The reason: So many want to become committee members and take part in the process to help bring peace and reconciliation, NLA member General Akanit Muansawad said yesterday.

He said the NLA was screening outside candidates and a large number had applied to become committee members. The National Reform Steering Committee’s political reform had nominated three people.

“We have to screen members carefully. I do not have authority to approve, but every one in the committee must agree on members otherwise we might quarrel from the first meeting,” he said.

Besides, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha must also approve the list of committee members.

Akanit said the list should be finalised and the committee set up within this month.

He dismissed criticism that the soon-to-be set up panel would decide on granting amnesty to those involved in political conflicts.

Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, who is also National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) deputy chief, dismissed the significance of the NLA’s special committee to establish a peaceful and reconcilable society.

He said the reconciliation must be initiated by the NRSC not the NLA. “The NLA oversees the country’s legal affairs,” he said.

Prawit rejected a proposal from political parties to allow them to hold political meetings.

“They have not been given permission [to hold meetings] because the charter draft is not yet completed,” he said.

He said the government would wait and see if it would allow political party meetings before a public referendum, as urged by the Election Commission (EC). The EC has been calling on the junta to loosen its grip in the run up to a public referendum in order to facilitate freedom of expression. People needed time to debate the drawbacks and advantages of the charter draft to get full information before going to the poll.

“We are not sure yet [on the timing of a referendum]. It depends on the country’s situation at that time,” Prawit said.

Prawit dismissed concern about a move by major political parties to campaign for voters to reject the charter draft in the plebiscite.

He said the new charter should be different from previous charters. “If we have everything the same way and the country is back to square one, do you want that to happen?” he said.

Prawit also dismissed criticism from politicians that the charter draft gave too much power to independent agencies.

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam was not optimistic about allowing political parties to hold meetings, though he said the government would think over the idea.

He said politicians had already been making comments about the charter draft in an up-front manner. “They have the right to do so and we thank them for doing so. But if we allow them to speak out officially, it is as if allowing them to legally instigate people,” he said.

NLA president Pornpetch Wichitcholcha said as president he would not stop Akanit from establishing a special committee even though the PM has expressed concern about opposition from some sectors of society.

“The PM had said that it was not yet time [to have the committee],” he siad.

Some NRSA members have opposed the move since they believe it is the responsibility of their assembly not the NLA.

“As NLA president, since some NLA members want to establish it, I support them if they do not cause any damage to the country. I will not stop them. If they cannot continue, they may stop by themselves,” he said.