The National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA) will on Monday give the final say on four reform proposals that include the death penalty for corrupt officials who cause damage worth more than 1 billion baht to the country.
The proposals, prepared by the NRSA committee on political reform led by Seri Suwanphanon, aim to keep state power in check in four ways: monitoring and preventing attempts to overpublicise government work, carefully supervising the selection of members of independent organisations, empowering people to better access information belonging to the government, and imposing harsh punishments to curb corruption.
"The NRSA will consider these proposals on Jan 9," NRSA chairman Thinnapan Nakata said.
The proposals, which detail punishments ranging from imprisonment to the death sentence, are expected to undergo heated debate when the 200-member steering assembly gets together.
The Seri committee suggests that the inspection of state officials should be done in the same manner as that used for crooked politicians.
State officials found guilty of corruption face a jail term of up to five years if they are found to have caused damage worth less than 1 million baht; a 10-year jail term for damage worth less than 10 million baht; a 20-year jail term for damage worth less than 100 million baht; and life imprisonment for damage worth between 100 million and 1 billion baht.
The death penalty will be imposed for damage worth more than these amounts, according to the committee.
The Seri team also suggests the establishment of a parliament panel to better screen motions suspected of being raised to publicise or support government work.
It demands clear and detailed regulations for a selection process of members of independent organisations, including the National Anti- Corruption Commission, the Election Commission, the Office of the Ombudsman and the National Human Rights Commission, to prevent any prejudice attempts after the new charter allows representatives from independent organisations to join the selection team.
The Seri committee also wants the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) to speed up the enactment of public information and conflict of interest bills in order to help people better access the state-owned information.
Meanwhile, former Pheu Thai MP for Samut Prakan Worachai Hema said yesterday he agrees with another proposal by the NRSA political reform committee, which floated an idea to grant an amnesty to people of all "colour-coded shirts" following their past rallying against governments.
Despite Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's insistence on backing off the amnesty move, Mr Worachai still suggested the premier exercise his overwhelming power under Section 44 of the interim charter to push this proposal because this will be a start of restoring social unity, divided by pro- and anti-Thaksin groups.
Gen Prayut earlier said he disagreed with the use of this power to grant an amnesty to political offenders while being asked about the government's roadmap to general elections amid concerns over its possible delay.
NLA vice-president Pirasak Porchit said yesterday the government has so far "sent no signal" it will change timing set in the roadmap.
The election date is roughly scheduled for the end of this year, but many NLA members believe it may be put back to next year due to the time-consuming consideration of the new charter's organic laws by the Constitution Drafting Committee and the royal cremation ceremony.