Thai PM wants to study proposal on constitution amendment

BANGKOK, January 9 (TNA) – Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said Sunday that she needed more time to study in details on a proposal made by the government-appointed National Independent Rule of Law Commission (NIRLC) in appointing a panel to draft a new constitution instead of appointing a constitution-drafting assembly (CDA) and let the latter do the job. Disclosing that she only knows the NIRLC proposal to establish 34 members from various professions from the media, Yingluck said the idea is considered positive. However, Yingluck said she still needs to study the proposal in details while she wants to see that the general public participates in amending the 2007 charter. An idea to establish the CDA is also positive, she said, adding that knowledgeable persons must be invited to draft a new constitution. The government agrees on amending the charter as it is one of its major policies, but solving people’s hardships is now the most important issue. On attacks by the major opposition Democrat Party and members of the ruling Pheu Thai Party on appointing NIRLC members to draft the new charter, Yingluck said she would listen to opinions expressed from every party and only positive ideas would be implemented. Eventually, discussions are to be made and agreed by parliamentary mechanism, she added. (TNA)