Thai politics: Skepticism over 'crisis' panel

[webfact]

Skepticism over 'crisis' panel
Wasamon Audjarint
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Experts warn of 'state within a state'; ask who will have authority to determine 'time of crisis' proponents see it as a meaningful provision in charter to deal with issues cabinet cannot

An idea by the constitution drafting chief to have the National Strategic Reform and Reconciliation Commission restore peace and unity in times of crisis was met with skepticism amid fears it could create "a state within a state" while many of the junta's supporters gave the idea their backing.

Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) chairman Borwornsak Uwanno said earlier that the committee had decided to add a provisional clause authorising a National Strategic Reform and Reconciliation Commission during times of crisis.

He suggested that the upcoming referendum should have an additional question if Thailand should have a "national reconciliation government".

National Reform Council (NRC) member Seree Suwanpanont questioned the term "time of crisis" and asked who would have the authority to decide the "time of crisis" that would require activation of the reform and reconciliation commission.

"What do we do with the government and the legislative body elected by the people, and the power of the judiciary?" he asked. "What will happen if those agencies disagreed with the so-called committee?"

The committee would become a state within a state, which would re-ignite conflict, he warned.

However, another NRC member, General Ekachai Srivilas, agreed with the clause.

"The commission should be a big umbrella [of authority] during the four years of power transition, and meanwhile Thailand should be able to successfully form a national government for reconciliation," he said. "And the country should return to normalcy after the commission completes its five-year term," he said. NRC member Paiboon Nititawan also agreed, saying it is different from the current Section 44.

"While the section covers all three pillars of authority, the commission's authority [according to the new clause] is meant to cover the legislative and administrative pillars only," he said.

Term of only five years

The commission cannot be turned into a power legacy for the junta National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), he said.

"The commission, like any other organisation as stated in the charter, will have its own function and have a term of only five years. How it would continue afterwards will depend on Parliament," he said.

"The commission will only take action when there are problems that the Cabinet cannot resolve, hence it should not be considered as the government ruling over another government" he added.

Red-shirt leader Weng Tojirakarn called for this specific clause to be scrapped. "This means nothing but the establishment of another coup d'etat committee," he said. "They said the commission will take action only when a crisis happens. How do they measure such a crisis then? Anything can be a crisis," he said.

"It's not wrong to say that this is the NCPO's transformation, and they will disguise [themselves] in this charter for another five years."

Democrat deputy head Nipit Intrasombat, nevertheless, had no objection to the commission holding such an authority as stipulated in the clause. However, he was certain that an overlapping of authority would happen.

"But when considering the total, each commission is powerful enough on its own. And through that, they together can check and balance each other. So the commission's power as a whole won't be overwhelming." he said.

He also thought that the body could help prevent a coup to some extent "as long as they can find a solution".

Pheu Thai representative Worawat Auapinyakul said Borwornsak's reconciliation government has to be related with the needs of the people "otherwise that will be similar to a dictatorship and the international community won't have trust in us".

Attasit Pankeaw, a political scientist at Thammasat University, said the overlapping of authority was possible according to what the clause says and could even lead to a clash of authorities.

Another political scientist, Sirote Klampaiboon, said the commission could enjoy overwhelming authority without any institution to check it "and it will become the real government over the de jure one".

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Scepticism-over-crisis-panel-30266477.html


-- The Nation 2015-08-13

[tbthailand]

the coup committee...

[bamnutsak]

Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) chairman Borwornsak Uwanno said earlier that the committee had decided to add a provisional clause authorising a National Strategic Reform and Reconciliation Commission during times of crisis.

In other news, the Royal Thai Army considers changing their name to the "National Strategic Reform and Reconciliation Commission", but only during times of crisis.

Seriously "times" of crisis? Plural? Not a whole lot of confidence in this latest "Constitution"?

[MaxLee]

"Red-shirt leader Weng Tojirakarn called for this specific clause to be scrapped. "This means nothing but the establishment of another coup d'etat committee," he said. "They said the commission will take action only when a crisis happens. How do they measure such a crisis then? Anything can be a crisis," he said."

Well your red shirt soldiers were part of the crisis,... *hint*hi

[tuanku]

Isn't this just replacing an informal group with a formal one to decide the timing of coups? Nothing will change.

[Eric Loh]

A normal way to end a crisis in all democratic countries is to dissolve the parliament and hold new election. Only in Thailand is a crisis created for purpose of a coup and steamrolled all democratic process.

[FangFerang]

No need for military coups anymore -- they can have a political coup anytime Suthep wants now.

Like no one saw that one coming...

[phoenixdoglover]

I wouldn't trust these guys to organize a bake sale.

[Srikcir]

"have an additional question if Thailand should have a "national reconciliation government"."

TRANSLATION:

"have an additional question if Thailand should have a permanent military shadow government."