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EXCURSIVE INTERVIEW
'Grand Design' blueprint critical to Thailand's future, charter drafter Buntoon insists
PIYAPORN WONGRUANG
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- ONE OF the architects of the draft charter has defended the proposed National Strategic Reform and Reconciliation Committee (NSRRC) and its supporting structures, such as the "grand coalition" government, saying they were needed to ensure the reform and reconciliation process continued to its conclusion.

Buntoon Srethasirote, a member of the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) and the reconciliation studies committee under the National Reform Council (NRC), told The Nation that the idea was part of the so-called "Grand Design for Reform, Reconciliation and Revitalising Democracy".

When the CDC got down to work, it realised the need for the process to be continuous to guarantee success.

It also saw that Thai society had been going through a major transition in various aspects, including "the institution", and that there should be some mechanisms to help smooth the way.

Most importantly, it came to realise that the charter alone may not be able to handle all these challenges. This became clearer when it saw the proposals presented by agencies, including the government, shortly after the charter deliberation of the NRC in April.

One of the trigger points for the NSRRC was the government's notion of a "grand coalition", which the CDC viewed would not be acceptable to existing political parties.

As chairman of the reconciliation studies committee and a CDC member, Anek Laothammatas began gauging the views of various party representatives.

"After meeting them, we then realised that a grand coalition may not be the answer following opposition. So, we changed to the grand design," Buntoon said.

Four or five CDC members were then assigned to develop the grand design, which was to include 11 government policies, 11 policies addressed by the National Council for Peace and Order, normal policies and administrative plans, and the 12th Economic and Social Development Plan.

What was new were the NRC's blueprint and the reform agendas act, which is being prepared, the six reconciliation agendas proposed by the reconciliation studies committee and the 20-year national strategic plan plus an operating plan.

To integrate all the plans, key mechanisms would have to be put in place, the first being the parliament.

The second would be a "grand coalition" government, which Buntoon insisted would come from an election, but would become a "grand coalition" only when people voted on the NRC's proposed question that would go with the referendum on the new charter.

The last mechanism would be the NSRCC, which would develop national strategies during the first five years after the constitution takes effect, and is expected to pass the task to the national strategic committee working further on the 20-year strategic plan.

Under the NSRCC would be two committees working separately on reform and reconciliation. And the national strategic reform and reconciliation act would forge commitments from them.

The NSRCC was special because it would have special emergency powers in times of crisis. This has been written under a provisional clause of the draft charter.

The NSRCC's emergency powers would last only five years, as the |charter framers believed that other mechanisms would function to help take the country towards reform and reconciliation and there would be no need to have the NSRCC.

Buntoon said this clause was inspired by Article 16 of the French constitution.

He insisted that the NSRCC would not supersede government power, as it would come after all principal bodies failed to function. If a crisis was allowed to continue, the country would see the constitution torn up again.

It would not prolong military power as feared, as it would work under collective decision-making, under which no one could dominate.

"It's like a safety valve, and if other mechanisms function well, we hope that we will not see this power during the time given," Buntoon said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Grand-Design-blueprint-critical-to-Thailands-futur-30266714.html


-- The Nation 2015-08-17

[BigBadGeordie]

"Buntoon said this clause was inspired by Article 16 of the French constitution." But they look nothing alike?

Article 16

Where the institutions of the Republic, the independence of the Nation, the integrity of its territory or the fulfilment of its international commitments are under serious and immediate threat, and where the proper functioning of the constitutional public authorities is interrupted, the President of the Republic shall take the measures required by these circumstances, after formally consulting the Prime Minister, the Presidents of the assemblies and the Constitutional Council.

He shall inform the Nation of these measures in a message.The measures must stem from the desire to provide the constitutional public authorities, in the shortest possible time, with the means to carry out their duties.

The Constitutional Council shall be consulted with regard to such measures.

Parliament shall convene as of right.

The National Assembly shall not be dissolved during the exercise of the emergency powers.

Edited August 17, 2015 by BigBadGeordie

[ChrisY1]

"the President of the Republic"..................

Could this be the end game..?

[Srikcir]

The "grand coalition" government seems more inspired from the Communist One-Party rule.

Even Prayut refers to his NCPO as a "politburo."

[chainarong]

One thing after thirty plus years spying on Thailand is that this can be taken the same as the PTP flood mitigation policy, all talk.