Government calls for patience on charter amendment

Deputy Minister of Defence and Army chief Udomdej Sitabutr said the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) is gathering input from committees to prepare for the next round of amendment debate. A meeting between the cabinet and the NCPO is slated for May 19 to discuss progress on the subject.

A number of political parties have requested a joint meeting with the Centre for Reconciliation and Reform (CRR). General Udomdej said the meeting is unlikely to take place and parties can express their political views through the centre, which will be considered and vetted by the government. He added that in April, politicians, academics and college students had been invited to the centre to share their views on the draft charter and ongoing reforms.

The NCPO has been barring political parties from organising political activities since it seized power last May. The army chief addressed the issue, saying parties holding rallies and talks in public at this stage will only disrupt the unity and harmony that the government has been working to forge. He urged political parties and the public to exercise patience as vital national reforms are in the process of taking effect before the draft constitution can reach its final stage.

Heated debates have been under way to discuss the newly drafted charter, which will lead to a future election as promised by the army government nearly one year ago.