CDC restores the right of communities to manage local resources
THE constitution drafters have yielded to pressure from civic groups and activists by restoring the right of communities to manage their natural resources and environment.
A source from the Constitution Drafting Commission said the panel has agreed to revise the relevant clauses to reinstate this right, which appeared in the previous 2007 constitution.
The new draft charter will now guarantee communities’ right to take part in the management and maintenance of their natural resources and environment, as well as the use of the local biological diversity, according to the source.
Meanwhile, Government Spokesman Maj-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd insisted yesterday that Army territorial defence students have been assigned to try and create a better public understanding of the constitution and the significance of the upcoming charter referendum but they will not try to influence how people vote.
Public misunderstanding
Sansern voiced concern over the public’s misunderstanding of the Reserve Officers and Training Corp volunteer project, explaining that its aim is to educate people about the controversial content in the draft constitution.
He said the project had been executed since October.
It was recently rumoured that the Army was using the students in a bid to influence voters so they gave the green light to the draft constitution. But Army commander-in-chief General Teerachai Nakwanich said last week that there was no attempt to mislead people.
He claimed that the move was designed to encourage people to “exercise their voting right”, adding the students were not going to monitor voters at polling booths.
“Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha has instructed the Army to be neutral and not try to influence the voters,” the government spokesman said.
“He also asked the public to understand the Army’s intention, which has no hidden agenda.”
