BANGKOK, 24 April 2015 – Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-Ngam is planning to seek the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC)’s consideration whether trivial sections of the draft charter should be omitted.
Mr Wissanu revealed the progress of the Cabinet’s and the National Council for Peace and Order’s review of the draft constitution, saying they have initially gone over the main contents. Nonetheless, the two bodies have resolved to hold another joint session in order to come up with solid conclusions to be presented to the CDC in due course.
The deputy premier also opined that about 20-30 of the 315 sections contained in the charter should be left out, given that they are less significant compared to others. Alternatively, he suggested that such contents, if necessary, could be included in organic laws instead. The idea is expected to be proposed to the CDC very soon.
As for the holding of referendum on the draft charter, Mr Wissanu said the matter is considered a sensitive issue and no decision has been made by the government. Since such a referendum would inevitably cause the next election to be postponed, it is feared that the delay could be used by political groups to accuse the government of holding on to its power.
