Junta chided for failing to take decisive action on reforms

Suriyasai Katasila, deputy dean of Rangsit University’s Social Innovation College, yesterday asked why the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) was focusing on the charter stipulating a five-year transition period after the election, and not what it could achieve prior to the election.
He spoke during the “Charter draft and the future of Thailand’s reform” seminar organised by the Green Group and the Campaign for Popular Democracy. “The council has special power to bring about reform. No one wants the country to face uncertainty,” he said. “Has the council built a suitable structure for the country before a general election is held?”
He said the NCPO was leaving reforms to mechanisms specified in the charter because it believed that could bring about reform. “I want the council to announce a clear reform plan with all state agencies moving in the same direction,” he said. “The reform must be excluded from the charter. I want to see a reform roadmap and not a charter roadmap.’’
Former Constitution Drafting Committee member Paiboon Nititawan criticised the charter draft over what he said was its lack of a political reform essence.
“The draft focuses on a new election system that does not help reform politics,” he said.
“The charter must stipulate that MP candidates can run in the election without having to pay money but the charter draft stated that they can spend no more than Bt1.5 million on an election campaign.’’
However, Paiboon supported the proposal from four core government bodies for the establishment of a large constituency election system with three MP candidates in each constituency.
He said the proposal to have 250 non-elected senators had drawbacks and advantages. Paiboon said the Senate could balance the power of the government, but he disagreed with giving the Upper House the power to censure the government in a no-confidence debate.
“It is a controlling power rather than a balancing power,’’ Paiboon said.
Paiboon said the country would not achieve reform of state agencies if there were a mindset adopted that the government must first seek the opinions of agencies on the matter. “If the government wants to reform the police and it has to ask the police first, the police will not agree with reform because they are the problem,’’ he said.
Seree Suwanpanont, the National Reform Steering Assembly’s political committee chairman, said his committee proposed solutions to address the country’s crises without the intention of helping the junta retain power. “The proposal for a non-elected PM needs three-fifths of MPs [supporting it],” he said.
“We also proposed a similar election system as was proposed by the core agencies to prevent capitalists from reaping benefits from politics,’’ he said.