'Five Rivers' to hold meetings by April

BANGKOK, 8 March 2016 (NNT) - Four of the Five Rivers, the five groups that are working towards a new governmental system for Thailand, have met to get updates on the progress of their work while a full-scale meeting is expected to take place by next month.

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said on Monday that the latest meeting of the National Legislative Assembly, the National Council for Peace and Order, the National Reform Steering Assembly and the Cabinet, which are four of the five entities set up after the coup in May 2014. This is a regular event that has taken place many times.

Mr. Wissanu affirmed that the discussion among all four bodies was not an official “Five Rivers” meeting because the members of the Constitution Drafting Commission could not attend due to its prior engagement.

He added that at the meeting, there were discussions about the progress of work by each body as Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has been concerned about the enactment of laws, which needs to be in line with the national reform efforts.

Mr. Wissanu said that there was also the discussion on the planned amendment of the 2014 Provisional Constitution to prepare for the public referendum on the draft charter as well as the vote-counting process as well as the likely outcome and its consequences.

Another Five Rivers meeting is expected for later this month or in April.

-- NNT 2016-03-08

And you thought there was a drought here in Thailand: look, papa.... five rivers!

And you thought there was a drought here in Thailand: look, papa.... five rivers!

Mind you, they've all dried up!

Five rivers. Aptly ironic name, in the middle of worst drought in 20 years.

Another Five Rivers meeting is expected for later this month or in April.

That's important timing for the CDC as it finalizes the draft Constitution for the referendum.The NCPO needs to talk to the CDC to assure that it fulfills all the NCPO's objectives:

"He [Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam] brushed aside media's speculation that the NCPO could be giving indirect orders to the CDC. He said the NCPO can just hold talks with the CDC." (2016-01-20)

"The head [Meechai] of the Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC) has affirmed that the body is working without influence and within the framework set by the [NCPO’s] interim constitution." 2016-02-19

Who needs indirect orders when you can get orders "straight from the horse's mouth."

Five snouts might be a better term.......