Reformers can join new panel despite voting down draft charter: Prayut

The new council will also include experts from five sectors: security, sociology, foreign affairs, economics and civil servants, including retirees, Prayut said, adding that professionals with theoretical and practical knowledge of law would also be appointed. 

The RSC will be assigned to work on 37 aspects of reform as initiated by the NRC.

Meanwhile, Prayut will use his absolute power under Article 44 to facilitate the reform process in case there are points that cannot be settled. 

Prayut is expected to make a final decision on the 200 council members by September 23, before heading to New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly.

Speaking of national reconciliation, Prayut said he had seen some positive developments at local levels. 

Separately, the Cabinet yesterday approved a compensation package of between Bt20,000 and Bt400,000 for those affected in the 2013-2014 political crackdowns, Deputy Government Spokesman Maj-General Werachon Sukondhapatipak said. 

However, Prayut said he did not favour the idea of granting blanket amnesty to all parties involved, because then nobody would be held responsible. Also, he said, this would not follow international principles.

Emphasising the importance of including the principles of reform and reconciliation in the new draft charter, Prayut wondered if any other democratically elected government could achieve as much as his government has. 

“Why was there so much violence [under other democratic governments]? Are we really a dictatorial regime like some say we are?” he asked. “I can’t use [absolute power under] Article 44 if nothing is wrong. There is always a reason when I use it. The courts sometimes don’t accept cases that have clear victims, but I can solve that [with Article 44].”