Reform steering council gets ready to hold its first meeting

[Lite Beer]

Reform steering council gets ready to hold its first meeting
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE Reform Steering Council is scheduled to convene for the first time on Tuesday, with Chai Chidchob, a former member of the now-defunct National Reform Council, expected to chair it.

The Secretariat Office of the House of Representatives, acting as the RSC's secretariat, issued an official letter yesterday inviting all 200 RSC members to attend the meeting.

They will go through agenda items involving the acknowledgement of their appointments and the selection of the chairman and vice chairmen.

Veteran politician Chai is to chair the first meeting as he is the oldest member.

He said yesterday that although the prime minister had appointed the chairman, the NRSC members proposed the chair to him for endorsement.

He said yesterday that the RSC chairman must be knowledgeable and get along with the prime minister.

Among the names for the post mentioned is Dr Tinnapan Nakata, a former minister of the Prime Minister's Office during General Suchinda Kraprayoon's 1992 government, which triggered the bloody Black May crackdown.

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam rejected speculation that he has long known Tinnapan, saying he did not know him before 1992 when he personally was the cabinet secretary.

Wissanu said he did rule out the capacity of Tinnapan, 81 this year, to handle the chairmanship as he was still strong enough to work.

Wissanu admitted he was worried about the RSC's framework because it remained unclear, but added: "I personally don't want to complain about this as we have to trust people's ability and integrity."

Almost all the RSC members finished registering at Parliament yesterday.

Among those who registered was Chidchai Wannasathit, a former deputy prime minister in the Thaksin Shinawatra government, who was ousted along with Thaksin in the 2006 coup.

Chidchai said he was not worried over the fact that he used to work with Thaksin as he had not been in contact with him or his supporters for years, concentrating only on his business.

He said he would not be suitable to help coordinate reconciliation work as he was too old, but the rule of law must be upheld in order for reconciliation to be brought about.

Chidchai said he was especially interested in working on agricultural and police reform.

Former NRC member Sombat Thamrongthanyawong, the ex-chairman of the NRC's political reform committee, suggested that the new reformers and charter drafters look closely at the parliamentary system that Thailand had used for 83 years and the reasons it failed in order to implement a new political system successfully.

"They should dare to think outside the box," Sombat said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Reform-steering-council-gets-ready-to-hold-its-fir-30270589.html

-- The Nation 2015-10-10

[noitom]

The Thais in charge are getting ready to stick it to the ordinary Thais.

[Wilsonandson]

Agriculture and police reform. Agriculture had the failed rice scheme that caused millions of baht of rice to go to waste, was the politicians fault. Police reform, coruption scandals some of which were politically motivated or backed. Reform the politician and it's party, that would interest me. Crooked governments weilding power over a majority of poor working class Thai people only to improve their own familys wealth is the real interest here.

[smutcakes]

Nice to see old airport blocker Kasit getting his rewards. Any action yet for closong down an international airport?

[chainarong]

One hopes the steering rods and ball joints are well greased.

[Oziex1]

One hopes the steering rods and ball joints are well greased.

Probably not maintenance not a big deal here, palms however will be well greased.