A junta proposal for top military brass to be ex-officio members of an unelected Senate for five years is intended to prevent a coup, not stage one via the upper house as some fear, Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon said on Wednesday.
Gen Prawit, the defence minister and NCPO deputy chairman, elaborated on the plan concocted at a March 7 meeting of four of the so-called "Five Rivers" of power -- the junta, cabinet, National Legislative Assembly and National Reform Steering Assembly - to have the supreme commander, defence permanent secretary and commanders of the three armed forces serve as ex-officio senators.
The fifth "river" of power, the Constitution Drafting Committee boycotted the meeting.
Gen Prawit said the NCPO had its proposal because it did not want to see the recurrence of a coup d'etat. With the military top brass in parliament, MPs who are elected members of the House of Representatives will have a chance to talk and promote understanding, he said.
"MPs can explain to those military commanders about the administration of their parties. We want to do this for only a period of five years, for the most effective and transparent transition and for our future. We will walk together steadily," Gen Prawit said.
He added that there was nothing wrong with having the unelected Senate "because we will also have an election," referring to the House of Representatives.
Gen Prawit denied the proposal was tantamount to putting pressure on the CDC.
"It is not pressure. We will do this for only for the five-year transition so that concrete reforms can be achieved. This will be put in a provisional clause and we will not touch the main body of the constitution. So, there is no pressure on the CDC," he said.
Asked what would happen if the CDC rejects the NCPO's proposal, Gen Prawit said the "four rivers" had a reasonable plan and "If the CDC cannot do as requested, it has to explain why."
"In fact, the prime minister, as the NCPO chairman, has the power give orders. But he is a compromising person. True, we want democracy. But during the transition, he wants everything to proceed the way he thinks best," Gen Prawit said.
