Meechai wants to see CDC make-up before deciding on offer to head panel

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Meechai wants to see CDC make-up before deciding on offer to head panel
THE NATION


Wissanu

BANGKOK: -- FORMER SENATE speaker Meechai Ruchupan will decide on whether to head the new Constitution Drafting Committee after he knows its make-up, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said yesterday.

Wissanu said Meechai wanted to ask Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha about a few things before deciding whether to accept the invitation.

"He may want to have assistants to help him but I have no idea who will be in the CDC at this stage. It is normal for 21 people to quarrel if they do not know each other well,'' he said, referring to the 21-member CDC.

He said that he had told Meechai he was not the only candidate; three or four others had also been invited to head the CDC. The decision rested with Prayut.

Wissanu said Prayut would not consult the Cabinet about the selection of the CDC, as it was purely the responsibility of the National Council for Peace and Order.

The junta may present the PM a list of potential CDC members but the PM may not want some people carrying out too many tasks at the same time.

Meanwhile, Suthep Thaugsuban, chief of the Great Mass of People's Foundation for Thailand's Reforms, allayed |fears over possible changes to political party laws that may adversely affect established political parties such as them being disbanded and registered as new parties.

Suthep said there was no need for fear since the charter had not yet been drafted and the political party laws were yet to be rewritten.

He said Wissanu only wanted to explain to politicians that the road map to democracy could not be shortened too much because political parties may need time to adjust to the new laws.

"What if the new party laws said a political party must have 1 million members? Charter writers are writing the charter for the people and the country and not for politicians," he said.

"I have been calling for national reform because our country has politicians that cause us much concern.''

Suthep said there would be new parties established and people would have alternatives if the country's two major parties, Pheu Thai and the Democrats, refused to cooperate with the reform effort.

He supported Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan's call for ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra to stop his political movements.

Thaksin's followers flew to meet him in Hong Kong recently.

Suthep said he wanted to see speedy legal action against the Thaksin camp but he understood that the government had to follow due process.

"The government is following legal procedures in bringing |his sister [Yingluck Shinawatra] or his son [Panthongtae Shinawatra] into the justice system," he said.

"I myself face serious charges. I have not shouted or screamed but fight my cases quietly. I am not fleeing and I am not demanding anything.

"If Thaksin tries to stage a counter move, meeting this and that person, it will be worse. It is right that Prawit warns him. He has to be patient."

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Meechai-wants-to-see-CDC-make-up-before-deciding-o-30269680.html


-- The Nation 2015-09-28

[CelticBhoy]

"Meechai wants to see CDC make-up"

That face deffo needs make-up

[catterwell]

Meechai is perhaps the only person in the world to have made an entire career out of writing constitutions, and then interpreting them.

[Srikcir]

"the selection of the CDC ... was purely the responsibility of the National Council for Peace and Order."

So much for having the participation of the Thai people.

[peterjackson]

"the selection of the CDC ... was purely the responsibility of the National Council for Peace and Order."

So much for having the participation of the Thai people.

AKA The Supreme Ruler Mr.P, self appointed delusional autocrat.