CONSTITUTION WATCH
Charter section on reform and reconciliation 'will only last five years'
NITIPOL KIRAVANICH
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE UNPRECEDENTED chapter on national reform and reconciliation, including agencies to be set up under it, in the new constitution will be in effect for only five years.

Any extension of the term of the national reform and reconciliation bodies must be decided through a referendum requested by voters, the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) agreed in a meeting yesterday.

It is the first time a charter will include a chapter on national reform and reconciliation to push the country forward and try to reduce inequality in Thai society - and charter drafters have told public the new constitution will be "more special" than previous ones.

The upcoming constitution will say: "It is the responsibility of Parliament, Cabinet, the courts, government agencies and the public to arrange and pursue plans for national reform and reconciliation under the duration stated in this Constitution."

It is also stated that all the clauses in this chapter will be defunct after the new constitution has been active for five years, unless at least 50,000 eligible voters, Parliament or the Cabinet propose a referendum be held to decide whether it should be extended for no more than five years.

This could mean that a new national reform body would be defunct after five years.

The CDC agreed last week to set up a national reform body and a citizen's assembly for national reform to ensure and scrutinise plans to be pursued in the future, once the National Reform Council (NRC) ends its term at the end of this year.

The roles of the national reform body and the assembly were briefly discussed in the CDC meeting yesterday.

These bodies will be independent from other agencies and can also propose policies to Parliament, Cabinet and government organisations in regards to reforms.

In addition, they can lay down frameworks and strategies for reducing inequality and promoting justice for the people.

So, the policies of these organisations would be funded by the Cabinet, and if funds cannot be granted Cabinet must explain why clearly before the Parliament.

The new reform body is seen as one of the most important matters in the articles in the chapter, so the committee resolved to check it later once the details of the draft become clearer.

Drafters explained that the purpose of this agency was to ensure mechanisms |for national reform will be successful, and that related agencies are forced to pursue reform without being wasteful.

Giving authority for people to request a referendum was seen as a way to empower the public, a member said.

Meanwhile, a CDC member voiced strong concern that the proposals of the 18 National Reform Council committees would not lead to true reform. He was commenting after scrutinising the proposals.

"The details forwarded [in reform committee proposals] are too long and do not fit the topic because |the proposals merely scrutinising past problems, which they considered to be 'solving problems' but not reform in the future," a CDC member said.

He urged that in order to reform, people must look further - five, 10, 30 or 50 years ahead - and not just review past problems.

Drafters had to assess proposals from the NRC in 18 areas, yet some proposals contained excessive information that could not be put in the charter.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Charter-section-on-reform-and-reconciliation-will--30254246.html


-- The Nation 2015-02-17

Five years too short, we need at least 10 years for old wounds to heal effectively.

"the new constitution will be in effect for only five years."

That timespan is about right. Five years has been about how long the military can restrain itself from another coup and another "new" constitution.

"or until the next coup, whichever comes first"