Thailand's Constitution Drafting Committee appears to have found a way to unify the long-divided nation -- with the final draft of what could be the country's next constitution.
The draft is being roundly criticized as undemocratic.
The committee on Saturday submitted its work to the National Reform Council, an independent body that has been in charge of enacting political and social reforms since the military staged a coup in May 2014.
The council will vote Sept. 6 on whether to approve the draft and its 285 articles. If the council approves it, the draft will be put to a referendum to be held in January. If it then wins a majority of the vote, Thailand's new constitution will take effect.
The draft introduces a scheme that would allow an "independent" organization to supersede the government so that public order can be restored more quickly should the political situation become too unstable.
This organization, however, would pave the way for the military to intervene in political decision to break deadlocks.
Article 259 calls for The National Committee on Reform and Reconciliation Strategy to be established. The stated aim of the committee is to carry out reforms, curb hostilities among the people and realize reconciliation.
The controversial clause is Article 280. It would grant emergency powers that could last as long as five years. According to the provision, the reconciliation committee shall be authorized to take all necessary actions required to remedy a situation on behalf of the cabinet, when and if two-thirds or more of the committee members agree to it. All decisions and actions taken by the committee would be deemed legal.
This powerful committee would have no more than 23 members, including the supreme commander of the armed forces, the heads of the army, navy, air force and police, one former prime minister and one former lower house chairman.
Elected leaders would have only three seats on the committee -- the prime minister as well as the lower and upper house chairs.
Thailand's Constitution Drafting Committee appears to have found a way to unify the long-divided nation -- with the final draft of what could be the country's next constitution. The draft is being roundly criticized as undemocratic. The committee on Saturday submitted its work to the National Reform Council, an independent body that has been in charge of enacting political and social reforms since the military staged a coup in May 2014. The council will vote Sept. 6 on whether to approve the draft and its 285 articles. If the council approves it, the draft will be put to a referendum to be held in January. If it then wins a majority of the vote, Thailand's new constitution will take effect. The draft introduces a scheme that would allow an "independent" organization to supersede the government so that public order can be restored more quickly should the political situation become too unstable. This organization, however, would pave the way for the military to intervene in political decision to break deadlocks. Article 259 calls for The National Committee on Reform and Reconciliation Strategy to be established. The stated aim of the committee is to carry out reforms, curb hostilities among the people and realize reconciliation. The controversial clause is Article 280. It would grant emergency powers that could last as long as five years. According to the provision, the reconciliation committee shall be authorized to take all necessary actions required to remedy a situation on behalf of the cabinet, when and if two-thirds or more of the committee members agree to it. All decisions and actions taken by the committee would be deemed legal. This powerful committee would have no more than 23 members, including the supreme commander of the armed forces, the heads of the army, navy, air force and police, one former prime minister and one former lower house chairman. Elected leaders would have only three seats on the committee -- the prime minister as well as the lower and upper house chairs.
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