Prime Minister and National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) chief Prayuth Chan-ocha called on the 11 screening committees responsible for selecting members of the National Reform Council (NRC) to be inclusive.
His Majesty the King granted an audience to Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and his cabinet at Siriraj Hospital Thursday. The premier and the ministers took a solemn oath to protect the monarchy, uphold and observe the constitution, and perform their duties in the best interests of the country. (Photo courtesy of the Royal Household Bureau)
In his speech Thursday, Gen Prayuth said the NRC must represent all groups, especially those involved in political conflicts.
"NRC members must come from all sides and groups. There are few restrictions [on qualifications] because we want to make sure all groups are represented, including those involved in the conflict so they won't be able to say they are not part of the process," he told the gathering at the Royal Thai Army Club on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road.
Gen Prayuth set the guidelines after the nomination of candidates for the NRC closed. From Aug 14 until Tuesday a total of 7,042 people had been nominated as candidates for the NRC.
The 11 committees screening candidates in 11 fields are expected to select 550 candidates, or 50 for each, by Sept 17.
At the same time, provincial selection panels will select five candidates for each province. The NCPO will then pick 173 from 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 "others".
Gen Prayuth said it is a good sign that a large number of people have shown interest in being part of the NRC.
He assured that a channel would be set up to allow people who are not selected as NRC members to forward their suggestions.
He also said he is considering setting up an information support centre for the NRC.
After reform proposals are ready, the NCPO will identify "key performance indicators" to evaluate the work of the NRC.
Gen Prayuth allayed concerns that the NCPO already has NRC candidates in mind and called on screening committees to do their jobs in a transparent manner and to ensure good and capable people were selected to work on the NRC.
He also stressed the NRC should identify which proposals need to be urgently implemented and which should be implemented later on when there is a new government under a new permanent charter.
"I have so many roles that I am confused myself and the media should stop imagining things or making connections to the Burapha Phayak and Wong Thewan factions," the prime minister said.
Meanwhile, the 11 screening committees elected their chairmen on Thursday.
Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon was elected as chairman of the political affairs committee while former Senate speaker Meechai Ruchupan was named chair of the committee on national administration.
The chairmen of the other nine committees are: National Legislative Assembly (NLA) chairman Pornpetch Wichitcholachai for law and justice; Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda in local administration; Deputy Prime Minister Yongyut Yuttawong for education; Energy Minister Narongchai Akrasanee for economics; Deputy Prime Minister MR Pridiyathorn Devakula for energy; NLA member ACM Itthiporn Supawong for public health and environment; NLA member Gen Noppadol Inthapanya for mass media; former finance minister Somkid Jatusripitak for social affairs; and Natural Resources and Environment Minister Dapong Ratanasuwan for other areas.
Mr Meechai said criteria for selecting NRC candidates must not contravene the 2014 interim constitution.
If a panelist has close ties with a certain candidate, he should abstain from voting when that candidate's name comes up, he said.
Election Commission secretary-general Puchong Nutrawong said the screening process is expected to take place between Sept 13-22 and the NCPO is expected to pick from among the shortlisted candidates between Sept 23 and Oct 10.