Junta seeks foreign expert advice on democracy while forbidding criticism of new draft charter

The Thai junta issued a new order to establish a committee to cooperate with foreign experts on democratic development while still prohibiting criticism of the new draft constitution.

Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, the junta leader and Prime Minister, last Thursday issued Order No. 4/2015 of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to establish a working committee whose function will be to cooperate with other national agencies to seek advice from foreign experts about solutions to the political crisis and democratic transition.

Order No. 4/2015 was published in the Royal Gazette in Thursday.

According to the order, the committee will comprise eight members: an NCPO member as committee chair appointed by the NCPO head, a Deputy Prime Minister appointed by the Prime Minister, a Deputy President of the National Reform Council (NRC) appointed by the President of the NRC, a Deputy President of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) appointed by the President of the NLA, a Deputy Chair of the Constitutional Drafting Committee (CDC) appointed by the Chair of the CDC, the Permanent Secretary of the Foreign Ministry, the Secretary-General of the Council of State, and the Secretary-General of King Prajadhipok's Institute as committee secretary.

In addition to seeking advice from foreign experts, the committee will cooperate with tertiary educational institutions, King Prajadhipok's Institute (a national political think-tank) and other governmental agencies to study the flaws of the 1997 and 2007 constitutions.

Section 2 of the order states that lessons and advice from experts must not contravene international democratic principles, including the democratic system with the monarch as head of state and Thai governing customs.

Moreover, the order points out that the advice from experts must not be related to criticism of the draft constitution.

“[Advice] must not be related to criticism of the drafting of the new charter and must not affect the progress of the process to pass the draft constitution,” says the Order.

Order No. 4/2015 further states that people should understand the junta’s attempts to solve Thailand’s political crisis and build a long-lasting democratic system.

“Without first building awareness and understanding [of the junta’s reform phases], it will only lead to conflicts, which will affect harmony and the reconciliation process, affecting the development of the democratic system,” states the junta’s Order.

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