MFA:Provisional Charter shows Thailand is on right track

BANGKOK, July 23 (TNA) - The provisional Constitution, endorsed by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej on Tuesday evening, proves to the international community that Thailand has implemented its roadmap and kept to the timetable of the plan. Foreign Ministry Spokesman Sek Wannamethee, who is also Director-General of the ministry's Department of Information, acknowledged Thailand's positive development on Wednesday. The 17-page interim Charter, containing 48 sections, has been promulgated after it was published in the Royal Gazette on Tuesday evening, at 7.40pm. Earlier, His Majesty the King bestowed the royally-approved interim Charter on Thai Army and National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) Chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha at the Klai Kangwon Palace in seaside Hua Hin District of Prachuap Khiri Khan Province in the Upper Thai South at around 4.52pm on July 22. Interesting sections of the provisional Charter include Section 35 that bans those convicted or officially found of corruption and electoral frauds from holding a political position and prohibits populist policies. Section 44 that authorizes the NCPO to issue necessary orders with legislative, executive and judicial effects, Section 6 that requires a national legislative assembly with up to 220 members whom His Majesty the King will appoint, as proposed by the NCPO, and Section 19 that authorizes His Majesty the King to appoint a nominated prime minister. Meanwhile, the NCPO legal team, including an NCPO legal advisor, Visanu Krue-ngam, the NCPO's head for legal and justice affairs General Paibul Khumchaya, who is also Assistant Army Chief, and Ombudsman Pornpetch Wichitcholchai, elaborated the interim Charter to the public through nationwide live television and radio broadcast on Wednesday morning. (TNA)