CDC makes a few changes
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE CONSTITUTION Drafting Committee (CDC) yesterday tweaked the new charter to remove elected local administrators and members of local administrative councils from the list of those who can be impeached via citizens' vote.

The requirement for compulsory scrutiny of non-government organisations' income, expenditure and tax payments was also removed.

This adjustment means voters will only be allowed to launch an impeachment process against the prime minister, Cabinet members and MPs if they believe a person is seriously violating ethics. In the case of constituency-based MPs, voters of their respective constituency would make the decision.

The CDC had earlier introduced a clause in the draft charter saying that politicians deemed to be seriously breaching the code of ethics must go through an impeachment motion to be decided upon by more than half of the citizens participating in the impeachment vote. This was instead of more than half of the total eligible voters.

If the person is recalled or impeached, then he or she will lose the right to run for public office for five years starting from the day the vote took place.

Meanwhile, the CDC has also resolved to conduct a public survey to gauge people's attitude towards the new charter in the latter half of April.

A team of academics from King Prajadhipok Institute has been enlisted to come up with a questionnaire.

A summary of the new draft charter, which was on Tuesday presented to the National Reform Council (NRC), will be published and distributed to the public so they can prepare for the survey.

The questionnaire will include queries such as whether respondents learned most about the charter via television, newspapers or radio or from politicians and former MPs, and whether they had ever listened to any clarifications provided by the CDC.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/CDC-makes-a-few-changes-30255841.html


-- The Nation 2015-03-12

"A summary of the new draft charter, which was on Tuesday presented to the National Reform Council (NRC), will be published and distributed to the public so they can prepare for the survey."

Not only will the Thai people not see the actual charter language but rather someone's summary, some (10,000 I believe) will only be allowed to participate in a survey versus a referendum on acceptance of the charter. If the Junta was intending to perpetuate national conflict to sustain its power, it is right on track.

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