Rights agency the next to be replaced

[webfact]

Rights agency the next to be replaced

By THE NATION

 

File photo// EC member

 

NHRC head disputes CDC claim that they lack diversity and have many problems

 

BANGKOK: -- THE National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) appears likely to be the next target for mass dismissal of members, after the Election Commission.

 

NHRC chairman What Tingsamitr disclosed yesterday that the matter was clearly mentioned in Article 60 of a new law on the rights body, written by the Constitution Drafting Commission.

 

He disputed a claim by the drafters that the current NHRC members need to be replaced because they lack diversity and their work “ran into problems continuously”. He said that the argument was inaccurate.

 

The NHRC chairman warned that the agency’s work would be severely affected, as there would be “vacuum” before their successors would be appointed. “Also, mass dismissal of all NHRC members will not benefit the people in power at all. They will be viewed as persecuting the current members and want to have some people to replace them,” he said. 

 

Meanwhile, the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) is scheduled to debate the proposed organic law on the Election Commission (EC) today in its second reading. 

 

Changes have been made to the original version written by the Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC), covering 18 clauses of the bill.

 

Those revisions were suggested by the NLA’s vetting committee headed by Assembly member Tuang Unthachai, who is a former senator. 

 

This is one of four organic laws that are required by the new Constitution prior to the next election. The others are new laws on political parties, the election of MPs, and the appointment of senators.

 

An NLA vetting panel has suggested an extra qualification for election commissioners and the selection panel. If this is backed by the majority of MPs, members of both the EC and the selection panel will need to “have no history of supporting or being subject to any political party”. 

 

This qualification has been added to the usual requirements suggested in the original draft bill written by the CDC. They include neutrality, integrity and honesty and a good understanding of the EC’s work for election commissioners, a high degree of responsibility, courage in performing the duty and exemplary ethical behaviour for the selection committee members. 

 

The revised draft requires that the five current EC members, headed by Supachai Somcharoen, need to vacate their seats as soon as the new law on the EC takes effect, although they can assume the caretaker roles until the new set of election commissioners take over from them. 

 

In the CDC’s original draft, present EC members will remain in office until their respective terms end. 

 

Under the revised bill, the current EC members would be compensated with an extra gratuity for making an early exit – their present salary and remuneration would be multiplied by the number of years they have served, and that sum would become their severance pay. 

 

The new EC members will be nominated by the selection panel within 60 days, two times the time period suggested by the CDC in its original draft of the law on the EC.

 

At least 14 members of the NLA have reserved their right to oppose the vetting committee’s proposal for current EC members to step down as soon as the new law takes effect. 

 

Those lawmakers feel that the current election commissioners have the right to remain in office until their term ends. Observers expected most NLA members to agree with the vetting committee.

 

After the legislative assembly votes in the third and final reading, the approved draft will be submitted to the Constitutional Court, the EC and the CDC to determine if it is in line with the spirit of the new Charter. This process will take 15 days.

 

If it is decided that the version approved by the NLA goes against the charter’s spirit, a joint committee will be set up with 11 members from the EC, Constitutional Court, NLA and vetting committee to settle the differences. However, observers said the likelihood of such a joint panel was very low, as both the vetting committee and many NLA members seemed to have agreed on the bill, particularly regarding the current EC members’ remaining time in office.

 

It is likely that the present election commissioners may be dissatisfied with the shortened term in office due to this new law. But if they openly object to the revised bill on their own, they could be viewed as having a |conflict of interest and doing so for personal benefit. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30317577

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-06-09

[tracker1]

Now the NHTC we dont need human rights ! these departments are falling like 10 pins

[Thechook]

Human rights council not playing the Junta game so they have to go and be replaced with our people who will shut up and follow military orders.

[Cadbury]

36 minutes ago, Thechook said:

Human rights council not playing the Junta game so they have to go and be replaced with our people who will shut up and follow military orders.

Spot on. They don't have uniforms or a peaked cap or a chest full of undeserved medals and are not dripping in braid and ribbons. They have to go!

It is only military people who have the milk of human kindness within them.

[yellowboat]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

They will be viewed as persecuting the current members and want to have some people to replace them

Coups persecute and replace.  That is what absolute power does. 

[YetAnother]

'rights; has been and will continue to be redefined; the slide continues

[Srikcir]

NHRC was downgraded by the UN in 2016 to a "B" - the same grade as Myanmar. Reorganization of the NHRC should lead to another decertification by the UNHRC. It was judged not impartial or effective enough to submit reports on human rights in Thailand to the UN Human Rights Council, nor can it actively participate in human rights conferences organized by the UN Human Rights Council.   http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/opinion/aec/30278458

 

With NHRC's downgrade of its authority from the 2007 Constitution to the 2017 Constitution (it must report human rights prioritized to national security concerns) and the junta's new appointment process, the NHRC may be further downgraded to "C" - No Status. Same as Iran and Ukraine. http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/HRIndicators/NHRI.pdf

[optad]

This harks back to Soviet era stuff.

[jaltsc]

"NHRC head disputes CDC claim that they lack diversity and have many problems..."

 

There's plenty of diversity. There are 1 star, 2 star and 3 star generals in power. Then there are those who will swear that are no problems in the present government, and those who wish they would have kept their mouths shut. Diversity, CCCP style.