NRC members set tone for reforms

Members of the 250-strong National Reform Council yesterday vowed to perform their new jobs in earnest and suggested ideas for reforming the country in the areas of their responsibility.

The list of 250 NRC members was published in the Royal Gazette yesterday, following endorsement by His Majesty the King.

Although the council members are from many groups of people, many of them are viewed as critics and opponents of “the old power clique” led by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Seree Suwanpanont, an NRC member for legal and justice system reform, said the council should focus on political reform and corruption problems should be solved as soon as possible. There is a wide range of reforms to be discussed and the corruption problem is the crux of political issues. “For the impeachment case, the judiciary should have the authority to impeach politicians and other agencies should not intervene in the case,” he said.

The constitution that will come out shortly should state its authority and other agencies clearly, he said.

NRC member Prasan Marueka-pitak said national reform should happen continuously, and the NRC’s work is to analyse and point out solutions to the problems. “Some problems cannot be resolved only by the NRC. Other state agencies should be able to carry out the NRC’s policies and find solutions to the problems,” he said.

Former senator Wanchai Sornsiri, who is also viewed as a Thaksin critic, said he would focus on creating an efficient scrutiny mechanism to prevent corruption and abuse of power.

Hannarong Yaowalers, an environmental activist and NRC member, said the urgent task for the council would be improving regulations that give more right to public engagement over natural resources management.

Forest management should be amended by making long-time local residents join state officials in a committee on forest preservation. Joint cooperation would help tackle land encroachment issues, he said. 

Another imminent task would be pushing for a water management law to increase the responsibilities of state officials in helping locals affected by flooding or drought, he said.

As for economic affairs, many experts in various areas such as legal consulting, banking, brokerage and media were named as NRC members.

Kitipong Urapeepatanapong, chairman of Baker & McKenzie, who was nominated by the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said his idea is to reform the country’s tax system. It has to support the country’s growth and also ensure fairness for all parties in society. He is an expert in capital and business law and has worked for more than 30 years in law firms.

Twatchai Yongkittikul, secretary-general of the Thai Bankers’ Association, said the urgent issue needing reform was manufacturing, as the nation was losing competitiveness. The NRC members would focus on improving agricultural processing. 

He also intends to help reform the country’s education system, as this could help improve the economy in the long run.

Paiboon Nalinthrangkurn, chairman of the Federation of Thai Capital Market Organisations, said he would focus on reforming the capital market and push for the country’s master plan in a bid to pave the way for the next elected government.

Nipon Naksompop, president of the Satellite Television Association of Thailand, said he would put three issues as first priorities. First is that the media and press should maintain their credibility and accountability in the public interest. Second, the industry and the regulator should promote co-regulation in each segment. Last, all parties would be encouraged to put more emphasis on the code of ethics.

The NRC list includes a dozen people in the energy circle, but, except for Rosana Tositrakul, a former senator who has expressed her fierce stance against PTT, most members apparently belong to the status quo. 

Other NRC energy members are Manoon Siriwan, a well-known energy critic; Anusorn Sengnimnuan, a former president of Bangchak Petroleum; Kurujit Nakornthap, director-general of the Energy Ministry’s Mineral Fuels Department and a new board member of PTT; Jane Namchaisiri, vice chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries; Dusit Kruangam, managing director of the Thai Photovoltaic Association: Thongchat Hongladarom, a former chief executive of PTT; Praipol Koomsup, a Thammasat economist who was recently appointed as an adviser to Energy Minister Narongchai Akrasanee; Siri Jirapongphan, executive director of the Petroleum Institute of Thailand; and Anon Sirisaengtaksin, a former chief executive of PTT Global Chemical. Siri said he does not have “an agenda” for reform but thinks energy security and sustainability are crucial elements for the Thai economy, which cannot be achieved without stressing efficiency in every aspect – from energy consumption to production and procurement. 

Dusit Krua-ngam, a solar power expert, was named as an NRC member to help shape the nation’s energy reform. This would be an opportunity to share ideas and information, especially on alternative energy development, which the country would go with. He is also a brother of Wissanu, the deputy prime minister in charge of legal affairs. 

 

Tasks for the Council

_ The 250-member National Reform Council has the job of studying and making recommendations for reform in 11 areas to the National Legislative Assembly, the Cabinet and the National Council for Peace and Order. 

_ It also is required under the provisional charter to give input to the Constitutional Drafting Committee for its writing of a new constitution. The NRC will then consider whether to approve the draft charter before submitting it for royal endorsement. 

_ The NRC is empowered to nominate 20 out of the 36 CDC members, while the remainder will be nominated by the NCPO, the Cabinet and the NLA. The CDC must be established within 15 days after the NRC convenes its first meeting.

_ Within 60 days of its first meeting, the NRC has to submit its comments and suggestions about reforms to the CDC, which has 120 days to write a new constitution. In all, a new constitution is expected within 295 days after the NRC convenes.

_ The draft charter will be submitted to the NRC, which has to decide whether to endorse or adjust it. If the NRC fails to finish its deliberation on the draft charter within the given time or does not approve the draft, the council and the CDC “shall expire”, according to the interim charter. If that is the case, a new NRC and CDC will be appointed to complete the job.