Thai Govt Plans Joint Bill On Charter

[Lite Beer]

Govt plans joint bill on charter

Piyanart Srivalo

The Nation on Sunday

BANGKOK:-- Cabinet to consider draft tomorrow; unified proposal gets nod from Thaksin: source

The government will submit its draft constitutional amendment bill soon, based on a draft prepared by the Justice Ministry.

The draft is expected to get full support from all coalition parties, although the ruling Pheu Thai Party earlier submitted its own draft amendment for parliamentary deliberation, a coalition source said yesterday.

At its meeting tomorrow, the Cabinet will consider the Justice Ministry draft, which would seek to amend Article 291 of the current post-coup Constitution to allow the setting up of a constitution-drafting assembly.

The Cabinet draft is almost identical to one submitted to the House speaker last week for parliamentary deliberation. There are only a few small differences between the two drafts. These include a requirement that a decree on the election of constitution drafters be issued within 15 days of the amendment's promulgation, compared to 30 days for the Pheu Thai draft.

Last week, Pheu Thai, represented by coalition whips, and the red shirts submitted separate proposals to the House speaker, seeking to change the Article 291 of the charter. The coalition Chart Thai Pattana Party is expected to submit its own draft amendment soon.

The coalition source said yesterday that despite the many drafts, the coalition parties would vote in support of the Cabinet draft.

"Finally, when the coalition's draft comes under House deliberation, all the coalition parties will vote for the draft. The coalition parties have assured their full support for the joint draft," the source said.

According to the source, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is considered Pheu Thai's "big boss", initially wanted the charter change moves to be made separately by coalition parties - and not jointly by the coalition, in order to avoid possible opposition. However, subsequent developments and repeated promises of full support from coalition leaders, particularly Chart Thai Pattana de-facto leader Banharn Silapa-archa, prompted Thaksin to change his mind, the source said.

Banharn had expressed the view that as the constitutional amendment was a government policy, the Cabinet should "host" the charter amendment, Chart Thai Pattana Party spokesman Watchara Kannikar said.

In the Cabinet draft, the 99-member constitution-drafting assembly consists of 77 elected members - one from every province and Bangkok - and 22 appointed experts in political science, public law and public administration. The CDA members' election by voters and selection by parliamentarians is required to be complete within 70 days of the promulgation of the amendment of Article 291.

According to the Cabinet draft, the CDA is required to complete its task of constitution drafting within 180 days of the filling of all assembly seats. An abrupt end to the current Parliament's term, such as by a dissolution of the House of Representatives, would not cause the CDA to be terminated. The CDA also is required to hold a nationwide hearing on its final draft.

The amended charter must not result in any change to the country's current system of constitutional monarchy. Such a draft would be considered void if Parliament ruled that it contradicted the current system.

The CDA's final draft will be subject to a public referendum. Without majority support, the draft will be dropped. However, the Cabinet or at least one-third of parliamentarians could ask Parliament to vote on whether to accept a draft that fails a public referendum.

In a related development, Watchara said yesterday the party's legal team was working on its version of the charter-amendment draft. It would be brought to the party's meeting on Tuesday and was expected to be submitted as a House agenda item in the next week.

Watchara said Chart Thai Pattana's proposal to change Article 291, which spells out the process of charter amendment, would be different from Pheu Thai's draft as it proposes that the draft be brought for voting in Parliament before the referendum.

-- The Nation 2012-02-12

[CalgaryII]

According to the source, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is considered Pheu Thai's "big boss",

Some denigrating, Oppositional agenda thrown in, primarily deswigned to de-legitimize Yingluck.

The 'big boss' term is a favorite of Oppositional elements, along with the descriptor 'Fugitive".

But never mind, as long as the Constitutional reform proceeds, thereby de-fanging those who are coup-inclined.

The amended charter must not result in any change to the country's current system of constitutional monarchy

That has never been considered by anyone of significance.

It is referenced here only as a way of the Opposition implying motive that is non-existent, but wishing to create misgivings about a process they really don't like. Diminishing the Constitution their coup brethren constructed is not in their interest.

Constitutional Monarchy is a very superior form of Governance, as those of us coming from Britich and Commonwealth countries only know too well.

Certainly beats the hell out of the unworkable USA system.

[Reasonableman]

The Queen of England is irrelevant to The imminent Republic of Australia. The last time the Governor General (Kerr the Cur) flexed his muscles, it brought about the downfall of an elected government, followed by years of damaging Liberal Party rule. Unless you know something about something it may be better to refrain from making such absurd and irrelevant generalisations about the British Commonwealth, which is/was totally different from Thailand in almost every way. Nothing complcated, right?

According to the source, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is considered Pheu Thai's "big boss",

Some denigrating, Oppositional agenda thrown in, primarily deswigned to de-legitimize Yingluck.

The 'big boss' term is a favorite of Oppositional elements, along with the descriptor 'Fugitive".

But never mind, as long as the Constitutional reform proceeds, thereby de-fanging those who are coup-inclined.

The amended charter must not result in any change to the country's current system of constitutional monarchy

That has never been considered by anyone of significance.

It is referenced here only as a way of the Opposition implying motive that is non-existent, but wishing to create misgivings about a process they really don't like. Diminishing the Constitution their coup brethren constructed is not in their interest.

Constitutional Monarchy is a very superior form of Governance, as those of us coming from Britich and Commonwealth countries only know too well.

Certainly beats the hell out of the unworkable USA system.

[alexakap]

Govt plans joint bill on charter

In the meantime the next rainy season is closer and closer day to day - and won't wait until this so-called "govt" get some free time to deal with......Has something really done about it yet???

NO.

Half of the year has been already passed since the last raining season. They left only 50% of their time.

[Ricardo]

The CDA's final draft will be subject to a public referendum. Without majority support, the draft will be dropped.

All well-and-good, the draft "will be dropped" and the public have the final say, good for democracy ...

And if the public don't decide the way that the government (or the 'big boss') want, then

However the Cabinet, or at least one third of parliamentarians could ask Parliament to vote on whether to accept a draft that fails a public referendum.

Trans. - PTP will ram-rod it through, against the wishes of the majority of voters, anyway.

Yet again, shout 'Yay for Red-Shirt Democracy !'

[CalgaryII]

Ricardo, #5

Trans. - PTP will ram-rod it through, against the wishes of the majority of voters, anyway.

Yet again, shout 'Yay for Red-Shirt Democracy !'

Well, not exactly

If they 'didn't' ramrod some things through, they would be going against the wishes of the voters.

They came close to doing this prior to the New Year.

There were indications they were beginning to wilt under the pressure and intimidation of the Opposition regarding Constitutional Reform.

The electorate who voted them into place, were becoming increasinly restless about this, as Constutional Reform was considered a key reason for electing this Govt.to start with.

The natives were getting restless and the PTP got the message. After the New Year, they got their ass-in-gear on this issue.

Also, what may appear to be 'undemocratic ram-rodding', instead shows the advantages of the Thai system, over the gridlock so prevalent in the US system. With a majority, a Govt. can do things.

No Govt. with this system, is foolish enough to do stuff that does not have a modicum of voter consent. Not all by any means, but the majority. Ignoring this basic tenet, would come back to haunt them 3+ years from now.

With this Constitution thing, the only voter objections come from those supporting the Opposition. Electoral realities are such that these can be overuled, for the sake of carrying out the wishes of the majority. Not to do so, would be damaging for future electoral chances.

Edited February 12, 2012 by CalgaryII

[tlansford]

I am interested to see how this goes, especially regarding the selection of the CDA. It is a positive move to elect members from each province. As for parliament selecting experts, has anyone seen information on the process to be used?

[CalgaryII]

I am interested to see how this goes, especially regarding the selection of the CDA. It is a positive move to elect members from each province. As for parliament selecting experts, has anyone seen information on the process to be used?

I made some inquiries about how the so-called "experts" and who they will be chosen by.

No-one I spoke to, thinks a process has yet been determined.

It worries me however.

Academics for the most part - Nitirat excluded - are almost all in the camp of the Opposition.

Will a proposed appointee be able to be rejected. Will experts be reflective of electoral ratio's, etc. etc.

All this makes for fun speculation and observance by us Political Junkies. I am sure a lot of inconsequential hot air will be expended by us insignificant Farangs as this progresses..

[tlansford]

I am interested to see how this goes, especially regarding the selection of the CDA. It is a positive move to elect members from each province. As for parliament selecting experts, has anyone seen information on the process to be used?

I made some inquiries about how the so-called "experts" and who they will be chosen by.

No-one I spoke to, thinks a process has yet been determined.

It worries me however.

Academics for the most part - Nitirat excluded - are almost all in the camp of the Opposition.

Will a proposed appointee be able to be rejected. Will experts be reflective of electoral ratio's, etc. etc.

All this makes for fun speculation and observance by us Political Junkies. I am sure a lot of inconsequential hot air will be expended by us insignificant Farangs as this progresses..

Time to wait-and-see.

[z12]

Well, I am guessing the Army will VETO this mr T Bill On Charter, thank Buddha for the Army.

Army still calls tune in key issues : Amsterdam

http://www.thaivisa....__fromsearch__1

Edited February 12, 2012 by z12

[z12]

According to the source, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is considered Pheu Thai's "big boss",

Some denigrating, Oppositional agenda thrown in, primarily deswigned to de-legitimize Yingluck.

The 'big boss' term is a favorite of Oppositional elements, along with the descriptor 'Fugitive".

But never mind, as long as the Constitutional reform proceeds, thereby de-fanging those who are coup-inclined.

The amended charter must not result in any change to the country's current system of constitutional monarchy

That has never been considered by anyone of significance.

It is referenced here only as a way of the Opposition implying motive that is non-existent, but wishing to create misgivings about a process they really don't like. Diminishing the Constitution their coup brethren constructed is not in their interest.

Constitutional Monarchy is a very superior form of Governance, as those of us coming from Britich and Commonwealth countries only know too well.

Certainly beats the hell out of the unworkable USA system.

Then you must be ecstatic that the king rejected mr T.

mr T has been out to get this through ever since he was not approved by the king.

The Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand must be a member of the House of Representatives of Thailand. Therefore the qualifications for the office is the same as the qualifications for the House.

To be appointed the nominee for the office must have the support of one-fifth of the members of the House of Representatives. Then after a simple-majority vote in the House, a resolution will be passed and submitted to the King of Thailand, who will then make a formal appointment by giving his royal assent to the resolution. This must be done within thirty days of the beginning of the first session of the House of Representatives after an election. If no candidate can be found within this time then it is the duty of the President of the National Assembly of Thailand to submit the name he considers most worthy for the King to formalize.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_Minister_of_Thailand

Edited February 12, 2012 by z12