Look at the bigger picture with charter draft: CDC boss
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BORWORNSAK SAYS NEW CHARTER MATCHES THAI SOCIETY BETTER THAN PREVIOUS ONES
CONSTITUTION Drafting Committee (CDC) chairman Borwornsak Uwanno said yesterday that he wanted the public and members of the National Reform Council (NRC) to consider the bigger picture when deciding whether to accept the draft charter.
“When reading the draft charter, use your own judgement to decide whether to accept or reject it. This is to make the referendum a genuine social contract.
“I’m ready to accept the result, whatever it may be.
“I also believe that politicians will accept the result of the referendum, as it is akin to supreme judgement of [the people in] the country,” he said.
‘Suitable’ constitution
He also said this charter was appropriate for Thai society.
“It has to be considered whether the new constitution fits in with Thai society or not; whether it tries to address the problems of the past and whether it contains some elements deemed useful for the country or not,” he said.
Bowornsak Borwornsak stressed that this draft charter was not a replica of constitutions in the West.
He said Thailand had learned lessons from its 1997 and 2007 constitutions, which tried to replicate Western democracy.
The CDC chairman also said the National Strategic Reform and Reconciliation Committee (NSRRC) had been introduced in the draft in order to tackle key reform issues, such as those in public administration and education.
Transitioning to democracy
He said the country was in a transitional phase as it moves towards full-fledged democracy. Hence, he said, transitional provisions were required to ensure reform for the first five years.
Borwornsak added that he had instructed CDC member Tawilwadee Bureekul to write a report on the public recommendations that have been included in the draft charter.
The objective is to show the public that their voice has also been taken into account.
Meanwhile, CDC member Nakorn Sukprasert said yesterday that the draft charter had been sent to the printers, and would be handed over to the NRC today for consideration.
