Reformers agree on several issues
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Prasarn Marukpitak, a National Reform Council (NRC) member, said yesterday that the NRC subcommittee on political reform had agreed on many issues, though opinion was still divided on whether they should continue to punish political parties by dissolving
The NRC subcommittee on politics is scheduled to submit their decision to the NRC on December 15, before the council submits its final proposal on 11 areas of national reform to the Constitutional Drafting Committee (CDC) on December 19. Prasarn said the decisions made at yesterday’s meeting were:
l Political parties need to be strengthened and a system set where party members can participate and regulate party affairs, in order to curb the influence of capitalism;
l Each political party’s key duty should be to protect national interest;
l On the dissolution of political parties – opinion was divided, with some members saying it should only be used when the party poses a threat to the monarch, tries to abolish democracy or threatens national security or interests. However, some said that this system did not solve problems.
l Political parties can be supported by the public sector, through financial means or other operative assistance.
l Agencies should be established to regulate the morals of politicians and public officers;
l Members of Parliament should not be members of political parties.
Prasarn added that in the proposal related to reconciliation, the sub-panel said there should be three important points included in the charter.
First, all citizens should have equal rights to political education and there should be organisations responsible to ensure political responsibilities and engagement. The panel said the Education Ministry should be responsible for this task.
Second, the government should ensure there are mechanisms that promote national unity and reconciliation even at times of peace to ensure no political parties and networks create conflicts.
Finally, a citizen’s council should be established to promote people’s engagement, regulate government affairs and allocate natural resources.
Prasarn told reporters the panel also discussed the issue of an amnesty, but it would not announce its proposal on the topic yet because it is a sensitive subject, especially after CDC member Anek Laothamathas voiced his views on the subject last week.
