Prime Minister and National Council for Peace and Order chairman Prayuth Chan-ocha on Thursday morning addressed panelists screening potential candidates for the National Reform Council, telling them to be honest, meticulous and transparent in performing their duty in order to get good and capable people on the NRC.
Gen Prayuth said this in a policy address to members of 11 screening committees and provincial selection panels at the Army Club in Bangkok.
The prime minister said the country is now in the second stage of the roadmap to reform, since the cabinet is now complete, although it has yet to be sworn-in before His Majesty the King.
He said the country has been at peace under NCPO's administraion during the past few months.
"Today's work toward the formation of the NRC is an historic event that will lead the country to sustainable development and a complete democracy in line with international principles and suitable for Thai society," Gen Prayuth said.
He asked the committees screening NRC candidates in 11 areas of reform to be meticulous, honest and transparent in performing their duty, despite the limited period of time given them and the close watch by all concerned, who had high expectations.
Election Commission (EC) secretary-general Puchong Nutrawong said that from Aug 14-Sept 2 a total of 7,042 people were nominated for selection as candidates for the NRC's 250 seats.
He said the total is expected to be finalised tomorrow after the EC has received more applications sent by mail.
The EC began to check the qualifications of the nominees on Aug 14.
The 11 committees screening candidates in 11 fields are expected to select 550 candidates, 50 each, by Sept 17.
At the same time, the provincial selection panels will select five candidates for each province.
The NCPO will then pick 173 from the candidates in the 11 areas of reform and 77 from provincial candidates, to form the 250-member NRC.
The 11 areas of reform are: politics, national administration, law and justice, local administration, education, economy, energy, public health and environment, mass media, social issues, and other areas.