Meechai apologises members of NRSA for trimming their term in office without notifying them in advance



BANGKOK: -- Constitution Drafting Committee chairman Meechai Ruchupan offered his apology to members of the National Reform Steering Assembly for not notifying them in advance about the CDC’s decision to trim their term in office from one year to 120 days as from the date of the enforcement of the new constitution.

At a joint session of the National Legislative Assembly and the NRSA on Wednesday, Mr Meechai explained that the CDC had received findings on reforms which show the work has progressed to the point that certain reforms can start to be implemented so the CDC agreed that the NRSA should complete its task in 120 days instead of one year.

He admitted that he was so tied up with fine-tuning the charter draft that he had forgotten to notify NRSA members about the change in their term in office.

As for the prevention and suppression of corruption, Mr Meechai told the meeting that the charter draft was equipped with tough mechanism in the form of 15-16 prohibitions to prevent corrupt individuals from entering politics.

In response to criticism that too much powers were vested with the Constitutional Court, he clarified that the CDC had responded to the criticism by trimming the power of the Constitutional Court by allowing other organizations to share some of the power.

Mr Praphan Naikowit, a member of the CDC, then said the indirect election of 50 senators was intended to allow the public to have the right to choose their representatives into the Senate representing professional groups. If the election system does not work, he said it could be changed later on.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/157549


-- Thai PBS 2016-03-31

the charter draft was equipped with tough mechanism in the form of 15-16 prohibitions to prevent corrupt individuals from entering politics.

What about prosecuting the corrupt individuals already in politics?

What about apologizing to the 60 million Thais for an undemocratic draft constitution?

Frankly, cutting NRSA term to 120 days just means the members can become Senators sooner rather than later. No apology necessary.

Don't you have a secretary Meechai? What a lame excuse.

120 days is too much. The NRSA could be disbanded now and there would be no discernible difference.