A newly elected government could face legal punishment under the new constitution if it fails to carry out reforms initiated during this government, Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) chairman Meechai Ruchupan says.
Mr Meechai said this would be in line with the cabinet's recommendations.
He said Thursday the CDC is considering a charter stipulation for such penalties to ensure the government's reform proposals will be implemented by future elected governments.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha called for a guarantee that newly elected governments follow the current government's guidelines on national reform during the proposed five-year transition to civilian rule, Mr Meechai said.
He said the draft charter would prioritise which reform proposals are urgent and stipulate specific time-frames for their implementation. This would guarantee the newly elected government must comply.
For example, the new charter may stipulate an education initiative be implemented to provide education to pre-school children within three years. During the first year of the education reform, the current government would carry out the task, and the newly elected government would do the rest in the remaining two years, Mr Meechai said.
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"This is the meaning of the so-called transition period," he said. "We may also add a clause stipulating penalties against any governments which fail to implement reforms to protect the sanctity of the constitution."
Mr Meechai reiterated that the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), the cabinet, and all bodies set up under the interim charter such as the National Legislative Assembly, and the National Reform Steering Assembly, will be dissolved after the newly elected government takes office.
Regarding the cabinet's proposal for special mechanisms to handle situations during the transition period, Mr Meechai said such mechanisms would be "compulsory and it is in line with the law", and they would be included in the new charter's provisional clauses.
Such a mechanism, for example, would follow the law governing the state's monetary and financial discipline.
Ex-premier Chavalit Yongchaiyudh on Thursday called on the NCPO to relinquish power and hold elections to restore democracy this year, instead of 2017. In an open letter, Gen Chavalit, widely known as "Big Jiew", accused the military regime of causing more conflict and economic hardship.
"Since you have already fulfilled your peacekeeping role, it is now time for you to hand over power to a neutral committee comprising members from various sectors to arrange for an election to be held in 2016 so an elected government will be formed," Gen Chavalit wrote in the letter.
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Asked about the possibility of the NCPO staying on for another five years in a "transition" period, Gen Chavalit said he did not see how it would be possible.
"If the NCPO stays on, it would be like some governments in the past which were greeted with flowers on arrival and stoned while leaving."
