The government on Thursday lashed out at members of the Constitution Drafting Committee and the National Reform Council for stating they believed a referendum was needed on the new constitution.
"The CDC needs not say anything because a public referendum is neither the matter nor duty of the drafting panel," Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngarm said. "It is the matter for the cabinet and the National Council for Peace and Order to decide."
Mr Wissanu's rebuke came after comments by CDC chairman Borwornsak Uwanno, who said Tuesday that the majority of the constitutional drafters and NRC members agreed that the public should get the opportunity to give the new charter a thumb's up or down.
"The CDC's job was finished once it completed drafting the new constitution," Mr Wissanu said. "The cabinet and NCPO can take into consideration its suggestions on why a referendum should be held, but the decision ultimately is up to them."
Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngarm
Asked if politicians who oppose certain parts of the draft would be allowed to submit their opinions, Mr Wissanu said it will be up to the CDC whether or not to accept them.
He said constitution's critics and dissenters could formally submit their recommendations to the cabinet, NCPO and the NRC, which will screen and forward them to the drafting panel. Suggestions can also be sent directly to the CDC, but he said that was an unofficial channel.
He said the cabinet and the NCPO will submit their comments on the new charter to the CDC on May 25. The CDC must amend the draft by July 23 and submit the final version to the National Reform Council. The NRC will spend 15 days reviewing it and then vote on Aug 6.
Mr Borwornsak earlier said if the government wants the draft to go to a referendum, it requires three months of preparation, which would delay anticipated elections from early March to May.