CDC chief concerned about expectations

Borwornsak Uwanno, chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC), yesterday voiced concerns about the mission of writing the country’s new charter.
He also said that he has offered the drafters a suggested outline of the new charter for them to study and debate at CDC’s first meeting today. “If the meeting permits it, I may discuss this outline with the National Reform Council [NRC],” he said yesterday.
“I and other members of the committee are aware that it is not easy to draft this constitution. Also, many media groups have a negative attitude towards us. We want to do what we can to improve this sentiment. However, I will choose to focus on writing a charter that has good content, rather than one that improves people’s sentiments alone,” he said.
The CDC chief said the drafters would have to strike a good balance between the past and the future in order to give the country a better constitution. He called on the drafters to leave their political standpoints behind and have a heart-to-heart talk with people who have different views.
“This new constitution must be colour-blind. It should favour no particular political colour,” Borwornsak said.
Constitution drafters yesterday vowed to work honestly, fairly and without bias to ensure maximum benefit for the country and the people. The drafting of a new charter is expected to be completed in late July next year and the final draft of the constitution is likely to be submitted for royal endorsement by early September after approval from the NRC, according to the timetable given to the CDC members yesterday.
Some 30 of the 36 CDC members, led by Borwornsak, went to the City Pillar Shrine and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. At Wat Phra Kaew, Borwornsak led an oath-taking ceremony by the constitution drafters, who promised to perform their duty with honesty, fairness and impartiality, for the maximum benefit of the country and the people. They also pledged loyalty to the country, religion and the monarchy.
Phra Kaew, or Emerald Buddha, is widely revered and considered sacred.
“The Constitution Drafting Committee will write a new constitution that belongs to the people, is by the people and for the people, with the goal of solving the country’s problems,” Borwornsak said.
The CDC chairman also invited members of the public to provide input for the new constitution. “I would like to ask people who want to express opinions on the constitution to pass them on to the NRC’s panel on public participation. The CDC subcommittees will also hear views from all the parties involved, including political parties,” he said.
Borwornsak yesterday chaired a closed-door informal meeting of the CDC members at the Parliament building. The media were not allowed inside the meeting room.
Before the meeting, CDC members were distributed copies of a timetable featuring key dates and schedules for their work. For example, they are required to draft a new constitution by April 17. The draft will then be submitted to the NRC, the Cabinet and the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) for comments on possible revision.
The CDC has until July 23 to revise its draft as suggested by the NRC, the Cabinet and the NCPO, and the NRC has until August 6 to decide whether to endorse the final draft constitution. After the green light from the NRC, its president is required to submit the charter draft for royal endorsement by September 4.
The constitution drafters are scheduled to convene their first meeting this morning at the Parliament building to select the CDC’s deputy chairmen and to discuss the framework of their mission. It was agreed at yesterday’s informal meeting that six deputy chairmen would be appointed, in addition to five spokesmen and two secretaries.
Lt-General Nakorn Sukprasert, a CDC member from the NRC, said public hearings would be held in all 77 provinces to collect opinions from citizens on the new charter.