Referendum a big worry for charter writers

Constitution Drafting Assembly chairman Noranit Sethabutr yesterday voiced concern that the plebiscite on the new constitution might present the most challenging hurdle in the drafting process.

He reminded his fellow charter writers that the draft could be easily rejected if the voters found even one or two provisions objectionable.

"The road ahead is not strewn with rose petals but thorns," Noranit said.

"Don't think that the referendum is an easy matter for casting a yes-or-no vote because the draft will have to address so many contentious issues and some people will never be satisfied unless they can be convinced to look at the document as a whole," he said.

Noranit was speaking after a signing ceremony to launch a campaign to solicit people's opinions on what they wanted to see in their new supreme law. Campaign participants include King Prajadhipok's Institute, the PM's Office and the National Economic and Social Advisory Council.

Meanwhile, Constitution Draft-ing Committee chairman Prasong Soonsiri told members that they should refrain from criticising any agreement once it is passed as a resolution of the panel.

"Once the meeting has come to a conclusion, I hope you all will accept the resolution. I don't want us to quarrel with one another because we have had only three meetings so far," he said.

Prasong's remarks came after some CDC members failed in an attempt to bar all members except Prasong and the committee's four speakers from talking to the media.

Noranit yesterday urged members of the public to make their aspirations known via public hearings.

"Charter writers must learn and heed public opinions now as ideas raised after the completion of the first draft would be too late for incorporation," he said.

He reminded all parties to articulate their wishes.

He said the preliminary draft should be unveiled by mid-April followed by the 30-day vetting. The complete draft should be ready by June to allow time for the plebiscite.

The Nation
Thu, February 1, 2007