New powers have been proposed for the Office of the Ombudsman in the draft charter, including the ability to request that the cabinet take action against any state agency which fails to perform its duties.
The proposed role, which includes the power to act against high-ranking authorities, would make the office a key state inspector, said Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam, though he admitted it was still difficult to say whether the Office of the Ombudsman would become "a powerful independent organisation".
Among the proposed powers is the duty to ask the cabinet to take action against state agencies failing to carry out their functions as stated in the charter. If the request falls on deaf ears, the office can begin processes to impeach cabinet members and sue them for dereliction of duty, Mr Wissanu said.
The Ombudsman is also authorised to investigate state officials or state agencies for alleged criminal activities and to recommend the government make legislative amendments, including martial law amendments.
The charter would also enable the Office of the Ombudsman, along with other independent organisations, to draft ethical standards to keep their behaviour as well as that of cabinet and parliament members in check, he said.
In short, if the draft charter is approved, the ombudsmen will become a "behavioural standard setter" for top authorities, national inquiry officials, the country's inspectors of 20 ministries, 140 departments and 50 state enterprises as well as help the people in processing complaints, Mr Wissanu said.
However, whether the position will become more powerful depends on how effectively it can carry out these new roles, he said.
The importance of ombudsmen was questionable in the past, Mr Wissanu said, recalling his role in helping draft a charter in 1991 when some drafters suggested ombudsmen were not necessary.
The 2007 constitution granted ombudsmen more duties and their importance became apparent, he said.
Ombudsmen should communicate with people and work closely with allies, including members of the media, he added.