Describing it as undemocratic, House Speaker Chuan Leekpai on Tuesday expressed his disagreement with a provision in the constitution that lets six military and police top brass take dual roles as senators. His message triggered intense debate and drew fierce resistance from some in the Senate. But it is not spot on. If the House Speaker wants to advocate for a "democratic" Senate, his proposal for changes to the charter needs to be bolder and more to the point.
It is not just the direct appointment of these six men in uniform as senators by the now-defunct National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) that goes against democratic principles. The making of current and future senators, as prescribed by the NCPO-sponsored constitution, is absurdly undemocratic.
In addition to the de facto positions granted to the six men, the charter also let Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, in his capacity as the junta's leader, handpick 244 senators. Without a doubt, the current Senate members, who are serving a five-year term, are pro-junta figures, as well as friends and family of regime members.
The charter allows all of them to join the Lower House in voting for a new prime minister. Last June, all of them showed their loyalty to Gen Prayut by voting him back in as the nation's leader.
Even after this first five-year period, senators will still be drawn from a select number of professional groups. In a country where cronyism and patronage are rampant, such a process hardly serves the public's interest, instead placing power in the hands of the selection committees.
It is understandable that, as a member of a coalition government party, Mr Chuan chose to limit his provocation by signalling support for the most conservative change to the Senate. But removing the six men is not enough if he wants democracy in the Upper House. He should call for the removal of all senators. And as the Lower House panel prepares to discuss amending the constitution, their focus should be on fixing sections that govern how senators are selected.
Since their appointment last May, the senators have not proved their worth. They remain best known for their role in facilitating the return to power of Gen Prayut, as well as their rebuking of the opposition.
Quickest to oppose Mr Chuan's remark was Senator Seri Suwanpanont, who said the composition of the Senate must be "untouchable" during the debate on amending the constitution. It will come as no surprise if all his fellow senators line up behind this stance, because they know that they hold crucial power in the process. In order to have a charter amendment motion passed in parliament, approval must be given by one third of the Senate in both the first and third readings, otherwise all efforts will end in deadlock.
Looking on the bright side, Mr Chuan's proposal may be a tactical step in the short term to break this deadlock, by trying to convince at least one third of the senators to agree with an amendment to remove the six men from the Upper House and then keep them on board on other proposals.
The public and media should also exert pressure on the senators, helping them to come to their senses in serving the public interest by supporting constitutional amendment motions that will do away with the current structure of the Senate and bring back direct election of senators. This move would restore the requirement stipulated in the much-lauded "People's Constitution" of 1997.
It would also give us a people's Senate that releases the junta's lingering stranglehold on the Upper House.
