Constitution Drafting Committee chairman Borwornsak Uwanno on Saturday rejected media claims the new charter has been predetermined, saying writing will begin on Jan 12.
“I repeat there is no prepared blueprint as suggested by some columnists, who claim the drafting of the new charter is based on Defence Ministry suggestions and 80% complete,” he said.
“We currently only have a draft that covers proposals, ideas and recommendations from the National Legislative Assembly and the National Reform Council.”
Mr Borwornsak said more than 300 proposals have been submitted to the CDC via the Defence Ministry and the Senate Secretariat.
He said he formally received proposals for the charter from NRC chairman Thienchay Kiranandana and NLA president Pornpetch Wichitcholchai yesterday.
The CDC is expected to come up with the charter framework on Dec 26. The chairman said the framework will then be forwarded to a sub-committee chaired by Kanchanarat Leeviroj, so the initial drafting process can begin.
The sub-committee should come up with a draft on Jan 5 and the section-by-
section drafting will officially begin on Jan 12.
Mr Borwornsak also gave a detailed timeline for the charter drafting process. The chapter regarding the monarchy and the public is set to be drafted from Jan 12-16; while the chapter on the justice system is due to be tackled from Jan 19-21. The chapter on examining the use of state powers should be written from Jan 22-28.
February and March will be spent writing chapters on parliament, fiscal and budgeting issues, decentralisation of power, national reconciliation and reforms to reduce inequalities.
He said the draft will be sent to the NRC on April 17. The council will have until May 25 to propose amendments and the CDC must come up with a final draft by July 23. The NRC has until Aug 6 to consider the draft and cast a vote whether to accept it.
“[If the draft is accepted] it will take a month before it is submitted for royal endorsement. If a referendum is to be held, the NRC has to seek amendments to the interim charter to allow for that. It would take about three months to prepare a referendum,” he said.
Mr Borwornsak said all suggestions submitted to the CDC will be put to use, adding that proposals will be screened using a number of criteria. He said controversial proposals will be set aside and put to a vote at the final stage.
“We will listen to all suggestions, but that doesn’t mean we must obey them,” he said.
CDC spokesman Gen Lertrat Rattanawanit said red-shirt leader Veerakan Musikapong has already presented his ideas to the CDC.
Mr Veerakan gave his input as an individual not a political leader. He said he was opposed to the direct election of the prime minister and cabinet because it would change the long-standing parliamentary system of democracy.
Mr Veerakan also proposed that judges who hold top positions should be endorsed by either the Senate or the House of Representatives, Gen Lertrat said.