Drafters to revise points in political parties bill
By KHANITTHA THEPPHAJORN, 
KASAMAKORN CHANWANPEN, 
JAKRAWAN SALAYTOO 
THE NATION

 

Meechai

 

Meechai says time period to collect fees, punishment for financiers to be amended.

 

CHARTER drafters will revise two controversial points in the organic law on political parties following criticism of the bill by politicians after it was revealed to the public last week, Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC) chairman Meechai Ruchupan said yesterday. 

 

Meechai said the two points to be amended include the timeframe in which party members are required to pay a Bt100 annual membership fee – 150 days after the law is promulgated. Politicians have said that period is too short and impractical, especially for parties with more than 10,000 members. 

 

The CDC will also consider a heavier penalty imposed on financiers who provide “seed funding” for new political parties without others helping to fund the party, as intended by writers of the law, he said. 

 

Full story: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30302056

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2016-12-14

Drafters to revise points in bill.

Is that another way of saying potential loopholes not to the advantage of the junta and the elite are to be closed ?

Five months to pay Bt100 is a bit of a tight squeeze, the revision is totally justified.

It's simply a case of making the people believe they have power by conceding on very small points in order to avoid discussion on the several elephants in the room. It also seems that when the democratics boycotted the forum, it was fine only to have them welcomed back. When the pt followed suit, they are villainized. 

When are the Dems going to realise that the powers that be favour small parties. the liklihood of pt winning anything is zero and the liklihood of Dems winning any significant power is about the same.