Long haul for reforms
Thai Rak Thai Party deputy leader Bhokin Bhalakula yesterday outlined a time frame for amending the Constitution to make way for a new round of political reform.
He told a press conference at TRT headquarters his plan called for the establishment of a Political Reform Assembly to complete the job in one year. The draft prepared by the assembly would be subjected to a referendum, he said.Bhokin, a former House of Representatives speaker who is assigned to prepare the blueprint, said yesterday his plan set aside one month for amending Section 313 of the Constitution to allow a Political Reform Assembly to amend the charter. Then it would take two more months to fill the 120 seats in the proposed assembly. Bhokin said it would consist of 90 representatives from various groups of people from all provinces, 20 experts and specialists, and 10 representatives from the 31 registered political parties. According to his plan, the assembly would spend six months drafting the amendments. Then it would take another two months to hold a referendum on the new draft. Bhokin's plan calls for the House of Representatives to be annulled 30 days after the amended draft gets majority support in the referendum. Bhokin said if the draft fails to get majority support, the process would start again with the formation of a new Political Reform Assembly. Members of the old assembly would be prevented from taking part in a new one.
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