No pseudo reform body: CDC

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No pseudo reform body: CDC

BANGKOK: DRAFTERS AIMING FOR MORE ACCEPTABLE WAYS TO SETTLE CRISES, SPOKESMAN SAYS

THE CONSTITUTION Drafting Committee will not create anything like the widely criticised National Strategic Reform and Reconciliation Committee (NSRRC) promoted by its predecessor, CDC spokesman Udom Rathamarut said yesterday.

The NSRRC idea was highly controversial when introduced by the charter-drafting panel chaired by Borwornsak Uwanno.

The proposal allegedly had a role in bringing an end to the draft because many viewed such a committee as being "a state within a state", since it would have the power to overrule the executive branch in case of a crisis. The CDC spokesman said the current drafters would try to set out acceptable crisis-coping mechanisms now, with the aim of preventing future coups.

CDC subcommittees are currently working on this, and the commission will deliberate on the issue early next month, he added.

Udom said the CDC had finished drafting more than 70 per cent of the new charter, with around 200 articles already addressed. The full will be finalised next month, as scheduled, and released on January 29.

While conceding that some politicians had not yet accepted the current draft, the spokesman said this was common because some parties harboured prejudices from the outset. However, he said he wanted them to open their minds, as the CDC had been trying to connect with the people in the hope that the charter draft would be generally welcomed.

Should any political parties have any suggestions to make, the drafters are ready to listen, he stressed.

Separately, Sompong Srakavee, a member of the political reform panel under the National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA), commented on his panel's consideration of amnesty as a measure to create reconciliation.

A subcommittee would be set up to study the question of political amnesty, he said, adding that it would initially stick to what the now-defunct National Reform Council panel led by Anek Laothamatas had proposed.

The panel had agreed that amnesty should be given to anyone of any political colour - both leaders and ordinary demonstrators who were politically motivated - but it should not be available to those found guilty in criminal or corruption cases.

After submitting its amnesty proposal to the NSRA between December 21 and 23, he said the responsible subcommittee would invite all factions - including the People's Democratic Reform Committee, the People's Alliance for Democracy, the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship and political parties - to comment and provide information, Sompong said.

The aim is to have a concrete amnesty plan agreed before the next general election, he added.

Seri Suwanpanon, chairman of the NSRA's political reform panel, meanwhile proposed that censure motions in Parliament be disabled, saying they had never had effect in reality because the opposition never gained enough votes to table a no-confidence motion against the PM.

In his opinion, the CDC should therefore consider other measures that will strengthen the opposition and enable it to check the government effectively.

Simultaneously, conditions should be set to allow the House of Representatives to check the government as well, Seri proposed.

Besides, disabling the censure motions would also reduce the time taken up by the moves, as well as conflict within the House, he added.

The political reform committee will discuss the draft constitution next week, having completed its proposals for political reform and submitting them to the NSRA last week, the committee chairman said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/No-pseudo-reform-body-CDC-30274759.html

-- The Nation 2015-12-12