Govt, NCPO step up charter drive

Govt, NCPO step up charter drive

Meechai Ruchupan, chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee, explains the draft charter to members of the National Legislative Assembly and National Reform Steering Assembly during a joint session at parliament on Wednesday. (Photo by Chanat Katanyu)
Meechai Ruchupan, chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee, explains the draft charter to members of the National Legislative Assembly and National Reform Steering Assembly during a joint session at parliament on Wednesday. (Photo by Chanat Katanyu)

The government and National Council for Peace and Order have shifted up a gear in their efforts to lure support for the draft constitution, after the first version drew a mixed response.

The move started on Wednesday when the "Unveiling the New Constitution" broadcast made its debut nationwide on television at 8am, with a rerun at 6pm. The programme will be on air every day until Feb 15.

Col Thaksada Sungkajan, an assistant government spokesman, said the broadcast explains the essence of the draft charter, which has drawn strong criticism, and all key points in it.

The NCPO has also added more troops to its public relations team, with the same goal of launching an offensive to attract support for the proposed constitution.

Gen Veeran Chanthasart, a chief adviser to the Royal Thai Army, has been appointed by army chief Gen Teerachai Nakawanich to lead the public relations drive for both the NCPO and RTA.

Col Piyapong Klinphan, of the 2nd Infantry Division Queen's Guard, was also handpicked by the army commander-in-chief to work with the team helping NCPO spokesman Col Winthai Suwaree.

An army source said the army chief expected Col Piyapong, who unofficially takes up a position as the division's spokesman, to counter the arguments of politicians and other opponents who are increasingly vocal in attacking provisions in the draft charter.

The first draft, comprising 270 sections, was denounced by some academics, the Pheu Thai Party and the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship for providing for a non-MP to be prime minister and a non-elected senate, among other controversial issues.

Meechai Ruchupan, who leads the Constitution Drafting Committee, has defended its virtue, saying it was written largely to keep corrupt politicians out of the parliament.

He reiterated this position when the CDC met the National Legislative Assembly and National Reform Steering Assembly on Wednesday.

Mr Meechai told a joint sitting of the two assemblies the possibility of an outsider becoming prime minister would be a decision to be made by a political party. The draft charter allows no compromises in preventing  politicians found guilty of graft holding political positions, he added.

The CDC is gathering comments from all sectors of society before the charter writers work on the final draft to be put to a public referendum.

Acting Pheu Thai spokesman Anusorn Iamsa-ard on Wednesday stressed the party's determination to vote down the draft constitution in the referendum.

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