'Faults in set-up of new NHRC'

A humanrights group yesterday called on the Senate to review the setting up of the new National Human Right Commission since the selection process might be unconstitutional.

Article 243 of the Constitution authorises the Supreme Court to have a panel set up a humanright commission, but the court cannot have a judge sit in this panel, they said.

"It might be contradictory to the Constitution to have former judges in the selection panel," they said in an open letter to the Senate's scrutinising committee.

The humanrights group, comprising of wellknown activists such as Somchai Homlaor and Mahidol University's academic Sriprapha Petcharamesree, want the Senate to publicise the backgrounds of all seven members of the commissioners selected and open a forum for them to display their vision of human rights.

A human rights commission should have sound knowledge of the principle and be free from any political bias, they said.

The new human rights commissioners chosen from more than 130 applicants include antialcohol campaigner Taeching Siripanich; former senator Niran Pitakwatchara; former charter drafter Prinya Sirisarakan; Constitutional Court secretarygeneral Paiboon Varahapaitoon; former police chief assistant Pol General Wanchai Srinualnat; Human Security Ministry's inspector Wisa Benjamano; and Chulalongkorn academic Amara Phongsapich. The Senate will endorse the commissioners if the scrutinising committee approves of their qualification.

However, the humanrights group did not specify who they thought did not qualify. Pokpong Lawansiri from ForumAsia, who attended meeting with the Senate yesterday, said many selected commissioners lacked experience in the field of human rights.

"Article 256 of the Constitution clearly says that the humanrights commissioners should have solid background and experience in the field," he said.

Chairman of the Senate's scrutinising committee, Teerachit Sathirotmavong, told the humanrights group that he would be opening forum for the seven selected commissioners to voice their vision. However, he said, he was still considering if the public should be allowed to listen in.