First two draft bills available to public tomorrow, says CDC

The two draft bills, the first to be finished, are among the four draft bills that will determine the new political structure and power in society. But with the drafting ongoing, politicians have voiced opposition to it. In response to claims the new bills do not correspond with people’s political rights as guaranteed in the new charter, Udom says politicians are too obsessed with concerns about losing power and have failed to take into consideration the greater role of the public as addressed in the drafts. Udom said political parties in the past had the critical problem of being under the influence and dominance of certain figures including some of their top executives. As such, he said their members lacked a voice and a role in determining parties’ activities. However, the CDC has attempted to change that with new conditions introduced, he said, adding that the conditions may sound negative compared to conventional norms but they would allow increased public participation in the parties, and thus democracy as a whole. He urged parties to focus on the content of the bills and the bills’ intentions, and not to get into a political squabble for fear of losing power. The CDC’s work, he said, was not yet final as it had to pass through the National Legislative Assembly for deliberation again. The Democrat Party’s deputy leader Ongart Klampaiboon urged the CDC to hold a public hearing to gauge views from the public on the bills before proceeding. Key Pheu Thai figure Surapong Tovijakchaikul slammed the draft bills for being too stringent with tight conditions. He urged the CDC to think thoroughly before introducing them to the public. Meanwhile, Colonel Piyapong Klinpan, a spokesman for the National Council for Peace and Order, said the NCPO would retain all the rules imposed against political activities to ensure order ahead of a general election. However, it may consider loosening them given “appropriate timing”, he said.