Yingluck proposes national reform council to recommend reforms

Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has announced an initiative to establish the National Reform Council (NRC) before the year ends, something that is demanded by the opposition groups.

But it may not be enough to satisfy the opposition groups, particularly the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) and its leader Suthep Thaugsuban who wants reforms to be carried out before the general election is held.

In a statement, Yingluck said NRC is not a government's forum and its formation is based on feedback from various forums held in the last two weeks.

In various reform forums, an idea of establishing a body for national reform has been proposed which could be carried out in parallel with the general election to be held on Feb 2, 2014, as scheduled in the Royal Decree, she said.

She said if the parties agree, the government will only establish the council by an order of the Prime Minister's Office and will be acknowledged by the Cabinet to ensure that the process can begin immediately.

She also outlined a format for the formation of the NRC, which she said aims to provide for an exchange of discussions and dialogues from every sector.

The Government will compile comments and suggestions for further improvement and issuance of command (for the formation) before the end of the year, she said.

Selection of members of the National Reform Council will begin with the recruitment of 2,000 representatives from various professions, who will then select 499 members of the National Reform Council, she said.

Qualifications, criteria, application method, recruitment and appointment of representatives of professional groups, as well as selection of members of the National Reform Council will be determined by an 11-member commission, she said.

She said the first member of the Commission is the Supreme Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces or a representative of the Supreme Commander, two Permanent Secretary-level persons nominated from the meeting body of permanent secretaries of the ministries and head of agencies, while another member will be the Secretary-General of the National Economic and Social Development Board.

The other members include one university president nominated from the meeting body of the Council of University Presidents of Thailand, Chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce or a representative, Chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries or a representative, Chairman of the Thai Bankers' Association or a representative.

Yingluck said among the responsibilities of the NRC are to study and prepare proposals for the amendment of the Constitution, which may include preparation of a draft amendment of the Constitution; and to study and prepare proposals for the national economic and social restructuring, and to study and prepare proposals on people s participation in public administration.

They are also to study and prepare proposals for amendment or abrogation of law, rules, regulations or commands in order to ensure fairness and transparency of elections in every level, selection and appointment of persons for various positions, exercise of government authority, and inspection of government s use of power.