EC mulls letting public speak on charter via TV
WIRAJ SRIPONG
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- ELECTION Commission (EC) member Prawit Rattanapean said yesterday the EC would likely invite people to express their opinions about the on television, as part of the campaign for the national referendum.

"This is to ensure that those who support or are not in favour of the draft charter can have an equal say," Prawit said.

He added that the participants might be invited to pre-record the programme, adding that every participant would be granted the same amount of time to speak.

However, Prawit said the idea would first have to be discussed further once the National Reform Council decides to approve or disapprove the draft charter.

He said the EC would be ready to hold the referendum, with the date tentatively set for January 17 or 24.

Meanwhile, General Lertrat Ratanavanich, spokesman for the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC), said the EC would also be in charge of enclosing a paper detailing core concepts of the draft charter along with the draft itself to 17 million households. This concept paper would be prepared by the CDC and would be submitted to the EC later.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/EC-mulls-letting-public-speak-on-charter-via-TV-30267443.html


-- The Nation 2015-08-26

what you do is have a live TV debate with Charter drafters on a panel and the public invited to put questions to them

There is no debate,

Thais either take it as written or alternatively take it as written after attitude adjustment.

The EC has the right to decide if people can comment on TV regarding the draft charter.

Guess what fella's People will talk about it regardless of EC approval or not.

But didn't the PM call on the media NOT to give air time to anyone that did not like the draft charter???

Won't happen, too many difficult questions might be asked - unless of course they have prepare questions to hand out prior to the debate.

This is a very, very bad idea.

Unless their opinions are positive, and they are endorsing the "charter".

Why not just publish a poll, 93% support the new charter, send it up for endorsement/gazetting and get on with Thai Democracy v. 20.0

Worst case, stage another coup and draft another Constitution. It's not like they're not experienced in such things. This was Bowornsak's third Constitution.