New panel to ensure ongoing reforms: PM

The National Strategic Reform and Reconciliation Commission (NSRRC) under the new charter will ensure that the subsequent government continues with implementing reform plans, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha explained yesterday.

He pointed out that without this panel, politicians would not voluntarily introduce reforms in line with the new constitution. “The future government must implement reforms and this panel would be responsible for making sure that happens. Do you think an elected government would do it voluntarily?” the PM asked reporters on the Government House beat. “I don’t think they will,” he added. 

Prayut went on to say that the NSRRC’s term would last five years – covering the next government’s term as well as part of the term of the government’s after that. 

When asked if he would be part of the commission in the next government’s tenure, he said he had not made a decision on that. “It will depend on my mood at the time. If I’m really bored, I don’t want to be anything. 

“It is not necessary for me to be part of it. Anyone can join it, the commission will play a great role and I personally don’t even want power,” he said. 

He was speaking at yesterday’s closing ceremony of the NRC Blueprint for Change event, where the council unveiled its reform guidelines.

The PM also hailed the blueprint as the country’s “first reform bible” produced by the NRC.

With the blueprint, he said, he believed the country would move forward with necessary mechanisms for national reforms. “Still, Thailand cannot go anywhere if we’re still fighting, so proper reconciliation is also needed,” he added.

He said his government planned to stay in power until September next year.

Meanwhile Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said yesterday that the NSRRC would help prevent future political crises by offering suggestions for a way out for the country if the ruling government is “crippled” and cannot function any more, though the panel will not step in where normal laws can be applied. 

However, Sombat Thamrongthanyawong, chairman of the Nation Reform Council (NRC)’s political reform committee, stood opposed to the NSRRC yesterday, saying a democratic mechanism should be designed to help solve political crises or conflicts.

“It’s better than having a strategic committee, which is not in line with democratic principles,” he said.

NRC chairman Thienchay Kiranandana, however, said the NSRRC would be a significant mechanism in the country’s administration. He explained that Thailand had learned from past experience that sometimes those in power cannot resolve conflicts and there is not always a way out of an impasse. With a five-year time frame as proposed, at least the country will have an option to come out of the impasse, he said. 

“This is just a mechanism to take care of the country, when there is no way out,” Thienchay said at an interview on the sidelines of the NRC Blueprint for Change event yesterday.

He also denied this was a move by the powers-that-be to retain power. “If we see this as a way to prolong power, then the debate will never be over,” he said. 

Thienchay added that considering past events, the country is need of a mechanism to take care of it in times of crisis. He said it would possibly not wield the “sovereign power” exercised by a coup, but be more of a mechanism that works legitimately and constitutionally. He said it would work if the public accepts the conditions set for it. 

Asked whether this power would mean the committee supersedes the government’s power, he said nobody wanted see the panel use this power at all. If the country were run in a good spirit and with accountability, then coups would not have taken place. 

Previously, he said, there was no other option but to stage coups to deal with crises, which was bad for the country, hence, he said people should think about this new power as a last choice. 

However, Thienchay said he had yet to see details of the draft charter and see how the provision on this point was written. Also, he said, that at this point he could not say what scope of power this committee would have and how it would be different from the council proposed under the interim charter.