NRC members suggest clear priorities as reform process cannot be finished in one year
Some newly appointed National Reform Council (NRC) members have admitted that the national reform process cannot be completed within a year. They suggested - as a result - the more urgent issues, such as political reform, should take priority.
Chai-anan Samudvanija, among the leading candidates for the NRC presidency, yesterday said that within a year, a framework for national reform in various areas could be laid out – but prioritising was needed.
“All issues should be prioritised according to their importance, and reform work could begin within the first year,” the NRC presidency candidates agreed.
Yesterday was the first day for the newly appointed NRC members to arrive at Parliament for work registration. The event attracted great interest from the media and a large number of TV cameras surrounded the registration tables. Dozens of officials were employed to welcome and guide the arriving NRC members through the process.
NRC member Jermsak Pinthong, former senator and a supporter of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), said he believed the NRC reform work could not be completed within a year, but the drafting of a new constitution could be achieved within the time frame.
“The focus should be on the big issues first, such as access to [political] power and checks and balances measures, which means all relevant laws must be amended and a framework of measures written into the new constitution.”
PM suggests one additional
reform panel
There was criticism the NRC membership comprised too many individuals opposed to the Thaksin Shinawatra political group – and the list included few, if any, Thaksin sympathisers.
Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday reacted to this issue of imbalance in the representation of political groups. He said that certain groups had declined membership of the NRC in the first place.
He suggested a solution would be to include all applicants by establishing one additional reform panel, which would be an adviser panel consisting of the remainder who had applied but were not selected.
The premier said the possibility of holding a national referendum on the new draft constitution would depend on the future security situation, so it was not appropriate to raise the question at present.
NRC members’ reform agenda
The first day of the NRC members’ registration at Parliament yesterday saw many well-known individuals from whom the media were keen to hear their opinions on reform.
Maj Anant Watcharothai was the first of 250 members of the National Reform Council to report for work at Parliament at 7.30am. He was appointed on the quota of local administration reform. He said he believed all NRC members would join forces to work for the good of the country.
Alongkorn Polabutr, former Democrat Party deputy leader, said he would like to see all political parties join hands and contribute to the national reform process. He suggested there were alternative ways other than through the NRC to contribute – such as through a national reform forum, or by the establishment of subcommittees to work alongside the NRC members.
He said that, as a member of the NRC who has a political background, he would use his experience to communicate and coordinate with other politicians not on the council.
Corruption ‘a threat’
“Corruption in Thailand is like cancer in its last stage,” he said, implying that it’s an urgent threat to the country.
Seree Suwanphanont, a prominent lawyer and former member of the 2007 Constitution Drafting Assembly, explained that political reform was one of the most important areas the NRC should focus on.
“The key issue in Thai politics is that political parties become hated rivals who want to eliminate one another. Ordinary people were dragged into the conflict. The challenge is how to create a political atmosphere where the government can administer the country without having to deal with such conflict.”
Another area he emphasised was corruption and he suggested a politician’s time in power should be limited, perhaps to four years, to prevent individuals becoming too powerful and risking abuse of power.
Sangsit Piriyarangsan, a prominent academic and expert on corruption, said the success or failure of the national reform would not rest on the 250 members of NRC, but rather the cooperation of everyone in the country. The new constitution, he said, must be accountable and transparent.
