Meechai yesterday said the names would be made public soon. He expected it to take a week for all new representatives to report for duty.

Officials were ready to register assembly members, he said.

Once registration was completed the NPA would meet for the first time either at Impact Arena or the Navy Auditorium.

They would be expected to nominate 200 of their number

to be considered by the Council

for National Security for membership of the 100-strong Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA).

The new NPA members include Chirmsak Pinthong, Karun Sai-ngarm, Wijit Yusuparp, Banchern Singkhaneti, Pradit Charoenthai-thawee, Decho Sawananon, Somkid Lertpaithoon, Thong-thong Chantharangsu, and Seri Suwanphanon.

Meechai said it had taken time to select and nominate NPA members because the process had been by sector and region.

Picking a CDA will move swiftly from now, he said, adding the drafting of a new Constitution would take about six months.

A source said His Majesty the King signed a royal command appointing the 1,982 NPA members on Saturday. A total of 1,989 people were nominated but seven were not qualified.