Charter 'will empower state over people'
Play
DR NIRAN Pitakwatchara, the National Human Rights Commissioner, has criticised the charter draft, saying it disempowers people while giving the state more power.
Niran dismissed the claim in the charter draft of “upgrading the status of subjects to citizens”, saying provisions in the draft did not support that.
For instance, he said the charter draft ignored the rights of migrants, displaced people and ethnic minorities without Thai citizenship – only Thai citizens enjoyed the rights and privileges stated in the charter.
He said these people would not have rights to access official information, file complaints, express an opinion and take part in political activities.
The charter also deprived Thais the right to file complaints against state agencies through the Administrative Court, as provided by the 2007 Charter.
Niran said the draft removed the right of the public to participate in decision-making processes for development policies such as economic zones and industrial estates.
This would pave the way for the state to implement mega projects such as deep-sea ports without allowing people to join in the decision making.
Niran also objected to the plan to merge his agency with the Ombudsman, saying they were independent agencies that help check and balance each other.
He also disapproved of the proposal to set up new independent agencies, and called for current independent agencies to be overhauled and freed from political interference and domination.
“This charter draft is a step back from empowering the people because it gives the state a firmer grip and deprives people of the rights they earlier enjoyed,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, at a seminar held by the National Reform Council yesterday, NRC member Sungsidh Piriyarangsan said the 1997 and 2007 charters created parliamentary dictatorships.
He said the 1997 Charter created a turning point in the political landscape because it strengthened political parties, leading to parliamentary dictatorships because of a poor checks-and-balances mechanism in the power structure.
And although the 2007 Charter established independent agencies to serve as a check-and-balances mechanism, the agencies failed to achieve their objectives, he said.
