Most reformers 'don't like charter'
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NRC MEMBERS FROM ISAAN WILL VOTE AGAINST IT, KHON KAEN REP SAYS
SOME 95 per cent of National Reform Council members from the provinces – especially those from the Northeast – plan to vote against the draft tomorrow, according to one reformer.
Ekarat Changlao, who represents the northeast province of Khon Kaen, claimed that 80 per cent of all 247 NRC members disapproved of the draft because of controversial clauses relating to the National Strategic Reform and Reconciliation Committee, the “outsider” prime minister and the appointed senators.
The charter draft requires the support of at least 124 NRC members to be passed.
The decision to vote “no” was made after a thorough study of the draft charter, Ekarat said, adding that no one from the National Council for Peace and Order had attempted to influence them on how to vote.
Tiwa Karnkrasang, an NRC member representing Buri Ram in the lower Northeast, revealed that to his knowledge the members who do not approved of the charter totalled 140.
However, about 20 of them could also swing back to a “yes” vote, he added. If that was the case, he said, the “yes” camp would have slightly more votes.
Tiwa said most provincial NRC members who plan to “no” want members from academia and social circles to join them.
The NRC member from Chiang Mai, Jurairat Junjakkawat, said she would vote against the charter draft due to its many flaws. She said the decision was based on her own judgement – she had not been lobbied.
Political observers agree that NCPO leaders, including Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and Deputy Premier Prawit Wongsuwan, sent positive signals in favour of the final draft by the Constitution Drafting Committee.
However, many people have campaigned for the NRC to vote down the draft, mainly elements within the council and the National Legislative Assembly. They want a new constitution written.
If the NRC rejects the draft tomorrow, a new committee of 21 drafters would be set up – most of which would come from the NLA.
Democrat Party politician Watchara Petchthong yesterday compared the draft charter to the excrement of CDC chairman Borwornsak Uwanno.
“I’d like to designate a nickname for this draft constitution as the excrement of Borwornsak Uwanno. This is because this draft is not going to benefit the country or the people,” Watchara said.
He added that an election being held should be based on the NRC approving the draft charter. “This draft constitution is full of problems. Therefore, we should vote down the draft so as to start the drafting process anew,” the politician said.
Watchara claimed the draft went against the will of King Prajadhipok, who granted his absolute power to the Thai people. He cited the late monarch’s message that he did not want power to fall into the hands of a small group of people.
Watchara also placed great emphasis on his belief that the draft was contrary to Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha’s previous remark about laws and regulations not being used as tools to create conflict.
He said the draft had received negative feedback from many prominent figures, including Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda, Democrat leader and ex-PM Abhisit Vejjajiva and National Anti-Corruption Commission member Wicha Mahakhun.
CDC spokesman and NRC member Kamnoon Sidhisamarn said he did not know anything about the reported lobbying of fellow members to vote down the draft.
“I don’t know because no one has lobbied me and I haven’t tried to persuade anyone. I believe the NRC will use their experience, knowledge, capacity and discretion to consider the draft constitution,” he said.
Kamnoon said the NRC would not consider other issues.
In related news, politician Chuwit Kamolvisit played a fiddle at Parliament yesterday in a symbolic rebuke of the draft. He warned that if the charter was voted down at a referendum, a huge responsibility would hit the unelected government.
