Political groups invited to give views to charter drafters
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The Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA) will invite political parties and major political groups, including the red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) and the yellow-shirt People's
The invitation is slated for November 17 to 25, CDA spokesperson Kamnoon Sidhisamarn said yesterday. The meeting, due to begin on Monday, will give each speaker 10 minutes to express their views under the topic “Why is Thailand stuck and how we can overcome it?”
Differing views will be incorporated and considered under a broader topic of how the new constitution can help build a better future for posterity.
Kamnoon said the CDA hoped to receive cooperation from all parties and groups, adding that those who might be unable to make it in person can send their views in writing.
Meanwhile, a leading politician from the Pheu Thai camp yesterday offered a dim view of the proposal to establish a “super minister”, who would have the supreme power above the government, Parliament and courts of justice.
In a post on Facebook, former education minister Chaturon Chaisang said it would not be difficult to create a super minister with ultimate powers.
“Just extend the term of the National Council for Peace and Order [NCPO]. Or write in the new charter that is being drafted that the NCPO shall continue to serve the country because the NCPO already has supreme power over the other three branches of power,” he wrote. “In other words, the country already has a super minister, except we call it the NCPO.”
The Constitution Drafting Committee will likely discuss the proposal, which was floated by an academic at a seminar held by King Prajadhipok’s Institute last week.
Some lawmakers, however, have voiced concern, saying that having a “fourth power” may have negative consequences and affect the balance of power of the legislative, administrative and judicial branches.
Associate Professor Panitan Wattanayagorn suggested the idea after looking back at the country’s decade of political struggle. Sometimes, pressure groups have called for individuals seen to have “extra-constitutional power” or the palace for a quick fix when the country is at a dead-end or faces a constitutional or political crisis.
Article 35 of the interim charter specifies that the new Constitution should lay down measures to ensure the introduction of a “democratic system” that are in line with Thailand’s social conditions.
However, it is still too early to know if charter drafters will devise a new system that does not conform to western democratic models and embraces the idea of an individual with “supreme power”.
It is also still unknown if the NCPO will extend the one-year deadline as stipulated in its road map, although Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha has said that he does not want to stay a day longer than necessary.
