The Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) has agreed to allow the National Reform Council (NRC) to propose key changes to the draft charter during a debate on Monday, CDC spokesman Kamnoon Sidhisamarn said.
National Reform Council chairman Thienchay Kiranandana, fifth from left, and other NRC members receive copies of the first draft of the new constitution from the Constitution Drafting Committee at parliament yesterday. The copies will be distributed to NRC members to study and prepare for the debate on the draft, which will be held from Monday until April 26. (Photo by Apichart Jinakul)
He was speaking after the CDC yesterday morning handed over the first draft of the 315-section constitution to the NRC for deliberation.
NRC chairman Thienchay Kiranandana accepted the 194-page document yesterday morning.
The NRC will spend seven days from Monday until next Sunday debating the draft charter section-by-section.
Mr Kamnoon said CDC members have no problem with NRC members debating changes to the draft charter.
However, it is up to the 36-member CDC to make a final decision on whether they make changes to the draft charter as suggested by the NRC, Mr Kamnoon said.
Alongkorn Ponlaboot, secretary to the NRC’s whip, said copies of the draft charter have been distributed to NRC members to study and prepare before the debate.
After the debate, NRC members will have another 30 days to propose changes to the draft, Mr Alongkorn said, adding that members of the public will also be given the opportunity to propose changes.
Mr Alongkorn said the charter provisions on reform and reconciliation are among the issues expected to be widely debated.
He said the NRC has been tasked with drawing up a blueprint for national reforms and presenting reform proposals for inclusion in the draft charter.
The debate will be broadcast live on the parliament’s radio and television channel, Mr Alongkorn said.
Other state- and private-run television channels will also be asked to relay the broadcast, he said.
Referring to the explosions near Siam Paragon on Feb 1 and a grenade attack at the Criminal Court’s car park on March 7, Mr Alongkorn insisted the recent violence would not deter progress on implementing the roadmap set for restoring democracy.
Following the explosions, security has been tightened for NRC members, Mr Alongkorn said.
"The NRC members are unfazed by the threat of violence. We want all groups to stop inciting unrest in the country. We are now halfway through the roadmap and we don’t want to see any delays," Mr Alongkorn said.
He urged political parties and groups to move past their bitter feuds, adjust their attitudes and work together constructively for the sake of the country.
Mr Alongkorn also commented on the government’s plan to invite experts from foreign countries to share their experiences about charter drafting and national reforms.
The NRC is willing to listen to foreign experts with diverse experiences in solving crises, he said.
However, the NRC is free to choose what is best for the country, he said, adding that the council is not dominated by the government.
Gen Prayut previously said the government plans to invite representatives from several countries including Germany and France to share their knowledge and experiences in charter drafting. The experts will be asked to provide their input from Monday until Wednesday.
Wanchai Sornsiri, another NRC spokesman, yesterday said that during the debate, the chairman of the NRC’s 18 reform committees will be given 30 minutes each to debate the draft charter, while the rest of the NRC members will be given 15-minute slots.
Lots will be drawn to decide who will debate first, Mr Wanchai said, and the results will be announced before Monday.
