The rights and liberty clauses missing from certain sections of the draft charter will be spelled out clearly if this "comforts" the thoughts of people unnerved by their absence, says Constitution Drafting Committee chairman Meechai Ruchupan.
Mr Meechai said yesterday he understood people's anxiety when they failed to find the clauses spelt out in black and white in the draft.
However, they are built into another section of the draft which will in fact heighten the protection of people's rights and liberty.
The CDC chairman was commenting at a CDC-sponsored session to gather input about the draft charter in the Central Plains yesterday. The panel is taking public comments on the rights and liberty clauses until Feb 15 before moving on to other issues in the draft.
Environmentalists expressed concern at the lack of wording guaranteeing the rights and liberty of people, particularly with regards to the protection of the environment and livelihoods.
Mr Meechai said a legal requirement for an environmental impact assessment and environmental and health impact assessment to be conducted before developments begin is not mentioned in the draft. However, the requirement is already covered by other laws.
Mr Meechai earlier explained the rights and liberty clauses may be missing but there is a trade-off.
The CDC has written in a separate section under the duty of the state which says the government must ensure that the basic rights and liberties of people are protected, or face the legal consequences.
Such accountability is unprecedented in previous charters, he said.
"I'm under the impression that many people are anxious. So, we will add whatever appears to be missing and is causing people discomfort,'' Mr Meechai said.
He added the CDC has taken stock of the feedback as well as criticism that the draft charter, if promulgated, would be difficult to amend in the future. "We've noted that down also," Mr Meechai said.
Also yesterday, the Election Commission said it is preparing regulations for organising the referendum on the charter, tentatively scheduled for July.
EC member Somchai Srisutthiyakorn said the regulations would include punishments for offences such as paying people to vote and throwing parties for voters to influence votes.