NRC suggests six months for referendum holding
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The National Reform Council (NRC) is proposing a period of at least six months for the process of holding a referendum on the draft charter, a NRC member said on Monday.
NRC secretary whip Alongkorn Ponlaboot said that NRC president Thienchay Kiranandana had submitted a letter to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on May 14 proposing that a referendum on the draft constitution be held and suggesting a six-month period for the entire process.
“We think it should take at least six months [for the referendum] as three months might not be sufficient time for the distribution of 47 millions copies of the draft charter to eligible voters,” Alongkorn said, adding that the NRC also proposed that responsible organisations conduct the referendum inclusively and transparently.
The NRC along with Constitution Drafting Committee last week unanimously agreed that the referendum should be held.
The Cabinet and the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) will hold a joint meeting on Tuesday when they are expected to decide whether a referendum should be held on the charter draft.
However, Alongkorn said the Cabinet and the NCPO have until August 6 to make a decision as that is the date scheduled for the NRC to approve the final charter draft.
