Feedback for first draft next on the agenda
First draft finalised, no debate on de facto amnesty for junta
The first draft of the 2007 charter was finalised Tuesday, after a last-minute attempt by a constitution drafter to discuss the negative repercussions of allowing a de facto amnesty for the military junta who staged the September 19 coup was denied by Constitution Drafting Committee chairman Prasong Soonsiri.
Drafter Supot Kaimuk Tuesday said the issue had become a "hot potato" since it was t revealed last week and that the committee should perhaps discuss it. However, Prasong intervened to make sure no discussion take place. Prasong will hand the first draft to Chairman of the Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA) Thursday but the official hand over ceremony will likely be held on April 26. The Assembly, along with many organisations, will be required by the junta-penned interim constitution to provide feedback and reaction for a possible amendment. Other organisations required to provide feedback include all the so-called independent organisations under the 1998 charter, the three courts of law, the Cabinet, the junta-appointed National Legislative Assembly, the Council for National Security (CNS) and some 150 plus universities across the kingdom. Already, two pressure groups have vowed to reject the charter if it does not accommodate their wishes. An alliance for people with disabilities say they wanted a clearer wording that would guarantee them "rights to accessibility". It didn't appear in the first draft finalised Tuesday, but drafter Choochai Suphawongse promised to look into it and said there's still time to have it added into the second draft. Another is the more controversial Buddhist group who is urging the new charter to recognise Buddhism as the state religion. Prasong Tuesday accused a political group of being behind the on-going protest in front of Parliament, but failed to name it. "Our chance of succeeding is fair," said Phra Panyamethee of Wat Chadraram, a senior monk, and one of leaders the group. "We don't want do anything harsh because the government and the CNS are fragile." The monk said although some politicians may be offering support or donations, it's against the practise of monks to refuse it. However, he denied the protest is being mastermind by anti-junta elements. Concerns that making Buddhism the national religion would lead to greater discord or even conflicts between Buddhist and believers of other religion, especially Islam, the monk replied: "Buddhism is not like other religions. It is rather compassionate and can co-exist with other religions well."
Pravit Rojanaphruk The Nation
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