Paiboon shrugs off Thaksin's charter jibes

On Friday during a trip to Finland, Thaksin criticised the charter draft as the “worst draft in terms of democracy’’. 

Paiboon said Thaksin was entitled to his opinion. 

“I am not surprised that this charter draft is the worst in the opinion of Thaksin. What he wants most is the 1997 charter, because he stands to gain the most [from that], so it is not surprising that he would go against this reform charter draft.

“We have to see the results of the vote by the National Reform Council on whether it will accept the charter or not,’’ he said.

Under this charter draft, Paiboon said Thaksin had the right to run for election but no right to hold a political post.

Paiboon complimented Pheu Thai Party for voicing bold opinions and recommendations on the charter draft, as he believed that was useful and right in a democratic sense.

In a statement released last week, Pheu Thai said the new charter did not respect the sovereign power of the people and sought to ensure the coup-makers' continuation in power through a largely unelected Senate and a provision for an “outsider” prime minister.

Phumtham Wechayachai, caretaker secretary-general of Pheu Thai, called on CDC chairman Borwornsak Uwanno to portray courage and not throw the prime minister a political “hot potato”.

He said the CDC should decide on the appointment of the National Strategic Reform and Reconciliation Commission (NSRRC) under the new draft charter and not pass the decision to the PM, as he could be accused of seeking gains for himself.

Phumtham said several controversial issues in the charter were not clear yet and the charter drafters wanted Cabinet and the National Council for Peace and Order to make such decisions. 

“I would like Borwornsak to be bold and make the decisions. If he does good deeds he would be honoured, otherwise he would carry the sin or guilt with him forever. If he is not sure, then call a debate before a public referendum. Pheu Thai is ready to join the debate,’’ he said.

Anusorn Iamsa-ard, caretaker deputy spokesman of Pheu Thai, said the party’s economic team believed the sagging economy would not recover if democracy was not fully restored. 

“Many provisions in the charter draft are not democratic and it should be called the ‘suicidal charter’ because we want to deceive foreign countries that we have democracy but we allow the continuation of dictatorship,’’ he said.

He condemned the draft for allowing a non-elected PM and more than half the Senate being appointed. Many bodies would be so the ‘dictatorship’ could continue and allow dual structures, like transforming the NCPO to the NSRRC, whose members would serve a five-year term that can be extended to 10 years.

“It is impossible that people will accept this charter draft,” he claimed.

Cabinet had earlier suggested that the NSRRC be made up of 20 members, 11 of them ex-officio, including the heads of legislative, executive and judicial branches, the Supreme Commander, heads of the three military branches, the national police chief, former Parliament president, former PM, former Supreme Court president and nine specialists.

Lt General Nakhon Sukprasert, an NRC member from Roi Et, said the CDC would meet today to conduct a final review of the draft before forwarding it to the NRC for consideration on Saturday.

The NRC has postponed a meeting of all its panels and representatives of the Cabinet to explain their calls for changes to the draft from today because the NRC needs time to debate questions to be put in the public referendum.

Nakhon said he was satisfied with the charter, as he believed it would help reduce conflicts and the country’s problems, and it would ensure that people enjoy rights and liberty.

He rated the charter a 75-per-cent success and believed the NRC would vote for the draft. “It would be a pity if it rejects the draft,’’ he said.