Banjerd said he had no idea what the reason was for not allowing the seminar. “But this would bring about a negative image (to the junta),” he said.

He said the seminar aimed to dissect the constitution over politics and human rights and the overall outlook of the whole charter.

CDC spokesman Chartchai na Chiangmai who also works as a Nida lecturer, said he had not seen Nida make one negative comment over the charter draft since it began the drafting process. “Banjerd and Nida helped take part in drafting many charters. I do not believe the institute would present only the negative side of the draft,” he said.

Speaking at a meeting on preparation of annual budget for the fiscal year 2017 held yesterday, Prayut, who is also National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) chief, asked everyone to reduce spending to boost the country’s revenues. “Every person in the nation, especially civil servants, must help find ways to raise our income to exceed spending … From fiscal 2015 budget, we have to tighten our budgets,” Prayut said.

The country has not had enough money to cover its spending as shown in its deficits over the past few years.

Prayut said every project proposal at the initial stage must show forecasts and strategies on how much return on investment would be received. “Any proposal that can be implemented within the planned timeframe might be revoked so that we can use the budget to spend on other projects instead, he said. He also emphasised that we must be prepared in areas such as human resources, research and development and social welfare how to respond to the global economic revolution.

He said that this year, the NCPO would have to complete some of reforms that were easy to carry out while moving ahead with the country’s 20-year strategic plan simultaneously.

There would be also an assessment every five years.

“We also raised matters that needed their help. For instance, we asked them to tell the government to stick to the road map,” the source said.

“They can help us in this regard. In fact, they have already been stressing this with the government.”

Murphy reportedly met with a group of activists, including academic Nidhi Eoseewong, on Wednesday and yesterday.

“I don’t know why this time news of the meetings was leaked. It could be that they took a commercial flight this time,” the source said.

Murphy and other embassy officials had earlier met with red-shirt leaders and other groups of activists involved in the recent political crisis. Red-shirt leader Korkaew Pikulthong, who is also a politician from the Pheu Thai Party, said it was normal for foreign missions to meet with various groups of people to discuss topics of mutual interest, including progress on drafting the new charter.

The foreign embassy officials that he had talked to had also sought his opinion on the new draft charter, he said.

He said the Election Commission (EC) does not have the authority to issue regulations against offenders for wrongdoings such as tearing up ballot papers or blocking elections, point out that only the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) could write a decree on a referendum or the PM could resort to Article 44.

He explained that the 2009 charter organic law could not be used to hold a referendum on the draft charter.

However, Wissanu said it was not likely that people would be banned from campaigning against the charter.

“We may have a provision stating that those who violate the EC would face punishment,” he said.

The EC will also be meeting Wissanu to discuss the ambiguity about majority votes in the referendum.

EC member Somchai Srisuthisyakorn said the commission was scheduled to meet Wissanu, the Council of State and related agencies next week at the request of the NLA after it rejected EC’s proposals on regulations for the plebiscite.

He said the EC and other concerned agencies would decide whether or not to seek a Constitutional Court ruling on the referendum vote criteria — if it is the majority votes of eligible voters or the majority of votes cast.

He said there were actually four options: to ask the interim charter writers to clarify the point; to have the government seek a Constitutional Court ruling; to get the NLA to clarify the ambiguity; have the government do nothing, which may give rise to negative criticism for its inability to clarify the law.

Somchai said critics had pointed out that the draft charter gave too much power to independent agencies, but added that this was not true with the EC because its power had been greatly reduced. For instance, under the new charter, the EC will no longer be able to issue red cards against election candidates.

He said he will meet the EC’s legal team today to seek recommendations about the draft charter and will call a meeting with the rest of the commissioners on Tuesday to endorse revised recommendations and forward them to the Constitution Drafting Commission.

THE CONSTITUTION Drafting Commission (CDC) yesterday faced a long list of inquiries in regard to its drafting work on the new charter from members of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) and the National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA) during their meeting at Parliament yesterday.

The inquiries challenged almost all of the sections the CDC has introduced, ranging from a new single-ballot electoral system, the MPs, the senators, the PM candidates lists, as well as the empowered Constitutional Court.

The drafters were asked to explain to them, for instance, how the newly proposed electoral system is better than the others, as well as how the new draft could deal with corruption or electoral fraud. Also, they asked about the transitory provisions that would to some extent determine the fate of the so-called “five rivers”.

The drafters responded to some of the inquiries and promised to give further explanations in the form of proper documents because some issues were complicated and would take time to explain.

The CDC yesterday met formally with the NLA and the NRSA with the principal purpose of explaining to them the content of the charter draft before they make formal recommendations and submit to it by mid-February.

The CDC had released its initial charter draft last week and is currently working to publicise its work to the public so they could also give opinions on the draft.

“Before we started working on this draft, we had consulted concerned agencies and concluded that we should work on whole new content so that it would not be tied with any limitation of any previous version. It must be perfect, and it must be tight, with the goals to achieve solutions for corruption, lack of discipline, as well as loose law enforcement,” chief drafter Meechai Ruchupan said at the beginning of the meeting.

Meechai said the charter draft follows Article 35 – the framework of constitution writing – of the interim charter very strictly. The points included mechanisms to keep corrupt people away from politics. Besides, the drafters also had taken into account that the three major challenges for the country were – corruption, discipline, and law enforcement. Hence, the CDC had crafted the new constitution accordingly.

Meechai explained point by point how articles in the new charter will serve the framework. With regard to corruption, for instance, the Election Commission is empowered to issue yellow cards to fraud-prone candidates. Besides, the qualifications and disqualifications of electioneers are also more intense.

Regarding the lack of discipline and the poor law enforcement, Meechai explained that reform plans on education and the police could work to boost them.

He also clarified on the contentious points that have been drawing criticism. On rights and liberties, Meechai reassured they were not less than what were provided in previous constitutions. More importantly, they addressed properly the state’s duties to make sure those rights could be enjoyed.

On the issue of prime minister which many fear would pave the way for an outsider, Meechai explained that the candidates must be proposed only by political parties and must be approved by the House.

The CDC, he said, cannot stipulate to prohibit a non-MP because on the day the lists are proposed, nobody is really an MP as an election has not taken place yet.

Meechai conceded that many points raised by the NLA and the NRSA members made him aware of the charter content. His team had noted them and would table them for serious contemplation, he said.

The meeting lasted for around two hours before being wrapped up. NLA member Surachai Liengboonlertchai said the assembly would take the CDC’s explanations into consideration in its recommendations, set to be made tomorrow at the NLA meeting. The NRSA, meanwhile, is scheduled to do the same next Monday.

Despite a long list of inquiries, the overall mood at the meeting was calm and it was conducted smoothly.

The visit was conducted after the United States and other countries agreed to lift an economic embargo on Iran early last month. The embargo was imposed in 2012 in an effort to curb Iran’s nuclear programme.

In a press conference, Somkid said he considered this visit successful and a big step toward closer and better cooperation between the two countries.

“The meeting is a big step towards greater bilateral economic cooperation. Iran has great potential in many aspects including natural resources and human resources. Thailand could support it in the development of production and services,” he said.

“Hence, this connection will be fruitful for both countries. Also, the Thai premier has insisted that the focus is put on maintaining sustainable relations and friendship, rather than just trade benefits,” Somkid said, adding that he personally was willing to promote Iran as a tourist destination.

Shariatmadari said the visit had shed a light on Thailand’s sincerity and commitment to cooperation with Iran, adding that the Thai team’s determination to develop trade in a brother-and-sister style is greater than just business cooperation.

This is the starting point of proper relations, he said, adding that Iran wanted Thailand to help in the development of human resources and nano technology. Both leaders witnessed the signing of six pacts on bilateral cooperation including on trade and nano technology at the dialogue.

Shariatmadari also commended Thailand for maintaining relations with Iran over the past 60 years despite certain incidents.

In a separate interview, Don said Iran also hoped to see an exchange in prisoners. There are about 200 Iranians in Thai prison, while there is one Thai being detained in Iran. Don will have his ministry’s concerned departments look into the request, while the Justice Ministry will make a decision on details.

“The prime minister asked me to convey to media and people that he regretted his outburst on Tuesday,” he said. He was also worried [about public sentiment], but we also should understand that he is working under pressure due to high expectations of the people.”

Asked why Prayut had not apologised to the public personally, Sansern said the premier was busy and he needed more time to think about the matter.

Reporters at Government House said Prayut remained in his office the whole day and allowed only Army chief Theerachai Nakvanich to meet him yesterday.

One of the prime minister’s New Year resolutions was to try to be a “good guy” at least in the eyes of the mass media by avoiding hot-tempered exchange of words with critical reporters. That resolution seems to have been broken whenPrayut was furious when asked about the draft charter and election road map issues.

During the February 2 encounter, Prayut was visiting a number of booths at Government House highlighting innovative creations from various government units before the weekly Cabinet meeting. He was apparently not in a good mood as observed by some Government House reporters.

While responding to a question/answer session following the Cabinet meeting in the afternoon,Prayut lashed out after hearing a comment by Meechai Ruchupan, chairman of the charter drafting commission, who said if the new charter did not pass in the referendum, the country might have to use a much tougher version of the highest law.

The premier was also upset about a question on whether the new constitution court would have too much power. He banged on his podium twice to the surprise of many reporters. He also complained that his government had been working hard over the past two years but the media still do not trust his sincerity.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister’s Office has begun restructuring its publicity strategy by stressing proactive methods and opting for more online and social media channels to reach the masses.

The restructuring project is called the “State’s PR is Sincere and Determined to Dispel Public Problems and Boost Wellbeing”.

PM’s Office Minister Panadda Diskul has instructed the government’s PR Department and the Office of the PM’s Permanent Secretary to have all state PR agencies change their approach.

The PR offices are required to analyse the social, economic and political situation regularly and use this analysis to help ward off problems in according with government instructions.

The PR offices must redefine their strategy so as to project a good image of state agencies and the country, as well as improve or develop websites and publicise their work on Facebook and other social media outlets. They are also required to have information ready to provide to the public or those interested in the work of the agencies.

Under the guidelines, the offices are also required to monitor and evaluate daily news related to their agencies and provide reports to their superiors.

They must also deal with negative publicity via an integrated system to minimise the damage.

People can visit new websites, such as govchannel.go.th, to access information on state agencies, while an application detailing government services called GAC can be downloaded via iTunes or the Android app store. Other gadgets are also available via the government kiosk. A video clip providing more information can be watched at https://youtu.be/7lLIndArZ60.

Somchai went on to explain that the EC had four options in dealing with the clarity issue, adding that if the criteria and voting methods for a public referendum in the interim charter were not clear, then the government should ask the drafters of this charter to explain the regulations.

He said it was necessary for the drafters to clarify whether they wanted a majority of eligible voters or the majority of the ballots cast to determine the win.

If the government does not wish to amend the interim charter on this point, then it should seek a Constitutional Court ruling, he said, adding that the government could ask the NLA to amend the interim charter to clarify this point.

Somchai said he believes the NLA should not have rejected the EC’s proposal, and instead rewritten it because drafting regulations was the assembly’s job.

The EC will meet on February 9 to discuss its next move.

Somchai went on to say that Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam had told the EC earlier that he would discuss the issue, but had not set a date yet.

Separately, the EC rejected former EC secretary-general Puchong Nutrawong’s appeal against his dismissal and is suing him for libel instead.

EC specialist Thanit Sriprathet said the commission had its legal division file a complaint at Thung Song Hong police station on Monday accusing Puchong of defamation. Puchong’s contract was terminated after he allegedly failed an annual performance evaluation and frequently delayed the completion of his work.

Puchong then turned to the media, saying he had been dismissed due to a conflict of interest over the printing of the previous draft charter. He also called on anti-corruption bodies to check the printing process for the sake of transparency.

The EC, meanwhile, is seeking applications for Puchong’s replacement. Applicants are expected to be politically neutral, honest, between the age of 45 and 65, experienced in management and have achievements.

Those who qualify include the deputy director-generals of state agencies, deputy governors and deputy secretary-general who have been at the post for no less than two years.

Those from the private sectors must show evidence that they have managed companies earning a revenue of more than Bt2 billion a year.

Those ineligible include political party members, party founders or those who have held positions in political parties over the past five years. Applications will be accepted from February 8.