Analysts take dim view of powerful NSRRC

At a seminar analysing the draft constitution at Chulalongkorn University yesterday, veteran politician Nikorn Chamnong from the Chart Thai Pattana Party said the charter had been well written to solve the problems facing the country in the past decade – whether street protests or the problems in the national assembly. 

The charter also provided mechanisms to unlock almost all of past problems. However, the NSRRC, which would be used as a safety lock, could rather block the learning of society, he said. 

Likit Theeravekin, a senior political scientist, said it was crucial to look at Article 3 of the draft charter, which stipulates that sovereign power belongs to all Thais. However, many other articles contradict it. For instance, the 123 selected senators and the outsider prime minister would not connect with the people, as they would not be elected by the people. 

The NSRRC would have the power to overrule the administrative and legislative branches and therefore also seems not to be connected with the people, he said. 

Chantana Wankaew, another scholar from Chulalongkorn, said the NSRRC was designed to resolve conflicts, but would instead create one because it holds absolute power without a scrutinising mechanism. 

Buntoon Srethasirote, a member of the Constitution Drafting Committee, said the concerned bodies including the legislature fully acknowledged the controversy caused by the charter draft and the NSRRC. 

Perhaps the legislature, which has reserved the right to propose an additional question on the charter referendum, could ask the people if they would accept the embattled strategic committee.