with 77 elected members – one for each province – and the remaining 22 being experts in law, political science and public administration appointed by Parliament.
The bills seek to amend Article 291 of the charter to allow establishment of a 99-member CDA to draft a new constitution, with 77 elected members – one for each province – and the remaining 22 being experts in law, political science and public administration appointed by Parliament.
Thida and other representatives from civil society groups yesterday presented their ideas to the ad-hoc parliamentary committee vetting constitutional amendment drafts.
Gothom Arya, from Mahidol University’s Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies, yesterday represented academic institutions in proposing ideas about the CDA.
He said recent civil forums agreed that all CDA members should be elected according to the size of the population, ranging from 175 to 225. Gothom suggested that the CDA’s drafting panel should consist of 30 members – 15 elected members, five law experts, five experts in public administration and five former constitution drafters.
At least one-third of the members should be women.
At least one-third of the members should be women.
Gothom said the CDA should be given 365 days to draft a new charter, and 90 days in which to hold a public referendum.
Pheu Thai MP Samart Kaewmee-chai, chairman of the ad-hoc parliamentary committee vetting constitutional amendment drafts, said after more than three hours of hearings that yesterday’s session for representatives from civil society would save the panel time when it came to gathering viewpoints from the people.
