NRC panel on justice looks to a stronger role for police after reform

“What I have proposed in reforming the police is not destroying the significance of their work, but [is intended] to strengthen their role as guardians of the public peace,” the panel chairman said.
Seree said such police reform would also benefit the community. Moreover it would promote police independence in their management of organisations and officers.
The NRC member proposed a meeting to draft sub-articles for the new charter to ensure this reform would not be a failure.
Seree voiced support for the Constitution Drafting Committee on putting in place important articles and sub-articles before the setting up of a new government. He also urged enforcing sub-articles as a new mechanism in the legal and justice area to ensure the success of these reforms.
“The public must have access to the justice system to participate in the process of preventing disputes,” said Seree, who is also a legal expert.
He said independent organisations must act as monitoring agencies, and suggested the Election Commission (EC) should not have the authority to cancel an election – or to give red and yellow cards to the candidates – before approval for an election is arranged.
The Constitution Court must scrutinise the cases to protect the EC and promote a better electoral system, Seree said.
“The National Anti-Corruption Commission has proposed for all government officials to reveal their assets to their organisations,” he said.
The chairman of the CDC, Borwornsak Uwanno, wrapped up the second day of the CDC-NRC meeting. He said it had produced many useful ideas from the panels’ proposals – such as setting up a council for police affairs, budgeting policies and promotion of the Strategic Environment Impact Assessment.
“But before setting up other new organisations I would like to urge each panel to scrutinise its suggestions again,” Borwornsak said.
“[Remember] proposals must abide by the provisional constitution Article 35 that states the CDC has the authority to scrutinise proposals to set up new organisations by the constitution,” he said.
Borwornsak also said reports about dissolution of local administrations was false, leading to many complaints made to him by agencies including kamnan and village headmen.
Therefore, for the sake of the country, he urged the media to prevent false information from spreading.
“For the constitution drafters, we have little concern because they know what is true and what is not. However, as a CDC, we must listen to all ideas and information.”