Local leaders call for their authority to be defined in charter draft
KAMNANS and village heads yesterday called on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to ensure the charter draft clearly identified the authority of the regional, local and central administrations.
Local leaders from 77 provinces with 4 million members have called for changes in the draft. The group said their decision over whether to accept or reject the charter draft depends very much on the revision of the draft on this one point.
They have raised concern that the institutions of kamnan and village head may be adversely affected since there was no provision mentioning local and regional administrations.
Yongyot Kaewkiew, president of the Association of Kamnans and Village Heads of Thailand, also filed a petition with Constitution Drafting Commission spokesman Amorn Wanitwiwat to clearly mention the local, regional and central administration in the draft.
He said the group found that the charter draft did not have provisions on regional and central administration. “We are worried that if the charter draft is not clear, there might be interpretation, not that we are afraid kamnans and village heads would be disbanded. We will follow up on our request. If our wish is not considered, our group will reconsider whether to accept the charter draft in the referendum,” he said.
Chusak Ayupong, president of Phuket Kamnan and Village Head Association, led 100 local leaders to file the petition with the PM to revise Article 49 of the charter draft.
His group wanted the draft to say “the state must clearly declare the scope of authority of the local, regional and central administrations”. The state must provide funds for provincial development.
In Chiang Mai, 1,000 local leaders from 25 districts of Chiang Mai met Chiang Mai Governor Pawin Chamniprasat to seek revision of the charter draft over policies on the country’s administration.
In Kanchanaburi, 200 local leaders gathered in a symbolic opposition against Article 49 and 246 of the charter draft in Muang district.
Pa-ern Kaenchan, kamnan of Tambon Don Salaeb from Kanchanaburi, said the existence of regional administration is key to the country’s stability and security.
Interior Minister General Anupong Paochinda said local leaders have the right to seek revision of the charter draft but he warned their gathering to push for their demand may be deemed illegal. “I have been informed that they have dispersed,” he said.
He said he had assigned Interior Ministry permanent secretary Krissada Bunrat to explain to the local leaders about their gathering.
“They are state officials so they must be careful. Society may be fed up with such gatherings as it may cause disruption. It affects investment and tourism. They should raise this on the stages that we provide,” he said.
