Thailand | Junta appoints constitution committee in likely effort to bar Thaksin

Thailand’s Prime Minister Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha

Thailand’s military-installed government appointed a committee yesterday to draft the country’s new constitution amid speculation that it will seek to bar former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his allies from politics.
The 36-member panel consists of law experts, academics, former senators and others with close ties to the military and traditional conservative establishment. The appointment came more than five months after the military, led by Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha, toppled an elected government headed by Thaksin’s allies.
Prayuth, now Thailand’s interim prime minister, said yesterday the charter drafting will focus on people’s participation, but his government has not given any indication that there will be a public referendum once the constitution is written.
Thailand has suffered from political instability since 2006, when an earlier military coup ousted then-Prime Minister Thaksin for alleged corruption, abuse of power and disrespect for the king. Supporters and opponents of Thaksin have struggled for power since then at the ballot box and in the streets, sometimes violently.
Prayuth suggested last month that the country’s next elections may not occur until 2016, although he earlier set a target date of October 2015. He had also previously announced a roadmap calling for a new constitution in July 2015.
A military-dominated interim legislature was appointed in July, and a 250-member National Reform Council dominated by people close to the traditional ruling elite was seated last month to help give input for the new constitution.
Since taking power and abolishing the previous constitution, the army appears to be carrying on the fight of Thaksin’s opponents by instituting extensive political reforms aimed at blocking his return to power. It has quashed most dissent, threatening or arresting critics of its coup.
Analysts say the new charter will likely aim to uproot Thaksin and his allies from politics, a task that a 2007 constitution failed to accomplish after the 2006 coup. AP