Two drafts handed over for charter changes
Government whips and the red shirts yesterday submitted separate drafts seeking changes to the Constitution's Article 291 to pave the way for amendments to the post-coup charter.
Chief government whip, MP Udomdej Ratanasathien from the ruling Pheu Thai Party, was accompanied by more than 30 coalition MPs when he submitted the draft to House Speaker Somsak Kiartsuranont for deliberation by the House. The motion is supported by 275 coalition MPs.
Somsak said yesterday that once the motion’s supporters are verified, it would be included in the House’s deliberation agenda in 15 days. However, he said, it would take about two months to verify the supporters of the draft from the civic sector as the number of proponents is larger.
Some 400 red shirts led by the movement’s chairwoman, Thida Thawornseth, yesterday handed their amendment draft to the House speaker. According to the red shirts, the draft has the backing of about 60,000 people.
Thida said this was a good opportunity for people to help “open the door to greater change and genuine reconciliation”. She said her group was calling for members of the constitution drafting assembly to be “100-per-cent elected”.
Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung said yesterday that Pheu Thai’s draft calls for 77 of the 99 CDA members to be elected from every province and the remaining 22 to be selected from academics.
Sanan Kachornprasart, chief adviser to the coalition Chart Thai Pattana Party, said he did not expect the constitutional amendment to cause conflicts as feared earlier. He said the amendment draft would stop politicians from drafting the constitution.
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