Civic leaders see signs of backtracking
Voters place their mark before collecting and casting their ballot.
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With a secret ballot for controversial inclusions in a new charter planned for today civic leaders are worried the drafters will drag politics back to a less democratic era.
Non-elected prime ministers and senators are among recommendations to be voted on. Civic representatives see nothing to guarantee politics will be improved if the charter leaves room for these ideas. "The Constitution Drafting Committee is debating some issues that shouldn't have been issues anymore - such as where prime ministers come from and a national religion," activist Saree Ong-somwang said. Drafters should be more concerned about direct democracy giving people the right to vote for senators, leading non-governmental organisation member Rosana Tositrakul said. Giving power to select a prime minister or Senate to anyone or any group means the public will never be sure they won't select their people for their own benefit, Rosana said. "I have never agreed with appointing a group of people to select others. It's a very outdated idea," she said, adding society tended to be biased on extreme points. Instead of awarding power to special groups, Rosana sug-gested drafters bar privy coun- cillors from business. "It may lead to scandal whether [their business interests] are true or not. A privy councillor must be neutral when the country faces a crisis," she said. Rosana added the excessive use of the courts was dangerous. She said a charter must avoid giving absolute power to any one group but must create checks and balances for all those in power. Too much emphasis on judicial power will lead to another crisis, she warned. Rights activist Phairoj Pholphet agreed. Nothing guarantees the judicial system is free from intervention when involved in political decisions, said Phairoj, the secretary-general of the Union for Civil Liberties and a member of the National Economic and Social Advisory Council. Phairoj is worried about the origin of independent bodies and a tendency for society to put too much weight and expectation on the judiciary. Some drafters and many people may be afraid political representatives will have too much power in controlling independent bodies, he said. But, a non-elected Senate is not the answer. There should be another measure to prevent problems, he recommended. Phairoj helped the People's Network for Social and Political Reform gather proposals for the new charter. The network stands for elected prime ministers and senators. Phairoj suggested charter drafters require higher qualifications from those running for Senate. "For example, the constitution may require qualifications such as experience in working for the public interest," he said. As for the party list, Phairoj said the advisory council held 23 public hearings all over the country. Most opposed the party list. Rural people see it as a bastion of business. "In my opinion, I think there should be party-list members of Parliament to do legislative tasks while directly elected members look after the interests of their constituencies," he said. Rosana agreed because it helped smaller parties win representation.
Subhatra Bhumiprabhas The Nation
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