Charter drafters 'colour blind'

Wissanu Krea-ngam, deputy prime minister and the junta’s key legal adviser, came out yesterday to defend the political neutrality of the newly selected constitution drafters, saying that the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) was “colour blind” because it consisted of all colour-coded political factions.

The deputy PM said emphasis was not put on members’ “political colour”, but rather their varied capabilities and what each member would bring to the table.

The 36 charter drafters were named yesterday, five months after the coup. 

Despite the claim of political neutrality, many charter drafters could be considered as people who empathise with the People’s Democratic Reform Committee, the anti-Thaksin movement that played a key role in the events leading up to the military ousting of the Pheu Thai administration headed by Thaksin’s sister Yingluck.

Some of them took to the PDRC rally stage, for example – Pakorn Priyakorn, Paiboon Nititawan, Charas Suwanmala, Choochai Supawongse and Banjerd Singkaneti.

Charoon Intajarn, a former president of the Constitutional Court, had voted for the dissolution of the Thaksin-linked People’s Power Party.

Wissanu also stated that Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha had handpicked six charter drafters, including the newly appointed president of the drafter’s council, Borwornsak Uwanno, under the junta’s quota.

Prayut said the selection process had conformed with procedure, and pointed out that Borwornsak was chosen because of his ability.

Wissanu said all the charter drafters possess a certain degree of seniority and knowledge, hence they would work together, rather than with certain individuals dictating proceedings. 

 

‘Wide range of expertise’

The deputy PM, meanwhile, said the charter drafters collectively possessed a wide range of expertise. 

By way of example, he pointed to the professional background of Krit Kraichitti, an international legal expert who is former director-general of the Foreign Ministry’s Treaties and Legal Affairs Department, and Wichai Thittapakdee, who is an economics and business expert.

Wissanu also pointed to Krasae Chanawongse, who is an experienced and “good politician”, while Jade Donavanik is an up-and-coming academic, who is relatively young and vigorous.

Jade, dean of the Faculty of Law at Dhurakij Pundit University, yesterday revealed his reform idea that Article 35 of the provisional charter was just a framework for a new constitution, and that the latter could therefore amend some of the wording in the former.

Article 35 of the provisional charter outlines a 10-point framework for a new permanent constitution. Some consider this framework to be a mechanism designed to curb or eradicate political influence from political factions affiliated to former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, who is currently in self-imposed exile.

Kamnoon Sidhisamarn, a newly appointed CDC member, expressed the view that decentralisation was necessary for the country, and that the “monopoly system” should be changed and the Kingdom’s democratic structure reformed.

“Thailand must eradicate the monopoly system, which is a fundamental problem in the system, scrutinise the access process of politicians, and also get rid of corruption,” said Kamnoon, who is also a member of the National Reform Council.

He said that looking back over the past 10 or 20 years of political disputes, the crises emerged under politicians who abused their power and were supported by their financiers. 

The problem with the political system is that Thailand is the only country in which state politicians must be members of parties, he added.

He believes financiers have a great influence on the political parties, funding them behind the curtains, and are in control of party members, leading to government budgets being abused by those financiers, as well. 

“It seems like politicians are members of a political company,” he said.

The CDC member also said the country needed to focus more on decentralisation, as strengthening local administration could be one solution in reforming Thailand’s democratic structure.

 

‘Need to strengthen local bodies’

“During the history of the democratic system in Thailand, we have only changed the person who governs the country, and the main authority is only held in Bangkok – and is then spread to local and provincial areas. The country therefore needs to change its structure to strengthen local administrations through decentralisation,” he explained.

When asked if he expected anything from the reform process and the constitution that would be drafted shortly, Kamnoon said that expectation was an important force pushing for reform. CDC members have to be determined in their tasks, and must believe that this will help move the country forward, he added.

Meanwhile, he said the new charter was unique in the sense that it would be drafted in accordance with Article 35 of the interim charter, which would create new dimensions and perspectives in drafting the law.