January 7th, 2007, 07:16
Despite the impatience of many, the CDA seems on its way to accomplishing its goals, as promised. I can't say, however, that by ignoring "issues" such as making the PM appointed will solve anything. They should take a hard look at the last administration and instead of patching things here and there, get down to solving the problem. After all, the last constiturtion, on which it says this new one is being modelled, addressed the problem and failed to solve it. Will this go on and on? It sounds to me that the people behind the bombings may at least cause a too hurried re-drafting of the constitution.
CDA on fast track to new charter
The Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA) should complete its work in four months and not six as previously planned, its member Noranit Sethabutr said yesterday.
"The new constitution will be modelled on the 1997 Constitution," he said, explaining the time-saving process.
Noranit, strongly tipped to chair the CDA, said the public had no reason to worry about whether the charter writers could meet the 180-day deadline.
The Interim Constitution is quite clear about instructions for charter writers to follow in order to ensure the successful completion of their job, he said.
The actual drafting will take no more than four months, while another month will be needed for holding a referendum, he said. After the referendum, it will take about a month to draft organic laws, he added.
To expedite the drafting process, a series of public forums have been organised to solicit opinions on the new constitution, he said.
Charter-writers are expected to iron out issues like the future role of the Senate and the rule on 90-day party affiliation as a prerequisite to contesting elections, he said.
Another CDA member, Pornchai Dheppanya, said he did not anticipate any delay in the charter's drafting.
The 35 charter-writers, including 10 appointed by the Council for National Security, will come from the academic community and are well known to the public, he said.
He urged the relevant parties to focus on ways to improve the political system rather than widening the debate to cover new issues, such as installing an unelected prime minister. He also said reconciliation was the way to leave political animosity behind.
To achieve reconciliation, the judicial review on electoral fraud involving two major parties, the Thai Rak Thai and the Democrats, should penalise individual executives instead of their parties, Pornchai said.
"The dismantling of one or both parties would inflame social division," he said.
The Nation
CDA on fast track to new charter
The Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA) should complete its work in four months and not six as previously planned, its member Noranit Sethabutr said yesterday.
"The new constitution will be modelled on the 1997 Constitution," he said, explaining the time-saving process.
Noranit, strongly tipped to chair the CDA, said the public had no reason to worry about whether the charter writers could meet the 180-day deadline.
The Interim Constitution is quite clear about instructions for charter writers to follow in order to ensure the successful completion of their job, he said.
The actual drafting will take no more than four months, while another month will be needed for holding a referendum, he said. After the referendum, it will take about a month to draft organic laws, he added.
To expedite the drafting process, a series of public forums have been organised to solicit opinions on the new constitution, he said.
Charter-writers are expected to iron out issues like the future role of the Senate and the rule on 90-day party affiliation as a prerequisite to contesting elections, he said.
Another CDA member, Pornchai Dheppanya, said he did not anticipate any delay in the charter's drafting.
The 35 charter-writers, including 10 appointed by the Council for National Security, will come from the academic community and are well known to the public, he said.
He urged the relevant parties to focus on ways to improve the political system rather than widening the debate to cover new issues, such as installing an unelected prime minister. He also said reconciliation was the way to leave political animosity behind.
To achieve reconciliation, the judicial review on electoral fraud involving two major parties, the Thai Rak Thai and the Democrats, should penalise individual executives instead of their parties, Pornchai said.
"The dismantling of one or both parties would inflame social division," he said.
The Nation