CDC told not to restrain people's power

[Lite Beer]

CDC told not to restrain people's power

BANGKOK: -- PHEU Thai politicians yesterday told the constitution drafters - who have said they will take on corrupt politicians seriously - not to undermine the people's power.

Worachai Hema, a former Pheu Thai MP, asked that the new Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) not to be corrupt by taking away people's power when creating agencies through the charter and granting them with "super power".

He said the drafters should not exploit the charter as a means to retain power by appointing connected people to take roles in those agencies, which have power over the public.

They should also not include bodies opposed by the people because the draft may fail to pass a referendum and that would mean a waste of national funds, the Pheu Thai politician said.

He said Meechai Ruchupan, the new CDC chief, should do his job for the country - not the coup-makers "like he has always done, all his life".

Nattawut Saikua, another Pheu Thai man, said problems could be solved through the democratic process. So, the powers-that-be should manage to create true democracy where sovereign power belongs to all people, adding that there should not be anybody "interfering with the people's power".

He said if the constitution only served some groups of people, opposition would always arise. Nattawut said that people were upset because they could sense that the charter may not be democratic.

He said the undemocratic facet was not undermining politicians' power - rather it was undermining the people's power.

Meanwhile, National Legislative Assembly president Pornpetch Wichitcholchai has said that the new round of constitution drafting will be completed in the six months stipulated in the 2014 interim charter.

Pornpetch said the NLA wanted the new drafters to look at the recently rejected draft and see how it could be perfected and listen to the people's voices.

The new Constitution Drafting Committee chaired by Meechai Ruchupan resolved on Friday to form two sub-bodies to focus on reconciliation and reform. Some CDC members will sit on the two bodies.

Juree Wijitwatakarn and Chartchai Na Chiangmai are on the reconciliation working committee and Amorn Wanichwiwatana, General Atthaporn Charoenpanich, General Niwat Sripen, and Major General Wira Rojanawas are sitting on the reform panel.

Both working groups aim to come up with approaches that will result in reform and reconciliation occurring in a way that is appropriate to society.

The CDC will deliberate on the studies done by the two bodies.

In a related development, Chuvit Kamolvisit, Rak Thailand Party leader, also commented on the new drafting process, saying that the junta should be sincere about opening space for public participation. Thus, he urged that the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) loosen their rules.

On top of that, Chuvit suggested politicians should be allowed to take part in the drafting process as they get politics better than law professors who have very little experience in politics and may write the charter out of their imagination.

Sonthaya Khunpluem, a veteran politician and leader of Phalung Chon Party, said the plan to ban corrupt politicians for life that the CDC may impose could be deemed as restraining a person's political rights. However, he believed the CDC would think about it thoroughly.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/CDC-told-not-to-restrain-peoples-power-30270621.html

-- The Nation 2015-10-10

[zaphod reborn]

Worachai is obviously worried that any charter might interfere with PTP's ability to be elected so as to have carte blanch to raid the government coffers and extort the public through graft and corruption "like they have done all their lives".

Edited October 10, 2015 by zaphod reborn

[Reigntax]

It must be racking their small brains how to write the constitution to give themselves all power, keep themselves above any law, still allow all the corrupt practices to continue, rape the country of wealth and prosperity and get the majority of people living in poverty to agree to it while continuing with the propaganda thats it good for the country.

I suppose thats what section 44, LM, a few guns and threats does provide.

[Pimay1]

It must be racking their small brains how to write the constitution to give themselves all power, keep themselves above any law, still allow all the corrupt practices to continue, rape the country of wealth and prosperity and get the majority of people living in poverty to agree to it while continuing with the propaganda thats it good for the country.

I suppose thats what section 44, LM, a few guns and threats does provide.

Until I read your last sentence I thought you were referring to the Pheu Thai politicians.

[Emster23]

CDC = Center for Dissent Control.

[Srikcir]

CDC = Center for Dissent Control.

Committee for a Disasterous Constitution