NATIONAL REFORM COUNCIL
Fixing fears over NRC nominees

Some governors "not following rules," Prayuth to propose budget bill today

BANGKOK: -- THE National Reform Council (NRC) selection process has been marred by fixing allegations at provincial level - with National Legislative Assembly (NLA) vice president Peerasak Porjit warning that the unfair selection process could lead to the reform effort failing.

Peerasak said yesterday he had been told some provincial governors had not followed selection-process procedures.

For example, he said the Tak governor had instructed each of the five selection committee members to nominate one candidate each, while the Uttaradit governor had instructed selection committee members to nominate two candidates each.

He said that was unfair to other people who had eyed a nomination.

"I want to warn the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) that if the selection process is not fair, the NRC members would be just representatives of provincial governors and we may not get the truth of what is happening locally," he said.

"It is worrying that with such an unfair selection process, the NCPO will not be able to achieve reform."

The NRC will spearhead national reform when it is formed shortly. Its main tasks will be to propose a reform framework to the NLA, the Cabinet and the NCPO, and give input to the Constitution Drafting Committee. The NRC will also approve the new charter.

The 250 NRC members will be selected by two methods. First, each of the 77 provincial committees nominates five candidates, one of who will be chosen by the NCPO.

Second, legal entities nationwide nominate candidates for 11 selection committees to consider, with a shortlist of 50 candidates for each of 11 key areas of reform (550 in total).

The NCPO will select 77 provincial representatives and 173 representatives from the 11 selection committees.

Earlier, critics voiced concern over the 11 committees, which were appointed by the junta. They pointed to the fact that advisers to the ruling NCPO has been appointed to all of the committees in what was seen as a move to allow the junta to influence the NRC line-up.

King endorses NLA heads

Deputy Democrat leader Nipit Intrasombat said it was likely the nominated candidates would be representatives of selection committee members in the provinces and as a result there would not be diversity.

In a related development, His Majesty the King yesterday issued a Royal decree to endorse Pornpetch Wichitcholchai as NLA president and Surachai Liengboonlertchai and Peerasak as NLA vice presidents.

Also yesterday, Senate secretary general Norarat Pimsen, the acting NLA secretary general, told fellow members to attend a meeting today in which the 2015 budget bill is due to be debated.

NCPO chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha will propose the bill as |acting prime minister, although the PM and Cabinet have yet to be appointed. The NLA is expected to vote on the PM on Thursday.

Two NLA panels - one for drafting meeting regulations and one to handle NLA affairs - are slated to be set up at the meeting.

Meanwhile, Phra Buddha Issara, the abbot of Wat Or Noi and a former People's Democratic Reform Committee co-leader, said his temple would meet next week to discuss nominating NRC candidates for all 11 sectors earmarked for reforms.

He said he would like to continue his role of protecting the country's interests and take part in the reform process but would not be a candidate. The abbot met Election Commission deputy secretary-general Boonyakiat Rakchartcharoen yesterday to inquire about the selection process.

He feared that most people on the selection panel for the energy sector are former PTT board members. He felt if his temple nominated candidates for that sector, they would not be selected because he had led protests against PTT during "Bangkok Shutdown".

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Fixing-fears-over-NRC-nominees-30241133.html


-- The Nation 2014-08-18

' Not following the rules ', ' fixing appointments ' ?

No, will never happen here.

TIT

If after all this time the rules over nominees hasn't been clear enough, then its the same as usual crowd doing what they know best, muddying the waters, instructions clear and concise should have been issued so that everyone is on the same page , that would be a first for Thailand.

"If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun." - Katherine Hepburn.

Well done again Khun General Prayuth and his team. Saw there was a problem developing and instead of nil action as in the past for just about anything in Thailand reacted to the problem immediately. A beautiful breath of fresh air cutting through the lawless and corrupt in Thailand.

Edited August 18, 201411 yr by Roadman

Well done again Khun General Prayuth and his team. Saw there was a problem developing and instead of nil action as in the past for just about anything in Thailand reacted to the problem immediately. A beautiful breath of fresh air cutting through the lawless and corrupt in Thailand.

I'm sorry, did I miss something in the OP, just what exactly did " Khun General Prayuth and his team " do to react to the problem?

Or did you just see his name with respect to launching the 2015 budget bill and immediately launch into fawning and sycophancy mode?

Edited August 18, 201411 yr by fab4

This is going to be another debacle.......IMO, they should try and follow a model from successful countries....trying to get reform together by themselves is going to create so many conflicting situations....

This is a huge process......something that needs carefull planning and scrutiny....250 people trying to thrash out, what to many of these delegates will likely result in a change to their and their families lives....and then arriving at conclusions, whenever that may be.....mind boggling!

Kick out all the governors, split Thailand in 4 Regions:

Central, South, East, North. Appoint these. Later they'll be elected and stop that every area has a useless governor which is more like a local mafia boss....

The fixing of the selection process for National Reform Council nominees warrants a crackdown. Governors found not to have followed the rules should be sacked.