Don't blame politicians for rejection of draft charter, premier told

Both liberal and conservative-leaning politicians and leaders said several NRC members who shot down the charter were high-ranking officials and generals who would not be easily convinced, except by a powerful individual.

They pointed out that all members were actually endorsed by the chief of the National Council for Peace and Order, or Prime Minister Prayut himself. As a result, it would not be justifiable to blame politicians for the rejection of the charter.

Jatuporn Promphan, chair of the anti-coup United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), said the premier should not point a finger at others as politicians could not order these members how to respond, and only the person in power could.

Jatuporn said he had no problem with an attempt to prolong their stay in power if the charter was found to be not democratic because an election with such a constitution would not mean anything.

Watchara Petchthong, former Democrat MP, said it was not fair for Prayut to put the blame on politicians, as he himself had endorsed the NRC.

Watchara said some politicians had stepped out to voice their concerns because it was obvious the charter prolonged the government’s stay in power, although much of the content was beneficial to the country. While the government looked weak under the new charter, the Constitution Drafting Committee in addition added at the last minute the National Strategic Reform and Reconciliation Committee (NSRRC), intensifying dissatisfaction among political observers.

Wachara said the government from now on should stick to the road map previously promised or speed the process up so that it could maintain its integrity.

Nutthawut Saikuar, another UDD leader, said he agreed with the prime minister, but those were politicians out of a democratic regime so they could be swayed as ordered.

By extending the road map period, it suggested that this was clearly about politics that ordinary politicians would not be capable of.

Thepthai Senpong, deputy secretary-general of the Democrat Party, meanwhile, suggested that old CDC faces not sit on a new charter drafting committee, as they had already lost the integrity to write a new charter. The old faces of the NRC should not be appointed to sit on the new reform council either, he added.

“Wouldn’t we, 65 million [Thais], have someone else to pursue these tasks?” Thepthai asked.