A sub-committee tasked with gathering public opinion on a charter rewrite referendum plans to forward draft questions on charter amendments to MPs and senators to answer next month, panel chairman Nikorn Chamnong said.
In a telephone interview, Mr Nikorn said a copy of the questions will be delivered to individual MPs and senators for review when parliament reconvenes next month.
Mr Nikorn's panel is said to have presented three questions to the Senate committee on political development and the House committee on political development during separate meetings on Monday and Thursday.
They ask if the current charter should be amended in its entirety except for Chapters 1 and 2, or if the amendments should be made section by section; and if a constitution drafting assembly (CDA) should be set up to write a new charter.
Chapter 1 contains sections defining Thailand as a single, indivisible kingdom with a democratic regime with the King as the head of state, while Chapter 2 stipulates sections pertaining to royal prerogatives.
During the discussions with the parliamentary committees, Mr Nikorn reportedly asked MPs and senators how many referendums they think are required for a charter rewrite.
Based on a Constitutional Court ruling, at least two are to be conducted if a new charter is written.
Meanwhile, the House committee on political development has set up a sub-committee to study CDA election systems, said its chairman, Parit Wacharasindhu.
Mr Parit, a Move Forward Party (MFP) MP, said the sub-panel is tasked with examining the way in which CDA members are elected to ensure the body is inclusive.
The study report will be submitted to the government-appointed committee on charter rewrite referendums, he said, adding it is expected to help the government decide if all CDA members should be directly elected.
Mr Parit said the 10-member sub-committee includes two representatives from the opposition -- himself included -- two from the coalition government, three from the academic community and three more from civil society.
He said he spoke with Mr Nikorn in his capacity as chairman of the House committee on political development, not as a member of the MFP.
The party is due to meet the public opinion-gathering committee on Nov 14.
Mr Nikorn's panel is one of two sub-committees under the government committee to study the design of the referendums headed by Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai.
It is expected to finish gathering public opinion by the third week of December, with the summary to be forwarded to the government early next year.
