Young CDA members back elected premier

Young CDA members back elected premier.

While other members of the Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA) have taken no clear-cut stand on whether a prime minister should be elected, the two youngest assembly members say they believe the head of government must come only from an election - a choice made by the people.

Phranakhon Rajabhat University student Saknarin Khueanon 22, one of the two youngest CDA members, told The Nation that he wanted a prime minister who is elected by Thai people.

"An elected PM will be acceptable because people elect him themselves. A PM appointed by some powerful people will be controversial and may cause more problems," said Saknarin.

Another young CDA member, Chaichay Sangsuk, a 21-year-old student from Nakhon Sawan Rajabhat University, agreed with Saknarin. They also want the new Constitution to set up a National Youth Council to help Thai students and juveniles come together.

Chaichay said students and juveniles had split into many groups and each had different ideas. As he did not want to see opposition among them, he envisions the council as the centre for hearing different viewpoints, said Saknarin.

"I will also work as a mouthpiece for youngsters and take their demands and opinions to the Constitution Drafting Assembly," Saknarin added.

Meanwhile, the Council for National Security (CNS) has ordered all universities in Thailand to nominate their officers to be National People's Assembly (NPA) members.

Each university had to nominate its president from qualified teachers and students who currently hold the post of university chairman of the Student Administrative Organisation.

Both Chaichay and Saknarin hold the respective posts at their own universities and after their qualifications were considered, they became NPA members. They were then elected by NPA members to be among the 200 nominees of 1,982 NPA members. For the last step, they have been elected to be among the 100 members of the CDA by CNS leaders.

"My parents are very proud of me. I will do useful things for the country as much as I can," Saknarin said.

"It can be said that being a CDA member is a glorious moment for me. I will perform my duty as best I can." Chaichay said.

They also mentioned that they were average in their studying abilities. They studied and did various activities together to gain experience, which would be useful for them in the future.

Wannapa Phetdee

The Nation
Thu, January 11, 2007