Article 44 to fix aviation woes: Prayut
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Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha said today that only the Article 44 under the interim charter can fix the aviation woes within the timeframe.
During his weekly speech, he said that the Civil Aviation Department would need to have more staff, including foreigners to restore public confidence. The power under the Article 44 would ensure that this can be completed within 30 days.
On the subsequent 60 days, a department to oversee the aviation industry will be established for the licensing while the Civil Aviation Department would maintain only the regulatory power.
"The number of flights have escalated to hundreds of thousands. This cannot be assisted with the same number of people (11-12)," he said.
The Article 44 would allow this to happen within 90 days, while normal process would require 1 year to 1 year and a half, he said.
Prayut, also leader of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), has been criticised of invoking the Article, amid fears that the "absolute power" granted by the article would lead to power abuses.
