Thai lawyers seek more public role in law reform

webfact · April 29, 2015

Lawyers seek more public role in law reform
NITIPOL KIRAVANICH
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- KANIT Na Nakorn, chairman of the Law Reform Commission of Thailand (LRCT), yesterday called for greater public participation, independence and knowledge in the legal-reform process.

"Any reform must abide by principles of knowledge. Most importantly, public participation must be strengthened because every law is directly related to the people," Kanit said.

He said law reform took time and perhaps the work of the LRCT was not readily evident - but the matter was most important, as man cannot live by food and shelter alone but must have justice. "The need for law reform is the need for justice."

He added that proper law reform could not be conducted without independence and knowledge.

Kanit said the Constitution Court should only adjudicate on whether something was constitutional or not. He wants Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) chairman Borwor-nsak Uwanno to reconsider this matter and put it in the new charter. Nowhere should the Constitution Court assume the role of the Courts of Justice in adjudicating legal cases, he said. He was speaking at a seminar held by the LRCT at the Centara Hotel yesterday on the topic of "law reform challenging national reform".

The LRCT is an independent orga-nisation established under the 2007 Constitution. Its role is to develop and reform national law, and listen to public opinion to help achieve a better justice system.

Deunden Nikomborirak, the Thai-land Development Research Institute Foundation research director of economic governance, also proposed that the law-drafting process include public participation through every stage until the law has been passed and enforced.

She noted that other nations such as Britain and Canada considered public hearings a very important matter in the legal area. "Every draft law must be acknowledged by the people."

CDC member Paiboon Nititawan said legal reform must be the main responsibility of the Parliament, as it is complex.

Another CDC member, Banjerd Singkhaneti pointed out the importance of law reform: "Law is a tool that guides society in many directions."

He said the conflict was due to injustice and inequality, and as a charter drafter he is determined to push for people's rights.

Meanwhile Naiyana Supapeung, a former member of the National Human Rights Commission and a key person pushing for gender equality, voiced concern that in legal areas there are still loopholes of inequality that must be eradicated.

During the forum, many observers called for a better justice system that truly benefits the people.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Lawyers-seek-more-public-role-in-law-reform-30259064.html

-- The Nation 2015-04-30