Military council to be dissolved after new government is formed

BANGKOK: -- Members of Thailand's Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) Saturday gave a final touch to the draft constitution which would allow senators holding posts in 2000 and 2006 to be appointed as new senators.

An additional clause was inserted in the draft charter specifying that members of the Council for National Security (CNS), the military coup makers who toppled the elected government of prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in a bloodless coup d'etat last September 19, must leave their posts after the new government is formed following the general election to be held this December.

CDC members met in a session presided over by chairman Prasong Soonsiri, agreeing that the former members of the upper chamber in both the 2000 and 2006 parliaments should have an equal opportunity to run for senatorial posts in the new administration to be formed after the general election.

They also incorporated in the draft the requirement that members of the CNS must vacate their posts after the new government is established.

The draft charter will be forwarded to the Constitution Drafting Assembly for deliberation.

In another development, Alongkorn Polbutr, deputy leader of the former opposition Democrat Party, expressed concern that the ongoing demonstration against the CNS could pose a problem for Thailand as it moves towards democratic reform, and that it could affect national economy which is only now beginning to recover.

Urging the demonstrators to think about peace and its benefits for the country, Mr. Alongkorn said every sector must now avoid confrontation and violence which could erupt from the rally.

The Democrat leader called for the interim government and the CNS to quickly lift the coup committee's Order Number 15 this month so that new parties could register and contest the general election, a move that he said would also ease the country's political crisis.

The cabinet on June 5 agreed to lift Order Number 15, imposed shortly after the coup, to allow politicians to set up new parties and conduct political activities.

He said the Democrat Party maintained that a proposal made by party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva which urged both the CNS and the government to meet with political party leaders to find ways to unlock problems for the country.

--TNA 2007-06-09

Military council to be dissolved after new government is formed

BANGKOK: -- Members of Thailand's Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) Saturday gave a final touch to the draft constitution which would allow senators holding posts in 2000 and 2006 to be appointed as new senators.

An additional clause was inserted in the draft charter specifying that members of the Council for National Security (CNS), the military coup makers who toppled the elected government of prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in a bloodless coup d'etat last September 19, must leave their posts after the new government is formed following the general election to be held this December.

CDC members met in a session presided over by chairman Prasong Soonsiri, agreeing that the former members of the upper chamber in both the 2000 and 2006 parliaments should have an equal opportunity to run for senatorial posts in the new administration to be formed after the general election.

They also incorporated in the draft the requirement that members of the CNS must vacate their posts after the new government is established.

The draft charter will be forwarded to the Constitution Drafting Assembly for deliberation.

In another development, Alongkorn Polbutr, deputy leader of the former opposition Democrat Party, expressed concern that the ongoing demonstration against the CNS could pose a problem for Thailand as it moves towards democratic reform, and that it could affect national economy which is only now beginning to recover.

Urging the demonstrators to think about peace and its benefits for the country, Mr. Alongkorn said every sector must now avoid confrontation and violence which could erupt from the rally.

The Democrat leader called for the interim government and the CNS to quickly lift the coup committee's Order Number 15 this month so that new parties could register and contest the general election, a move that he said would also ease the country's political crisis.

The cabinet on June 5 agreed to lift Order Number 15, imposed shortly after the coup, to allow politicians to set up new parties and conduct political activities.

He said the Democrat Party maintained that a proposal made by party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva which urged both the CNS and the government to meet with political party leaders to find ways to unlock problems for the country.

--TNA 2007-06-09

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i will believe this when it happens

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Draft charter requires CNS to expire after next Govt formed

By a last minute wording adjustment, the revised constitution draft now has a clause specifying the expiry of the junta's term upon the arrival of the next government, charter writer Somkid Lertpaitoon said Monday.

"The wording changes were deemed necessary in order to prevent a self-serving interpretation that the junta could remain in operations forever," he said.

He said the junta as well as the interim government would expire after the sworn-in of the elected government.

The revised draft was complete on Sunday and the 100 member Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA) commenced to vet it from yesterday to June 30.

Source: The Nation - 11 June 2007