Thai Charter will promote unity, reconciliation, CDC says

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1ST DRAFT DEBATE
Charter will promote unity, reconciliation, CDC says
NITIPOL KIRAVANICH
THE NATION



'MMP VOTING SYSTEM WILL YIELD COALITION GOVERNMENTS AND END POWER FIGHTS'

BANGKOK: -- CHARTER drafters insisted yesterday that the new Constitution would lead to reconciliation and unity in the country rather than deepen political rifts, as widely feared - while reformers urged a referendum to be held on the charter.

"The new chapter [on national reform and promoting reconciliation] will promote reconciliation for every side, no matter whether they're red shirts, yellow shirts or a third party," Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) member Anek Laothamatas said.

Anek, also chairman of the National Reform Council committee on promoting reconciliation, explained the idea to the NRC meeting on the opening day of scrutiny and review of the council's first draft of the constitution.

Anek said the charter was designed for a coalition government through the new mixed-member proportional (MMP) election system. It was intended to prevent political conflicts that have lead to violence and bloodshed, which have dogged Thai politics for the best part of a decade.

"It will create an election system that has no single dominant party - or [where] each local province [will not lock in] with one party, as in the previous system," he said.

"The MMP system will ensure regions do not tie to one party. The southern region and Bangkok will no longer be 'owned' by the Democrat Party. And the Northeast and Northern regions will also not be 'owned' by Pheu Thai Party. This system could promote reconciliation between regions," he said.

In the meantime, the constitution would stipulate that senators come from different sources. Senate authority would be altered from the previous system and this would give an opportunity for representatives from the public sector to participate widely, Anek said.

"The public will be given more opportunities to participate and reconciliation will be promoted between the people and elected-government. Before, people's protest movements took to the streets; now people will have more rights to participate in and scrutinise the government," he said.

Anek said national reform was also considered an aspect of reconciliation, along with a reconciliation committee that has a role in preserving justice and proposing pardons within a democratic and peaceful system.

Earlier, CDC chairman Borwornsak Uwanno told the NRC meeting the foundations of the new charter were to be found in strengthened civilian rights, clean and balanced politics, eradicating majority "dictatorial" governments, supporting a just society and bringing peace to the country.

"This charter is aimed at solving the previous problems, building for the future and creating a democracy in which citizens have true equality," he said.

Before the meeting, many political observers and the public believed the debate would be a heated one, yet it was not as intense as people had anticipated.

Most NRC members showed appreciation towards the CDC for constructing a draft that empowers civilians' rights. The first day was focused on the general chapter. But later days could see heated debate, especially on the issues of non-elected prime minister and the MMP system, once the process reaches reformers and particular articles.

'Referendum is needed'

NRC member Alongkorn Ponlaboot was the first to speak his thoughts about the draft constitution.

He urged that as the last process of the draft, a referendum is needed to legitimise the junta, the NRC and the CDC, who got their authority under special circumstances - without the legitimacy of people electing them.

"We cannot keep holding on to the past, we must create a better future for the country, so holding a referendum is necessary to make this constitution a people's charter," he said.

"No matter who criticises them [the CDC], they must have courage to bring this charter to the hands of the people," Alongkorn said.

The NRC member and former Democrat said the charter must be able to solve the biggest issues in a society - conflicts, corruption, inequality, and development of the country. He said that after he had read the draft he was certain there were no "blueprints" - that sections were written earlier, as some had speculated.

Another NRC member, Kurujit Nakornthap, voiced the importance of a national referendum, saying it should only be a national ballot because local polls might cause bigger issues for the country. Kurujit noted that there were two methods of referendum in the charter draft in article 67 - one national and the other a local referendum. It reasoned if there were important projects that could benefit the country, holding a referendum in one region would not get people's approval and could affect the benefit of other regions.

Kurujit said if one province wanted to separate itself from the country, their request for a referendum would cause more disputes.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Charter-will-promote-unity-reconciliation-CDC-says-30258394.html


-- The Nation 2015-04-21

[NongKhaiKid]

If all I've read about the charter is in any way true it will only increase division and resentment if the elite cement their position to have things done their way, in the interests of the country of course.

[oneday]

"...CHARTER drafters insisted yesterday that the new Constitution would lead to reconciliation and unity in the country rather than deepen political rifts..."

...if you say so...

[JAWF]

Guess we will see if it does help by the end of next year or if the rest of the country is put in to the samesituation as the southern provinces

[Srikcir]

Without a national referendum, the charter will fail. Even the 2007 Constitution received only 51% majority support and it still failed. A "super majority" is needed to pass the charter, ie., 75-85%, and offer reconciliation for the nation.

But I don't think the Junta has the courage to put the charter in a national referendum as it knows it's designed to limit democratic participation and maintain the elitist power over the nation. I expect the Junta will invoke Article 44 and merely have the charter endorsed as the law of the land, albeit allowing some "comment."

[ourmanflint]

If all I've read about the charter is in any way true it will only increase division and resentment if the elite cement their position to have things done their way, in the interests of the country of course.

And how does MMP benefit your so called elites?

[NongKhaiKid]

If all I've read about the charter is in any way true it will only increase division and resentment if the elite cement their position to have things done their way, in the interests of the country of course.

And how does MMP benefit your so called elites?

You're right of course as the MMP will have a coalition government full of people who won;t be able to agree on the time of day and the military won't feel obliged to step in. Who does the army support again ?

[phoenixdoglover]

I think the design of the new government embedded in this draft charter is:

- ensuring the lower house is a collection of squabbling factions; thus ineffective

- ensuring the Senate is largely appointed from the ranks of "good people", who seem to be concentrated in institutions in Bangkok

- allowing for the appointment of a PM who does not come from the fractious lower house

- Allowing for laws to be passed without the assent of the lower house

Well done, Junta.