Drafters worried about public response to 2-year reform

[Lite Beer]

Drafters worried about public response to 2-year reform
KHANITTHA THEPPHAJORN
KRIS BHROMSUTHI
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- SOME Constitution Drafting Committee members have voiced concern over the impact that allowing a two-year reform process before holding the next general election would have on the public's confidence towards the CDC and the drafting process, a CDC source said yesterday.

"Society could be more sceptical vis-a-vis the CDC," said the source.

Some of the members expressed their opposition to CDC member Paiboon Nititawan, who is also a National Reform Council member, after he and other NRC members proposed a referendum to allow the two-year reform process to finish before organising an election.

CDC spokesman Kamnoon Sidhisamarn said this issue had not been considered by the CDC, nor had it been approved.

"This is rather a personal stance," he said.

This issue would affect the roadmap set by the NCPO and would require the amendment of the interim constitution, said the CDC spokesman, adding that the NCPO could be perceived as breaking its promise.

CDC members yesterday met with a group of NRC members led by Somsak Lostapornpipit, who told the charter drafters the group supported the idea of Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha staying in power for another two years.

Somsak, a member of the NRC's public opinion panel, said that after collecting public opinion he believed the majority of Thais would support the premier if he decided to stay on.

The NRC group he led also supported the proposed article in the charter draft that allowed a non-MP to be elected prime minister by Parliament.

One of the few draft charter provisions that Somsak and his group opposed is the article that stipulates a "political group" could have candidates run for election.

Another provision the group opposes centres on the acquisition of senators, with the group proposing that there shouldn't be a "candidates screening panel" for the Senate's provincial election.

Charter drafters yesterday entered their fourth day for meeting with NRC members in the hope of settling their disagreements on some charter provisions through compromise.

On the same day, the chairman of the NRC's committee on the reform of economy and finance, Somchai Ruchupan, and his fellow panel members met with CDC members. The discussion topics focused mainly on the economy, the budget balancing strategy and the anti-corruption measures.

Measures for the government to use with the budget have long been one of the key agenda items of the reform plan, which was written in Article 35 of the interim constitution. It states that government spending must not negatively affect the country's budget and financing in the long run.

Former premier Thaksin Shinawatra-backed political parties that include the now-defunct Thai Rak Thai, the Pheu Thai and the now-defunct People's Power parties were all accused of excessive spending for populist policies to gain votes, which hurt the country's budget and long-term financial health.

Other members of the economic reform panel who attended yesterday's meeting included Krirk-Krai Jirapaet and Pramon Sutheewong.

The CDC yesterday announced it had launched its official page on a "Line" application called "My Constitution".

Once added, people can follow the progress of the charter drafting process that will regularly be updated, and people can send their views and opinions to the charter drafters.

The purpose of this official launch was to provide a communication channel between CDC members and the public.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Drafters-worried-about-public-response-to-2-year-r-30261758.html

-- The Nation 2015-06-06

[oneday]

If they would only come up with a draft that more truly reflects Democracy then I'm sure the public will be fine if they can see that is the direction they are going.

[phoenixdoglover]

BANGKOK: -- SOME Constitution Drafting Committee members have voiced concern over the impact that allowing a two-year reform process before holding the next general election would have on the public's confidence towards the CDC and the drafting process, a CDC source said yesterday.

"Society could be more sceptical vis-a-vis the CDC," said the source.

My advice to any CDC member worried about losing face due to a delayed or failed Charter: quit now. It's going to get a lot worse.

[EnglishJohn]

The most important thing IMHO is to reform the police before the next election so they are not under such tight political control and answer to some kind of ombudsman, not a politician. During the protests, they were like Pheu-Thai's private army.

If the Junta don't do it, the next government definitely will not. They are a very useful tool to have against opponents

[phoenixdoglover]

The most important thing IMHO is to reform the police before the next election so they are not under such tight political control and answer to some kind of ombudsman, not a politician. During the protests, they were like Pheu-Thai's private army.

If the Junta don't do it, the next government definitely will not. They are a very useful tool to have against opponents

How to Reform the Police?

This would be an interesting debate.

I would argue strongly for decentralization of the police. When police forces are centralized, they are prone to abuse on a large scale.

As an example, back when Hoover ran the FBI is the US, he was widely criticized for abuse of power. Imagine if all the police forces in the US had reported up to the FBI at that time.

Instead, I think the police best operate on a local or regional level. Yes, the potential for abuse of power is still there; but the scope of that abuse is reduced.

So I would like to see the establishment of regional forces, and a substantial reduction in the size of the RTP.

Then let the RTP "police the police" and deal with crimes that are truly national in scope and cross regional boundaries.

[Prbkk]

The most important thing IMHO is to reform the police before the next election so they are not under such tight political control and answer to some kind of ombudsman, not a politician. During the protests, they were like Pheu-Thai's private army.

If the Junta don't do it, the next government definitely will not. They are a very useful tool to have against opponents

While the RTP does need to undergo reform in many areas, it is incorrect to suggest they were puppets of PTP during the protests. Given the abject and miserable failure of the military to bprovide any security, the RTP was the legitimate arm of the government....that's appropriate in a democracy, although some, like the sleazy monk, believe it is the right of vagabonds, ruffians, thugs and hooligans to challenge, threaten and even interrogate under torture representatives of that arm of the elected govt.

[Srikcir]

The most important thing IMHO is to reform the police before the next election so they are not under such tight political control and answer to some kind of ombudsman, not a politician. During the protests, they were like Pheu-Thai's private army.

If the Junta don't do it, the next government definitely will not. They are a very useful tool to have against opponents

Under Article 44 the police are now under Prayut's personal control. Indeed police have proven to be a very useful tool against Junta opponents.

So same-same.

[cocopops]

The most important thing IMHO is to reform the police before the next election so they are not under such tight political control and answer to some kind of ombudsman, not a politician. During the protests, they were like Pheu-Thai's private army.

If the Junta don't do it, the next government definitely will not. They are a very useful tool to have against opponents

While the RTP does need to undergo reform in many areas, it is incorrect to suggest they were puppets of PTP during the protests. Given the abject and miserable failure of the military to bprovide any security, the RTP was the legitimate arm of the government....that's appropriate in a democracy, although some, like the sleazy monk, believe it is the right of vagabonds, ruffians, thugs and hooligans to challenge, threaten and even interrogate under torture representatives of that arm of the elected govt.

Correct. Khun Suthep spent his first month on stage screaming that the police were the enemy of the people, all but guaranteeing that any attempt to manage the crowd using the police would lead to violence. For this reason they played little or no role in the entire saga, regardless of where their loyalties may have lain.

Disingenuous to pretend otherwise.

Edited June 6, 2015 by cocopops

[rubl]

The most important thing IMHO is to reform the police before the next election so they are not under such tight political control and answer to some kind of ombudsman, not a politician. During the protests, they were like Pheu-Thai's private army.

If the Junta don't do it, the next government definitely will not. They are a very useful tool to have against opponents

Under Article 44 the police are now under Prayut's personal control. Indeed police have proven to be a very useful tool against Junta opponents.

So same-same.

"personal control"? I must have missed that bit in the description of A44, but then some here are so used to and satisfied with the personal control of PMs that the association is near automatic.

Edited June 6, 2015 by rubl

[rubl]

The most important thing IMHO is to reform the police before the next election so they are not under such tight political control and answer to some kind of ombudsman, not a politician. During the protests, they were like Pheu-Thai's private army.

If the Junta don't do it, the next government definitely will not. They are a very useful tool to have against opponents

While the RTP does need to undergo reform in many areas, it is incorrect to suggest they were puppets of PTP during the protests. Given the abject and miserable failure of the military to bprovide any security, the RTP was the legitimate arm of the government....that's appropriate in a democracy, although some, like the sleazy monk, believe it is the right of vagabonds, ruffians, thugs and hooligans to challenge, threaten and even interrogate under torture representatives of that arm of the elected govt.

Correct. Khun Suthep spent his first month on stage screaming that the police were the enemy of the people, all but guaranteeing that any attempt to manage the crowd using the police would lead to violence. For this reason they played little or no role in the entire saga, regardless of where their loyalties may have lain.

Disingenuous to pretend otherwise.

The police was seen to be totally ineffective against those cowardly night attacks against anti-government protesters. Only a few PDRC guards who overstepped their non-existing authority in relation to parking cones were apprehended.

Nothing the CDC has to worry about. Like the Army the police needs to be described as being part of government organisation with a few lines on how the government organisation is responsable, and accountable and how some independent organisations keep an eye on things. The rest is for the organic laws. No need to clutter up the charter.