Good clauses from previous charters can be used : Abhisit

“The new constitution drafting committee does not have to start from zero. They can bring in good and problem-free clauses from the draft rejected by the National Reform Council, or even from the constitutions of 1997 and 2007,” Abhisit said yesterday.

He said that writing all the clauses for the new constitution from the beginning would be a time-consuming process.

“They can save the time by not having to write all the clauses over again,” the former prime minister said. 

“They should focus on the problematic issues only. The public should be allowed to participate for transparency. This way, we will get a new constitution that society wants and the drafting process will be smooth.”

Abhisit said the content of the new constitution was more important than the names of the new constitution drafters. 

He said the drafters should be well aware that their final draft would have to get approved by voters in a referendum. Therefore, he added, the draft must be acceptable to the public.

The veteran politician said the new constitution drafters should have expertise in law. “More importantly, they must understand the country’s problems and have the mind for reform. 

“They should be ready to listen to viewpoints from all sides so that the new constitution will be acceptable to all groups of people.”

Abhisit suggested that the drafters set clear goals, including on reform, so that the draft could address the issues effectively.

“The questions must be clear. For example, political issues should focus on vote-buying and political parties. Then you will get clear answers to solve the problems,” he said.

Meanwhile, Deputy PM Wissanu Krea-ngam said the post-coup interim charter might be amended if the upcoming constitutional draft failed to get the approval of the public at a national referendum.

“The existing provisional constitution may be amended to state which of the past constitutions shall be reinstated,” he said.

Wissanu, in charge of the government’s legal affairs, said it was not sensible to continually write constitutions and hold referendums because the drafts failed to get the support of voters. “We can’t keep spending Bt3 billion again and again. Our country is not that rich,” he said, in reference to the cost of holding a national plebiscite.

In a related development, National Legislative Assembly member Taweesak Suthakavatin voiced support for fellow NLA members Surachai Liengboonlertchai and Klanarong Chantik to be named among the 21 new constitution drafters. He said that judging by their backgrounds, they were well qualified for the job.

Taweesak, a lecturer at the National Institute of Development Adminis-tration, said the new constitutional drafting committee should also include one or two members of the NLA.