Drafters pursue task of new charter at retreat
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CHARTER DRAFTERS spent time this week dealing with the complicated issue of Thailand's political system and politicians, at a retreat in the seaside town of Pattaya, though they were all enthusiastic about voicing their thoughts freely.
The Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) decided to get out of Bangkok for a while and move to the resort city, reasoning that a change in environment would keep them together and perhaps speed up the process of creating a new charter.
The drafters obviously looked as if they were up for the job, ready to fight it out, when they showed up at the Holiday Inn dressed in casual attire.
Discussions this week would have become highly stressful and very intense if they were working at Parliament, especially as the items on the agenda were related to important issues that would spur historic changes, such as the make-up of political parties and political groups and the new mixed member proportional election system.
The first day of the meeting was mostly focused on the integrity of politicians, specifically discussing a new “national ethics assembly” to scrutinise them.
The idea of this new agency could have led to heated debates because some of the CDC members still disagreed with the idea.
However, the majority of the CDC resolved to set up this new agency under the new constitution. They reasoned that integrity is the most important trait of good politicians, but some of the members still believe the new body could have too much authority and jurisdiction.
After a heated debate, at 5pm CDC president Borwornsak Uwanno let the drafters, including himself, go for a swim and exercise, or rest depending on the choice of the drafters.
During the evening break, many of the drafters jokingly said they did not find the hotel food tasty, and preferred normal street food or simple noodles.
CDC member Lt-General Nakorn Sukprasert said his room was nice and he had enough sleep, but the food was too hotel-style and Thais prefer tastier versions of pad kra pao from street vendors.
“It is very weird because they serve the food in Western style. For instance, Pak Boong Fai Daeng comes and I have to wait for another meat to come and it goes on like this,” another member Buntoon Srethasirote said.
Allowing the drafters to relax and enjoy their activities works very well to clear their minds of sensitive topics that the people are focusing on and giving each member the opportunity to unite their ideas, including forging a better relationship with one another.
They were back to the meeting room around 7pm and were not finished until 11pm because of the long debate over whether to allow members of political groups to field candidates.
The difference was, in the morning session they had scrutinised and passed articles smoothly with every drafter offering his or her best opinions to improve the draft. However, in the evening they got stuck with one article for several hours.
Perhaps a meeting at night is too exhausting.
The CDC president seemed to realise all the issues – whether it could be related to food or the tiring drafting process at night. So there was no night meeting scheduled for the second day.
Borwornsak also urged at the meeting that the drafters only want simple noodles or rice rather than fancy hotel food.
In the overall point of view, a new environment and atmosphere can be a good method to keep drafters better focused on the new charter and once they are too tired they can relax then pursue the work efficiently later.
