BURNING ISSUE
The new CDC has both good and bad news to offer
JINTANA PANYAARVUDH

BANGKOK: -- THERE are clear signs that the new draft charter will draw criticism and opposition as the new Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC) completes its second week in the job.

The new charter - the first draft of which will be delivered in January and final draft in April - includes several controversial points that many believe will ruffle feathers, especially those of politicians opposing the junta.

The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has given CDC chairman Meechai Ruchupan specific guidelines to follow - including the interim charter's Article 35, as well as a five-point framework set by the NCPO.

Immediately after learning about the guidelines, Pheu Thai Party issued a statement asking the CDC to not include the 10 points outlined in Article 35. The Article targets corrupt politicians, banning them for life, and also curbs the use of populist policies to win votes.

As for the five points in the junta's guidelines, two are very controversial and will certainly raise hackles if included in the draft. The first is a mechanism to prevent politicians from abusing their power, seeking personal benefit and spending taxpayers' money on policies to legitimise themselves, while the second point offers approaches on curbing corruption and misconduct.

Meechai appears to have accepted the directions unquestioningly. Since taking over as head of CDC, he voiced support for many points that are believed to be the reason why the now-defunct National Reform Council shot down the previous draft.

One controversial point is the crisis panel, which Meechai reckons Thailand desperately needs in case there is a political paralysis.

However, this very point was one of the reasons the previous charter draft was rejected. The last draft gave intervention power to the National Strategic Reform and Reconciliation Committee, allowing it to take charge in times of crises. Many saw this as allowing the panel to overrule the government, which they found unacceptable.

Another contentious point was an outsider or non-elected premier, a point that Meechai hinted might also be included in his draft.

Meechai, as leader of charter drafters, also came up with the 1991 Constitution, which allowed then-coup leader and non-MP General Suchinda Kraprayoon become an "outsider PM". This eventually lead to bloodshed in May 1992.

Apart from not being democratic, observers also consider these points as means for the junta to retain power.

Despite insisting that the task of writing the draft is a tough one, Meechai - one of the most veteran legal experts in the country - is bound to find a way to include all the points, be they controversial or not, handed over by the junta.

But the tough job for the junta may be to get the public to accept the draft.

The junta and the government have more or less made it clear that they want the draft to undergo a referendum.

Plus, they seem to be providing full support to the CDC.

Soon after the CDC was formed, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha called on all sides to offer constructive opinions and not pressure the drafters.

In addition, the junta recently tasked soldiers with explaining the current political situation and the charter draft to people living in the provinces. The junta also created a scheme to educate some 300,000 Army Reserve students about the charter draft with the hope that they will share their knowledge with their families, friends and others.

The good news is the junta appears to be making a concerted effort to push the draft through a public referendum and is trying hard to clean up politics by writing tough measures to get rid of bad politicians.

But the bad news is that certain controversial points are still seen as moves to keep the junta in power.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/The-new-CDC-has-both-good-and-bad-news-to-offer-30271208.html


-- The Nation 2015-10-20

It's patently obvious the NCPO does not want a truly Democratic charter.

They are aiming for a charter that makes it more difficult for PT to win the next election and much more favorable for the Bangkok elite to win. They are heading right back to a rejected charter by the NLA or later by referendum. Either way, the NCPO and Mr. P will continue to stay in charge for at least another 2-years beyond the stated election in 2017. Don't look for a Democratic government until 2020 or beyond and maybe never again.

Very sad for Thailand.

So, Meechai reckons Thailand desperately needs a crisis panel, in case there is a political paralysis.

Well, I have some good news and some bad news!

First the bad news, certain controversial points are still seen as moves to keep the junta in power.

Now for the good news, sorry, there is none (I was lying)! This is nothing more than another tool in the junta’s divide and conquer strategy.

Given the junta’s desire to break the major parties you can be certain that the result of the next election (if it happens) will be a government made up of a coalition of weak minority entities (each pushing their own agenda). Given this situation, it will be sooner rather than later that this alliance falls apart and said crisis panel will be activated.

Despite its claims about reconciliation and reform, the junta has really ever only had one agenda, to set the scene for it to retain power through the mechanism of the crisis panel.

It’s all well and good for The Nation to say the junta appears to be making a concerted effort to push the draft through a public referendum. Why wouldn’t it, this show of support for a referendum is nothing more than smoke and mirrors on its part, so it can say “the people” have legitimised its retention of power.

This then, is the dilemma for the Thai people if the crisis panel clause remains in the new draft.

They can either:

• accept the draft, have elections, and get a minority government (that is doomed to failure), or
• they can see through the ploy and reject the draft at referendum.

Either way, they will ultimately allow the junta to retain power in Thailand for the foreseeable future.

The Pheu Thai party,does not agree to MP's been banned for life

if caught doing anything wrong,plus the banning of populist polices

this must be the biggest surprise of the year ,they just want to

be able to loot state coffers,get away with any skulduggery ,this

is a chance for Thailand to stop what has been the norm,and has

cost the country so dearly.

Start with Politicians and the Police,put very strict laws in place,

you are caught doing anything corrupt,trial and jail,no yellow

cards,or transfers to inactive posts.there has got to be change

in the way things are conducted here.

regards worgeordie

Immediately after learning about the guidelines, Pheu Thai Party issued a statement asking the CDC to not include the 10 points outlined in Article 35. The Article targets corrupt politicians, banning them for life, and also curbs the use of populist policies to win votes.

No surprise there then!

Those laws PTP abused also protected the other side when they were in power, and they used them to the fullest extent allowed.

I don't see a political coup as being better than a military one at all.

One proposal was the "unelected PM" would be from the standing members of Parliament by vote.

I really don't have a problem with that, but the definition of a scenario when that could happen is beyond murky and a stonewall.

Who gets to hit the reset button, and under what circumstances.

The vague paralysis definition means anytime Suthep wants.

"Meechai appears to have accepted the [NCPO] directions unquestioningly."

No surprise there then!