CDC to hold another public forum over draft charter in Bangkok this week

[webfact]

CDC to hold another public forum over draft charter in Bangkok this week

KHON KAEN, 8 February 2016 (NNT) - The Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC) held a public forum in the Northeast regarding the draft charter over the weekend, with many people and organizations joining the event.

The CDC forum was held at Kosa Hotel in Khon Kaen province in collaboration with King Prajadhipok’s Institute and relevant agencies.

According to CDC Vice Chairman Apichart Sukhagganond, the public forum was divided into seven different groups. Each group covered different important areas of the draft constitution, such as the Senate composition, general elections, and people's rights.

The CDC will review and consider opinions collected at the forum to further improve the constitution. Those who did not join the forum are able to submit their suggestions and opinions to the commission until Sunday.

The CDC will hold another forum this week at the Government Complex in Bangkok from February 9 - 11 for residents of the central and eastern regions. As for residents of southern Thailand, a forum will be held in Surat Thani province next week at Diamond Plaza Hotel.

Meanwhile, the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) insisted that it has never intended to use students in the Reserved Officers Training Corps (ROTC) program to provide security at the draft charter polling stations.


-- NNT 2016-02-08

[Srikcir]

The CDC will review and consider opinions collected at the forum to further improve the constitution.

And this is why the government needs to stop actively promoting the draft charter in preparation for the referendum vote. It's not been finalized, approved by the NRSA. The CDC is still soliciting and considering major suggestions not only from the public but also from the NCPO, the NRSA and the NLA.

Thus, a backfire might be in the making with the government's promotion of the charter in its current form. The final form in terms of content and structure might be so different in the referendum that a majority of voters will be confused and simply reject it. Ironcially, this is more likely to happen given Prayut's micromanagement of the draft process to assure the military's permanence in the Thai power structure.

[phoenixdoglover]

These articles are not mentioning level of attendance. This looks to me like a minimalist attempt to claim public input.

Ah well, perhaps there will be a referendum.