The committee, chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, comes under the Super-Committee, which was set up after the PM invoked Article 44 of the interim charter last week. The Super-Committee oversees four panels. The other three committees, also chaired by the premier, focus on strategic administration, 20-year strategy and reconciliation respectively.

Suvit was speaking after meeting with representatives of the NRSA and the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) at Government House yesterday to prepare for next week’s workshop.

The first meeting of the newly set up committee will focus on driving the different reform agendas in the same direction.

Suvit said all reform agendas and proposals would be classified and prioritised at next week’s meeting. Some items may require the enactment of a law, while others may require another approach to help accelerate the implementation procedure.

The committee is also expected to discuss tentative budget issues, and the Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC) will also be invited to ensure that the said reform plans are in line with the new constitution, Suvit said.

Reconciliation essential

Meanwhile, the committee tasked with preparing for reconciliation, which is overseen by the premier and Deputy PM General Prawit Wongsuwan, is expected to have its member list ready within this week.

According to Defence Ministry permanent secretary General Chanchai Chang-mongkol, Prawit wants the member list to include political and legal experts. Chanchai heads a subcommittee under Prawit’s committee.

Meanwhile, NRSA vice president Alongkorn Ponlaboot explained that without reconciliation work, other agenda such as reform would not be successful.

The junta, the government, the CDC, the NRSA and NLA have joined forces to work on resolving deep-seated problems such as corruption, and are trying to come up with political reform.

The effort should now focus on tackling problems at the root, which grew into huge political conflicts, he said.

Alongkorn said it was essential to allow participation and encourage involved parties, especially political blocs, to suggest solutions for these problems.