The National Reform Council (NRC) on Monday began discussing proposals compiled and submitted by 18 of its panels, with a focus on empowering independent anti-graft organisations to deal with corrupt politicians and state officials.
The 18 committees have submitted a total of 246 topics to the NRC for consideration, said Phairoj Phromsan, chairman of a special panel to follow up and comment on the charter drafting process.
On the first day of deliberation on the proposals, Pramon Sutheewong, chairman of the NRC committee on government reform and suppression of corruption, said his group had put forward a total of 30 points before the council.
The proposals suggest how to form the new foundations for a corruption-free Thai society, he said.
The Pramon committee has proposed that all Thais should help increase the accountability of political post-holders, state agencies and officials, but the details of how this will be achieved are yet to be explained.
Mr Pramon said all voters have a duty to elect decent people to political positions, so there should be measures for the public to deal with those who fail them and commit graft. He suggested political parties could be required to take responsibility for the actions of their politicians.
Efficient checks and balances must be in place to ensure good governance of the government and prevent corruption, Mr Pramon said, adding that independent bodies responsible for corruption cases should be empowered to indict suspects who they find guilty in their investigations.
Anti-corruption organisations should be given clear time frames to investigate graft cases and should report the progress of investigations to the public, he said.
The Pramon committee also proposed that any plans endorsed by the NRC should be quickly enshrined in law, to ensure the approved ideas are definitely implemented.
If the NRC-endorsed proposals cannot be drafted into law within the tenure of the current National Legislative Assembly, the new legislative body should be required to continue the unfinished task and complete it within two years, Mr Pramon said.
Seven NRC members debated the Pramon committee suggestions. They asked to add an extra proposal to say that anyone proven guilty in a corruption case must have their assets seized, even if the embezzled assets have already been passed on to the culprits' heirs.
Pakorn Preeyakorn, a Constitution Drafting Committee member, said the vast majority of charter drafters back the Pramon committee proposal to impose a life-time statute of limitations on every corruption case.