Bhokin panel recommends final reading of charter change bill

A coalition panel yesterday resolved that the government proceed with the passage of the third reading of the charter amendment bill after launching public relations campaigns seeking support.

The committee studying charter amendments led by Bhokin Bhalakula held a meeting and came up with a four-point resolution.

First, the panel said the charter amendment bill, which is pending third reading by a joint sitting of MPs and senators, must proceed to the final reading, Bhokin told a press conference after the meeting.

Second, the panel will ask the government to start awareness campaigns to draw public support on December 10, which will mark the 80th anniversary of Thailand's constitutional system.

Third, the panel resolved that after a constitution drafting assembly - which will be set up following the bill's passage - has drawn up a version of a new charter, the draft will be put before the public for a referendum in line with an earlier Constitution Court ruling, Bhokin said.

Fourth, the panel resolved to have an entirely new draft written, and the panel decided that amendments of individual articles would be a matter for the future to be considered by Parliament later.

Bhokin said his panel would need more time to revise the wording of its report on how to amend the charter. The revision would be done by December 17 before it could be sent to the government.

He said he believed the government would spend about a month or two to campaign for public support for the passage third reading of the charter amendment bill.

In July, the Constitution Court rejected a petition filed against supporters of the government-backed amendment bills but also resolved that the entire charter could not be rewritten without a public referendum. But some government figures said it was just a suggestion, and not a verdict.

Meanwhile yesterday, appointed Senator Prasarn Maruekapitak said he believed the third reading of the charter amendment bill would rekindle protests and political conflicts. He said the bill's passage would lead to the same dispute over whether the writing of the new charter was aimed at helping former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Prasarn said he had learned that the coalition would push for passage of the bill during the next parliamentary session, which begins on December 21.

He said he had learned that the coalition had lobbied elected senators to support the bill with promises to write a new charter to benefit elected senators.

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Source: http://www.news.thethailandlinks.com/2012/12/04/bhokin-panel-recommends-final-reading-of-charter-change-bill/