Council of State drafting changes to controversial junta order

By The Nation 

 

 

The Council of State – the government’s legal advisory agency – is writing an amendment draft to a controversial junta order that has been criticised by established political parties, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said on Monday.

 

Final approval from the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) is needed before an amended version of the order is announced, he added.

 

“The Council of State is preparing the draft. But I don’t know when the change will be made. That will need approval from the NCPO,” said Wissanu, who is in charge of the government’s legal affairs.

 

The government and the NCPO had been aware of the issues raised by political parties regarding NCPO Order No 53/2560, and representatives from the government and the NCPO last week met with their counterparts from the Election Commission to discuss the matter, the deputy PM said. 

 

Most of the issues involved the practicality of certain clauses in the order, and amendments to the original order are expected to address those problems, he explained. 

 

The order, issued in December by General Prayut Chan-o-cha in his capacity as head of the NCPO, made amendments to the Political Parties Act. 

 

Established political parties, namely Pheu Thai and the Democrats, have complained about certain clauses in the order, arguing that some put them at a disadvantage while others are impractical.

 

Meanwhile, when Prime Minister Prayut was also asked about the calls for amendments to the NCPO order, he said the authorities involved “are considering” the matter.

 

The Ombudsman’s Office has asked the Constitutional Court to determine whether the order deprives the political parties of certain rights and puts an additional burden on them.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30342295

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-04-03

7 hours ago, webfact said:

The Ombudsman’s Office has asked the Constitutional Court to determine whether the order deprives the political parties of certain rights and puts an additional burden on them.

It does BUT the NCPO has the constitutional right to do so.