Charter vetting panel agrees not to touch the monarchy

The panel, chaired by Pheu Thai MP Samart Kaewmechai, began its scrutiny of draft provisions designed to pave way for the formation of the Constitution Drafting Assembly.

At the meeting, the Democrats proposed that the charter amendments should not touch on four topics – the monarchy, the independent organisations, the judiciary and the amnesty for a certain individual, a veiled reference to fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The majority of 45 panel members, including Pheu Thai MP Kokaew Pikulthong, voiced support to leave the monarchy out of the charter debate.

But the coalition members in the panel wanted the CDA to decide for itself whether to amend provisions related to the remaining three topics.

The panel could not form a consensus and decided to leave the three topics as inconclusive, meaning it will not draw a line limiting the CDA’s mandate to write the new charter.

The panel resolved to complete its work by March 25 before activating the second and third readings of the bill.

It also heard the testimony from senator Dej-udom Krairit who raised a legal point that the amending of Article 291 of the Constitution to form the CDA was in contrary to the charter spirit.

Dej-udom argued that the Article 291 was meant for facilitating charter amendments and not the writing of new charter.

The panel members decided to cast aside the issue on the grounds that certain advocacy groups were already planning to petition the Constitution Court for legal interpretation of Article 291.