Paiboon tests the waters on reforms and election date

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BURNING ISSUE
Paiboon tests the waters on reforms and election date
ATTAYUTH BOOTSRIPOOM

BANGKOK: -- CONSTITUTION drafter Paiboon Nititawan has made a controversial proposal for a national referendum: should the next general election be held shortly after the new constitution becomes effective - or two years later, after national reforms are completed?

He suggested that Article 308 of the draft constitution be revised.

Here is his proposed addition: "Ninety days after the new constitution is promulgated, the Election Commission shall organise a national referendum to decide as to whether reforms of the public administration, economy and security should be completed within two years before the next election, or whether the election should be held immediately, as originally stated."

In effect, the proposed referendum would allow the current powers-that-be - including the prime minister, the government, the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), the National Legislative Assembly (NLA), and the National Reform Council (NRC) - to remain in office for another two years.

Certainly, Paiboon would be one of those to benefit from a longer stay.

Paiboon suggested that this referendum should be organised at the same time as a plebiscite on the draft constitution. He argued that this would serve as an alternative for people who supported reform before election.

It remains unclear what Paiboon's real intent or goal is. He was one of the Group of 40 Senators who joined the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC). As a constitution drafter, he has attracted suspicion for making this controversial proposal.

He explained that the call for reform before election has existed since before the coup in May last year. So, for him, it would not be sensible to hold the next general election when the national reforms remained incomplete. He also said that Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha was doing a good job running the government.

Paiboon may have a sincere desire for the country's reforms to be completed first, under the current post-coup administration. He may be worried that the reforms would not be achieved under an elected government.

However, there are also suspicions about his real motive. There have been concerns that the powers-that-be may seek a longer stay in power, and Paiboon's latest proposal was putting them in an even more negative light.

For some critics, Paiboon is not someone who believes in the electoral system. Before the coup, he was one of the PDRC leaders who called for reform before election and agreed with the postponement of the general election.

Paiboon is among the people who do not support the idea of holding a national referendum on the draft charter, despite much support otherwise. He stated that the proposed referendum was "just a ritual". Therefore, his sudden call for a plebiscite on reform before the election has attracted much suspicion.

Does he sincerely believe in the voice of the people? Or does he view such a vote as just a tool to bring benefit to an certain group of people?

Paiboon is suspected of "testing the water" with his proposal, which could pave the way for the powers-that-be to remain in power.

We have to admit that such a proposal is likely to bring more harm than good to the government under General Prayut's leadership. His post-coup administration's "honeymoon period" is long past its use-by date and its popularity is now in decline. The country's economy is not recovering, judging from different indicators.

As people in Thailand are attentively waiting for the country to return to normal, foreign countries are closely watching to see if General Prayut will follow the roadmap plan he announced after the coup.

His longer stay no doubt will lead to increased pressure from Western countries. Domestically, Prayut, as prime minister and the NCPO leader, is going to face a higher level of discontent.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Paiboon-tests-the-waters-on-reforms-and-election-d-30260047.html


-- The Nation 2015-05-14

[Srikcir]

I don't see that Paiboon will allow the darft constitution to go to a public referendum BEFORE it is promulgated. If the draft constitution is not legitimized by a significant majority of the electorate, his proposal is worthless.

His proposal has no merit other than to allow the continued military rule of the nation beyond the promulgation of the constitution in contradiction even to the draft constitution that (like all the previous constitutions) supposedly places soverneignty of the nation with the People and not the military.