New CDC members to be selected before Prayut heads to UN session
WASAMON AUDJARINT,
NATTHAPAT PHROMKAEW
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha said yesterday that the complete roster for new 21-member Constitution Drafting Committee would be ready by September 22, the day before he leaves to attend a United Nations meeting.

The committee's composition must be completed before his overseas mission to the United States, even though the 30-day period for this ends on October 6, he said.

The UN is hosting its annual General Assembly in New York from September 23-30.

The new charter writers should be well accepted by all parties including politicians, Prayut said. They should also come from diverse backgrounds including legal, as the charter could not be framed without participation from experts in law.

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said the National Council for Peace and Order had an open mind, but its critics were unlikely to be appointed.

"We don't need to select people who are pleasing to the NCPO. They don't need to agree totally with the NCPO, but we will not choose persons who disagree with the NCPO," he said.

He also explained a remark by Prayut, who is also the NCPO head, that all 21 CDC members must understand the NCPO's intentions. The intentions referred to good governance, national reform and reconciliation, all of which should be included in the new constitution, he said.

The Pheu Thai Party called for public participation in the drafting of the new constitution. It said in a statement that the NCPO should amend the post-coup provisional charter so that members of the public are allowed to take part in the process.

The three-point statement said the NCPO had completely controlled the drafting process.

"The Pheu Thai Party sees that to solve the problem of division and attain reconciliation, all the parties should be allowed to express their views fully," it said.

Pheu Thai also said that instead of relying on the junta-appointed CDC alone, members of the public should be allowed to take part in the process so that the new constitution would be acceptable to all sides.

Prayut dismissed speculation on some potential candidates, saying Amorn Chandarasomboon, former secretary-general of the Council of State, was still ill, and Meechai Ruchupan, former Senate Speaker, had declined the post.

Wissanu said he wanted a legal expert to be the new CDC chairman, as the job required good knowledge of laws, although there are no clear qualifications for the position.

Sombat Thamrongthanyawong, who chaired the now-defunct National Reform Council's political reform committee, said the new CDC members had to be acceptable to all the parties in order to boost the chances for approval of the draft constitution in a national referendum.

Wanlop Tangkananurak, a member of the National Legislative Assembly, said the new constitution writers should come from various groups of people, including legal experts, political scientists, civil-society members, political activists and the two largest political parties - Pheu Thai and Democrat.

Surachai Liengboonlertchai, vice president of the NLA, whose name had been tossed around, said he had not been approached. In his opinion, the drafters should have direct experience in composing previous constitutions.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/New-CDC-members-to-be-selected-before-Prayut-heads-30268563.html


-- The Nation 2015-09-11

How will the pm be able to cope at the UN without his henchmen and section 44 power. His usual bullsh#t to cover his inability wont work either.

I would love to see him land in the U.S., then be stopped by Immigration Authorities and told: "Sorry, Sir, but your visa has been denied."

PM assures new charter drafting team ready before September 22



BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha assured yesterday that would try to finish the list of the new 21-member charter drafting panel before he leaves for the United States to attend the UN Assembly.

He said he would have a meeting with the National Council for Peace and Order next week to discuss the appointment of the draft panel.

But he stated that the selection of members to the panel will be completed before he leaves for the US to attend the annual UN Assembly which will take place on September 22.

A number of qualified candidates have already been considered but he said that the new members must be the people who are accepted by all sides, including politicians.

The prime minister made clear that the heart of the charter is its effectiveness in solving future problems of the country, and that it will ensure peace and order during the period of transition.

Commenting on the military summoning the former energy minister Pichai Naripthaphan and Phue Thai former MP Karun Hosakul for “attitude adjustment”, he said he has already delegated his power to the NCPO and this was within the NCPO’s discretion.

He said the attitude adjustment was aimed at creating understanding with people with opposite opinions, but how many days it would take depended solely on the NCPO’s consideration.

He said attitude adjustment could be applied to other persons depending on whether their behaviors cause trouble or unrest or not.

Gen Prayut reiterated that politicians could post criticism on social media but that their comments should be constructive and not in a hostile way that could spark unrest and disturb peace and order in the country which is intolerable.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/pm-assures-new-charter-drafting-team-ready-before-september-22


-- Thai PBS 2015-09-11

They don't need to agree totally with the NCPO, but we will not choose persons who disagree with the NCPO," he said.

What a contradictory statement to make.

They don't have to agree, but you won't be chosen if you disagree.

Duh!!!!

They don't need to agree totally with the NCPO, but we will not choose persons who disagree with the NCPO," he said.

What a contradictory statement to make.

They don't have to agree, but you won't be chosen if you disagree.

Duh!!!!

With statements like that, the PM desperately needs to see a doctor for his serious case of Foot In Mouth disease.

They don't need to agree totally with the NCPO, but we will not choose persons who disagree with the NCPO," he said.

What a contradictory statement to make.

They don't have to agree, but you won't be chosen if you disagree.

Duh!!!!

That's not contradictory in Thailand!