New panel be set up for charter changes : NRLC

The NRLC, set up by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, is arguing against setting up a Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA). Instead, it came up with a list of prospective candidates, including people involved in the 2007 charter as well as the now-suspended 1997 charter. 

The other prominent figures on the list include pro-Pheu Thai academics, such as Chusak Sirinil, and well-known journalists such as Khanchai Boonparn of the Matichon Group and Suthichai Yoon, editor-in-chief of the Nation Multimedia Group. 

The list also includes supporters of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), such as Parnthep Pourpongpan. However, members of the Democrat Party will not be included. 

Legal scholars on the list are Bowornsak Uwanno of King Prajadhipok’s Institute, who drafted the suspended people’s charter, and Somkid Lertpaitoon of Thammasat University, who drafted the 2007 Constitution.

Other prominent figures from both red and yellow camps include Wissanu Kreangarm, Senator Kamnoon Sitthisamarn, Vorachet Pakeerat of the Nitirat Group, Somkiart Onwimol, Sak Korsaengreang, Suranand Vejjajiva, Pansak Vinyaratn, Parnpree Bahiddhanukara, Pongthep Thepkanchana, Prommin Lertsuridej and Chaturon Chaisang.

The gist of the NRLC road map to amending the charter is to have the panel take charge of the charter draft in lieu of the CDA.

The government should sponsor the charter draft for legislative deliberation, before it undergoes three readings in Parliament. During the second reading, a public hearing should be held for each draft provision.

A referendum vote should be organised after the passage of the charter draft and before enactment. 

Kamnoon, who is close to the yellow shirts’ PAD, said yesterday that he had never been approached by the NRLC and that as a senator, he was prohibited by the current charter from being appointed to a government job.

“The NRLC has good intentions but in the current situation, an amendment committee is impossible,” the senator said. Instead, he said, Yingluck should make a clear decision on the matter, as her government had earlier suggested that a constitution drafting committee be set up but the NRLC did not agree. 

Parnthep said the PAD did not support the idea of setting up an amendment committee, adding that judging from the list, the NRLC had mostly chosen people who are close to the government and the red shirts, and that other people were only added for the sake of legitimacy. 

Law academic Jade Donavanik, whose name is also on the list, said he would willingly become a member of the amendment panel if asked. 

Opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday called on the government to try not to influence the constitutional amendment by appointing a specific committee. He said the Parliament should be allowed to decide about the matter.