Drafting to begin after New Year: CDC
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Work on the new charter will begin in the New Year, Constitution Drafting Committee president Borwornsak Uwanno has said.
Borwornsak said 2015 was the most appropriate time to start the process after charter drafters receive opinions and proposals on reforms from the National Reform Council on December 19, while the CDC’s public opinion collection process, including speaking with political parties, is scheduled to be completed by December 29.
The CDC president promised yesterday that the charter drafters would work independently and would not be influenced or pressured by the junta.
Questions over the body’s independence were raised after the National Council for Peace and Order appointed junta adviser Meechai Ruchuphan to the NCPO’s advisory subcommittee on constitution progress and monitoring.
Some people have speculated that the subcommittee will interfere in the drafting process and intimidate the drafters.
But Borwornsak said setting up the subcommittee was in accordance with the interim constitution’s Section 36, which stated the CDC should send its draft version of the new constitution to the NCPO and Cabinet for consideration. They could then offer suggestions for amendments.
He said any interference by the junta in the process would be difficult to hide from the public because there were 36 charter drafters, and as a result that was unlikely to happen.
He was willing to meet with Pheu Thai representatives because the party did not reject the CDC request to hear its opinions on reform and the constitution.
Borwornsak said he saw no benefit in meeting parties that clearly demonstrate an unwillingness to cooperate in the process.
The CDC recently set up a subcommittee to collect public opinions on the drafting of the constitution, explaining that public feedback is vital in creating a lasting constitution.
Borwornsak said the drafters would use a statistical approach to help them ensure that all opinions from society, including political factions, were heard.
The CDC president promised yesterday that the charter drafters would work independently and would not be influenced or pressured by the junta.
Questions over the body’s independence were raised after the National Council for Peace and Order appointed junta adviser Meechai Ruchuphan to the NCPO’s advisory subcommittee on constitution progress and monitoring.
Some people have speculated that the subcommittee will interfere in the drafting process and intimidate the drafters.
But Borwornsak said setting up the subcommittee was in accordance with the interim constitution’s Section 36, which stated the CDC should send its draft version of the new constitution to the NCPO and Cabinet for consideration. They could then offer suggestions for amendments.
He said any interference by the junta in the process would be difficult to hide from the public because there were 36 charter drafters, and as a result that was unlikely to happen.
He was willing to meet with Pheu Thai representatives because the party did not reject the CDC request to hear its opinions on reform and the constitution.
Borwornsak said he saw no benefit in meeting parties that clearly demonstrate an unwillingness to cooperate in the process.
The CDC recently set up a subcommittee to collect public opinions on the drafting of the constitution, explaining that public feedback is vital in creating a lasting constitution.
Borwornsak said the drafters would use a statistical approach to help them ensure that all opinions from society, including political factions, were heard.
