Abhisit vows no govt interference; dismisses rumours of PAD influence
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday promised "full freedom" to the constitution amendment committee and freedom from government intervention in its work.
He was speaking during a meeting with committee members at Government House, panel chairman Professor Sombat Thamrongthanyawong said.
Sombat said after the meeting the prime minister discussed with panel members the scope of their work. Some committee members asked the premier whether the panel would be allowed the freedom to do its job.
All except one of the 19 committee members attended the meeting with the prime minister for 20 minutes, after which they convened their first meeting. The lone absentee, Nanthawat Boramanand, was on an overseas trip.
The prime minister afterwards dismissed rumours that some members of the Sombat panel would withdraw. He said that Sombat had told him nobody had withdrawn. All committee members were approached and nominated by Sombat himself, Abhisit added.
In response to criticism that most committee members sympathise with the yellow shirts, the prime minister pointed out that the People's Alliance for Democracy was against constitutional amendment.
"But this committee is looking into amending the Constitution," he added.
The committee has been tasked with reviewing the charter amendments designed to improve the political system as part of the reconciliation process.
The committee's scope of work comprises three aspects: review the six issues for charter amendment earlier recommended by the parliamentary committee on political reconciliation, strengthen the political system, and encourage public participation in charter changes.
Sombat said the PM told the panel it could propose changes other than the six issues if it found them of benefit or to be important for the country.
He said the prime minister did not give a deadline for his panel to complete its work but panel members were aware the government wanted all committees set up as part of the reconciliation plan to begin sending their recommendations to the government in October.
"We can submit part of our recommendation to the government within that timeframe, and we will continue working on the remaining areas that need more time to complete," said Sombat, who is president of the National Institute for Development Administration.
Sombat said yesterday's meeting of his panel resolved to form three subcommittees to take charge of each of the three aspects of work.
The first, led by Chulalongkorn University's Law Faculty dean Sakda Thanitkul, is in charge of the six issues and others for charter amendment. The second subcommittee, led by academic Sawaeng Boonchalerm-wipat, is responsible for the review of the political system. The third, led by former government spokesman Chaiya Yimwilai, is in charge of encouraging public participation in the process.
The committee has scheduled its next meeting for June 30 to debate work plans to be submitted by the three subcommittees.
In response to criticism that he and many on his panel lacked neutrality, Sombat said he was proud of his status as an academic who expressed his views independently.
"I can't help it if my views are similar to those of some political groups," he said.
The academic warned that politicians who incited hatred between people of differing political views were "a serious problem" for the country.
Somsak said his committee would welcome viewpoints from any group, including those politicians, but that no more panel members would be appointed. He did not think it necessary for his committee to have equal numbers with differing viewpoints.
Committee member Wuthisan Tanchai said he expected a greater involvement of the public sector to assist in the committee's work. He also hinted that a referendum vote might be necessary at some point in the charter rewriting process.