Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha deserves credit for moving the draft constitution to where it belongs -- the public forum. The prime minister made an unexpected about-face on the issue late last week -- one day he was advocating the multi-facet ban on free speech brought in by the Election Commission (EC) through the poorly considered Referendum Act; the next, he specifically authorised open debate at the provincial level. It is a welcome evolution.
From Monday, the public, civil society and even members of political parties can openly discuss the draft charter. Monday afternoon, in a lead-up to the referendum on Aug 7, the EC will air the first of its 10 hours of "discussion" of the draft. Whatever happens, hopes are not high that the EC-sponsored programmes will be forthright and forthcoming. And by airing them on workday afternoons on ThaiPBS, the smallest audience possible for a national TV broadcast is guaranteed.
Gen Prayut has gone far beyond that, and the EC cannot object. The prime minister has in effect taken the advice of a meeting last week. It was attended by highly esteemed voices of civil society, as well as political parties. The meeting featured luminaries such as peace academic Gothom Arya, Kamnoon Sidhisamarn of the military regime's own National Reform Steering Assembly and Sunee Chaiyaros, a well-known expert on women's and labour rights. Politicians including Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva and top Pheu Thai Party members also attended.
The meeting was conducted without rancour, a point no doubt considered by the prime minister. The 117 individuals and 16 organisations in attendance formed the new Platform of Concerned Citizens (PCC). The PCC had a short mission. Members pressed for open debate and freedom of speech on the draft charter. They called on Gen Prayut to clearly state what would happen if voters reject the draft charter, asking what is the military regime's "plan B" to proceed to parliamentary democracy and free elections.
Within the day, Gen Prayut announced he had reconsidered the divisive bans on discussing the draft constitution. He was openly sceptical, however, that politicians would be able to restrain themselves. There still must be limits, he said, adding, "If you fight again, will you all take responsibility?"
The prime minister was wrong to try to stifle debate. Maybe more importantly, the members of the Election Commission were wrong to enthusiastically stifle free expression of opinion by their fellow Thais. The EC acted as a "hatchet man" in instigating arrests and pressing serious charges against people who did nothing more than voice an opinion.
It was noted by many that the EC's targets always were on the "vote no" side, which gave the wrong impression of what a legally neutral EC must do.
The referendum campaign will not suddenly become a contentious and emotional battlefield. Open debate beginning Monday will still have controls.
In a way, Gen Prayut is following the same sort of instincts that caused him to stage a coup in the first place. National peace is the prime goal.
But this is an important step, both in the referendum campaign itself, and in the nation's hopes of getting the campaign for democracy back on course. At some point, the coup leader had to start trusting Thais to handle their political affairs. That time has come.
In the grand scheme of things, it will put Thailand back on course. Free speech on the draft charter is a small reform, but it is important because it is the first step of many to come.