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Revised charter submitted to Thai government
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A Thai student colors a portrait of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej in Bangkok, Thailand, Oct. 18, 2016. (AP/Sakchai Lalit)
T
he new constitution with a revised preamble has been submitted to the government for royal endorsement, the chief charter drafter said Wednesday.
Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC) chairman Meechai Ruchupan said two changes have been made to reflect the current situation following the passing of King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
The revisions, suggested by the Constitutional Court, involve the royal signature and the Royal Family lineage, according to the CDC chief.
However, he refused to elaborate, saying it was up to the government to decide whether the information should be made public.
As per the schedule set in the 2014 interim charter, he said the government has up to Nov. 9 to seek royal endorsement for the promulgation of the new charter.
There have been concerns that the King’s passing may affect the promulgation of the new constitution. The road map by the post-coup government promised a general election and a return to civilian rule by the end of next year or no later than early 2018.
Ruchupan, meanwhile, said on Wednesday that any political party found to have received donations in exchange for political posts would risk being dissolved once the new Political Party Act goes into effect.
He said the new legislation would give the Election Commission (EC) power to investigate allegations of donations made to political parties for government posts. Once it has sufficient evidence, the EC is empowered to take the case directly to the Constitutional Court for an order to disband the parties involved, Ruchupan explained.
“The case does not need to be filed through public prosecutors,” he said, adding this system was aimed at expediting the process.
The CDC is writing four new laws, including the Political Party Act, to be promulgated with the new constitution. The new laws must be passed before the next election takes place.
As for the suggestion to the CDC that the leader of a political party found to have accepted donations in exchange for ministerial seats should be executed, Ruchupan said this was “feasible” though it would be difficult to prove such a wrongdoing.
He said this matter would be addressed in a new organic law on the National Anti-Corruption Commission, which will be written later.
“You need clear evidence to prove such wrongdoing,” he said.
Under the new Political Party Act, offences that could lead to the dissolution of a political party are: Moves against the country’ system of constitutional monarchy; move to overthrow the monarchy; accepting donations from non-Thais; accepting donations from an individual who encourages the ousting of the monarchy; and accepting donations in exchange for government posts.
Ruchupan said the ban on accepting donations from non-Thai nationals aimed to prevent |influence of foreigners over Thai politics.
“But we do not prohibit Thai expatriates living overseas from donating money to political parties,” he said, adding however that the CDC has yet to set the maximum limit for donations to political parties.
