NCPO's idea of 'active citizenship' worth considering

Last week, the NCPO submitted a 10-point plan to Meechai Ruchupan, the CDC chairman, proposing recommendations for provisions to be made in the new charter.

While some of the points have drawn flak from international human rights groups such as Human Rights Watch, some are worth paying attention to. These include the fifth point, which suggests that the charter should help to promote and empower a state of “citizens first and foremost”, not only before or just after elections. 

Since the new charter is being drafted after the previous one was rejected by the now-defunct National Reform Council (NRC) in early September, the new CDC has been trying to figure out a new political system for the country so that it can move forward.

The new charter doesn’t yet have an element addressing the increasing role of the people, which had been addressed in the rejected version in the distinctive form of “active citizenship”.

Banjerd Singhaneti, a former Constitution Drafting Committee member who worked on the rejected draft, told me why we need such the element. 

He said charters are generally written based on two key elements concerning the rights and freedom of people and the political structure. But considering the unusual circumstances in the country when it is passing through a “transitional period”, besides reform and reconciliation supportive mechanisms, what we probably need no less than the others is empowerment of the people, or what he called, active citizenship.

Banjerd’s committee specifically addressed this issue with various mechanisms introduced to help accomplish the goal, including a citizen assembly in every province, where people could come and practice democracy in their everyday lives so they could become actively democratic, and not aware only about their rights, but their duties in society.

In fact, his committee addressed it at the top of its charter drafting principles, or pillars, as “Citizens first and foremost”.

What Banjerd did not tell me but we all know from public discussions and books is that drafting a charter is also about redress or even rebalancing powers in society. And people are among the other principal elements and powers of Thai society that need to be redress mindfully along with the others.

When Banjerd’s committee addressed this issue, there was hope that we would soon be able to get back on track, or even move forward in a sustainable manner as our foundation would be empowered and become strong enough to balance with other powers or even support the whole democratic system.

Unfortunately the previous draft was rejected.

It’s still surprising that such an uncompromising symbol of power like the military would address this “citizens first and foremost” element.

But now that the NCPO has weighed in with its proposals, it has revived an opportunity that the charter drafters will bring back the unattended element to the table.

While most of the other points in the NCPO proposal have been heavily criticised, we should not let this opportunity pass us by.

Shortly after he received the NCPO’s proposal, Meechai said the CDC welcomed all recommendations and would consider all of them. 

The CDC should look at the NCPO’s fifth point closely so that “active citizenship” can have a chance to be truly realised along with the other elements.

Only with a solid foundation can we rest assured that our new house will be able to withstand all the winds.