Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha urged political factions to tone down their rhetoric Sunday as criticism against the draft charter grew louder, with two major political parties, Democrat and Pheu Thai, being the latest to join the chorus of dissent.
Gen Prayut said the charter drafting process was still in progress, and nothing was written in stone. He said charter drafters would have a lot of talking and arguing to do yet.
"It is not yet a law. It is not yet a constitution. It is still in the drafting process," he said.
Among the contentious points in the draft charter are a proposal to allow the appointment of a non-elected, "outsider" prime minister to defuse a political crisis; a provision that calls for senators to be selected; a clause that allows political groups to contest polls; and changes to the election system that are widely seen as a move to reduce the seats of major political parties.
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Democrat heavyweights on Sunday reiterated a call for the draft charter to be endorsed by a public referendum before it goes into effect. The party's deputy leader, Korn Chatikavanij, said he insisted voters must have a say in the new constitution.
"It is important to engage the public in the charter drafting process by allowing them to vote in a referendum. Give them a choice. Don't force their hands into accepting it," he said.
Mr Korn also questioned the merit of the proposal to limit the selection of senators to some groups of people.
Under the draft charter, half the Senate will consist of former high-level politicians, bureaucrats and former heads of professional organisations such as prime ministers, military commanders, court presidents or labour union leaders. The other half will be nominated by a screening committee and chosen by a so-called People's Assembly, together with executives and members of local administrative bodies.
Mr Korn pressed the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) for a better explanation than the one it offered: that previously elected senators were dominated by political parties, and those who were opposed to the new system had something to lose.
He called that justification "narrow" and said the CDC should say why the public should allow a handful of people to select senators for them. Under a direct election, people are responsible for their choices.
"Even though the proposals contain several strengths, they should allow others to speak up and voice disagreements," he said.
Deputy Democrat leader Sathit Pitutecha said the CDC's proposals are several steps backward, and he is concerned it would derail the National Council for Peace and Order's (NCPO) roadmap to democracy.
"I want the new charter to be in compliance with the roadmap — that is, we have elections in 2016. If the draft charter is rejected by the National Reform Council (NRC) or by the people, in the event of a public referendum, we will be back to square one and the military will stay longer," he said.
He called on the CDC not to focus on short-term solutions such as designing an election system that brings about a coalition government, while ignoring the possibility that it might create problems in the long run.
He said the CDC should "listen to the people and political parties" before it unveils its final draft.
Former Pheu Thai MP Worachai Hema also echoed the call for a referendum, especially on the appointment of an outsider prime minister and on the selected Senate.
He said he was concerned such a proposal would trigger a protest and lead to political disorder.
Somkid Chuakong, a former Pheu Thai MP, said Gen Prayut needs to prudently consider the charter draft for the sake of the country's unity.
CDC vice-chairman Sujit Boonbongkarn said the interim charter does not require that a new charter must be put up for a referendum. The issue is for the NCPO to decide.
He said the CDC will consider suggestions submitted by various groups. He added the draft is expected to be completed before the Songkran holiday. He said issues that are not inserted in the new charter will be forwarded to the NRC or the National Legislative Assembly for consideration.
CDC member Kamnoon Sidhisamarn said four issues are not finalised due to differing opinions among the charter drafters. They are the proportion of female politicians in parliament, health reforms, mechanisms to drive national reforms and impeachment of political office-holders.
