CDC tries to assuage NRC doubts on draft charter
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THE NATIONAL Reform Council (NRC) held an informal meeting with the Constitution Drafting Committee to clear doubts over several controversial issues of the draft charter before voting on September 6 to endorse or reject it.
There were 190 NRC members signing up to ask questions on points they wanted clarified.
The NRC received the final version of the proposed charter from the CDC on Saturday, but its chairman suggested the seminar so its members would have the chance to study it thoroughly before deciding.
Among the hot issues were the formation of a National Strategic Reform and Reconciliation Committee (NSRRC), a non-elected premier, qualifications of House of Representative candidates, selected senators, and a hybrid proportional electoral system.
The CDC chairman Borwornsak Uwanno and spokesman Kamnoon Sidhisamarn took turns fielding questions from the reformers.
Glaring was the absence of some members of the NRC’s political reform committee, including its chairman, who had voiced disagreements with some details.
Borwornsak insisted that the charter was complete even though it did not have a preface, as it could be written and added after the referendum. If some NRC members wish to ask the Constitutional Court to interpret this point, it’s their right to do so, he said.
Kamnoon gave further explanations about the NSRRC, such as that it would be established before an election was held, while its chairman could be appointed afterwards.
The NSRRC’s work would be about reform and reconciliation. It would only draw on its special powers if there were a “failed state”, he said.
The NRC members were also given an executive summary of the charter for further perusal.
