Activists object to non-elected Thai PM

BANGKOK, March 16 (TNA) - A group of activists, called “Free People of Thailand 15”, has expressed its opposition to the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC)'s first draft Charter on a non-elected prime minister and the indirect election of senators. The group's leader, Akarakrit Noonjan, submitted a letter to CDC Spokesman Khamnoon Sitthisamarn on Monday morning, saying that his group disagrees with the first draft Constitution on allowing a person not directly elected by voters to become a Thai prime minister and on forming the Upper House with indirectly-elected senators. The group cautioned that a non-elected prime minister could create an adverse impact on public policies because he or she would not have first-hand experiences in people’s problems. The group also pointed out that it would be a waste if concerned authorities would have to change the making of Thai Lower and Upper Houses'members in the future if the indirect election of senators was allowed. Khamnoon insisted that CDC is listening to all opinions, explaining that the first draft Constitution could not be changed until all opinions gathered, including those of the National Reform Council (NRC), would be discussed during the last 60-day period of the drafting process, from May 25-July 23, 2015. According to the spokesman, CDC will begin publicising the first draft Constitution and listening to public feedback early next month, starting in Chiang Mai Province in the Thai North from April 3-4, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province in the Thai South from May 2-3, Khon Kaen Province in the Thai Northeast from May 16-17 and Bangkok from May 23-24. (TNA)