CDC will set up commission to drive reform
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THE CONSTITUTION Drafting Committee (CDC) has agreed to set up a national strategic and reconciliation commission to drive national reform as suggested by the Cabinet, CDC spokesman Kamnoon Sidhisamarn said yesterday.
The Cabinet had earlier suggested that the CDC merge the National Strategic Reform Committee and the Independent Committee to Promote National Reconciliation. The Cabinet also proposed that the national strategic reform and reconciliation committee should comprise the Parliament president, PM and the Supreme Court president. Critics have opposed such a structure, citing lack of efficiency.
Kamnoon argued that the commission members were aware of the political divide, and should write regulations that ensure this is not repeated.
The CDC will also seek clarity about the power structure and make-up of the Reform Movement Council, which was addressed in the interim charter of 2014.
Kamnoon said the CDC had so far drafted 70 legislative provisions in the provisional clauses stipulating that the scrutiny of charter’s organic laws and acts must strictly consider the spirit of the law.
In a related development, at least two panels under the National Reform Council (NRC) are not likely to accept the charter draft if the CDC fails to accept the NRC’s suggestions on the eligibility of the prime minister, members of parliament and senators, NRC’s Direk Teungfung said yesterday.
Direk, who serves as deputy chairman of the NRC political reform panel, said his panel and the legal and justice reform panel have teamed up to scrutinise the charter draft before deciding on whether to accept it.
He said it was not yet clear how the CDC would resolve the eligibility issues. If the CDC finalises the draft and the eligibility issues are not changed as recommended, the NRC would not vote for the draft.
“Our decision would be independent. No one can influence or lobby us,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam cautioned that the deadline to finalise the charter draft is fast approaching. Wissanu said rushing to meet the deadline may affect the work, but he hoped the CDC would be careful. He said it would be impossible to extend the CDC’s term because such an extension would be in violation of the interim charter.
