CDC is yet to decide whether to join public debates on draft charter

[webfact]

CDC is yet to decide whether to join public debates on draft charter



BANGKOK: -- The Constitution Drafting Committee is yet to decide whether to join the panel discussions or public debates on the draft constitution as proposed by the Election Commission.

CDC spokesman Norachit Singhaseni said the CDC would have to wait for more details about the talk fest from the EC such as the modality of the debate before it can decide to participate or not.

As for the debates or panel discussions to be held by organizations or educational institutes, Mr Norachit said that the CDC would consider on a case-by-case basis whether to join in the events or not.

He cited a bad experience some time ago when a protest was staged in the middle of a debate by activists who are against the draft charter.

Meanwhile, former foreign minister and a core member of Pheu Thai Party Noppadol Pattama, suggested public debates on the draft charter to be staged and broadcasted live.

Pointing out that it is about three weeks to go before the August 7 referendum, he said that there are still a lot of people who have little idea about the draft charter. He wondered why the EC or other agencies concerned do not open public forums for all stakeholders to share their views on the draft so that the public can better understand the gist of the draft which will make it easier for them to vote in the referendum.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/cdc-yet-decide-whether-join-public-debates-draft-charter/


-- Thai PBS 2016-07-19

[jamesbrock]

Fair enough, I can't see any reason why the committee that drafted the draft constitution should need to participate in forums designed to explain it...

[waldroj]

All care, no responsibility!

Fair enough for a drink dispensing machine, where you insert your coin and hope your drink will appear.

Not fair enough though when the future of the country will be greatly affected by whether or not people accept the document you have written.

Almost unbelievable to think that the CDC would be trying to avoid any debate about the merits of THEIR charter - unless they have something to be ashamed of.

[Srikcir]

Fair enough, I can't see any reason why the committee that drafted the draft constitution should need to participate in forums designed to explain it...

Maybe because the CDC has a vested interest in seeing the draft pass as its authors and will go beyond merely explaining the content of the draft.

Meechai has said that the CDC should be able to talk about the merits of the draft charter with the public. That might be perceived as favoring draft passage.

[jamesbrock]

Fair enough, I can't see any reason why the committee that drafted the draft constitution should need to participate in forums designed to explain it...

Maybe because the CDC has a vested interest in seeing the draft pass as its authors and will go beyond merely explaining the content of the draft.

Meechai has said that the CDC should be able to talk about the merits of the draft charter with the public. That might be perceived as favoring draft passage.

So, because there might be claims of bias against the charter authors, you're suggesting the explaining of contentious points should be left up so some third party who had no hand in the drafting of the charter, a third party that could also be biased?

[tuanku]

Political debate is often conducted by people with bias towards one point of view or another. If the debate includes people from all sides then the bias evens out and opinions together with presented evidence can be weighed by the educated viewer. However Thai audiences are unused to this kind of debate, and the protagonists of the charter are similarly unused to having to defend their draft in a public forum and worried their performance may be outshined by opposing more persuasive debaters. They may also be worried that the charter they have to defend is not easily defensible on grounds of being good for the nation as a whole. They seem to be looking for debate which is sufficiently rigged in their favour to have a chance of winning.

[candide]

They don't want to take the risk of losing face.... and anyway they don't need a debate as they will have 74000 persons visit Thai households to explain the merits of the draft charter without anyone to contradict them.

Edited July 19, 2016 by candide