CDC chief to clarify on draft charter to foreign diplomats

BANGKOK, Oct 17 (TNA) -- Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) chairman Meechai Ruchupan and its members will clarify Thailand’s new draft constitution which is now in progress to foreign diplomats and representatives of international organisations next Monday, said a CDC spokesman. The spokesman said the clarification session would be held at the Foreign Affairs Ministry headquarters in Bangkok. On Friday, representatives of local independent organisations were invited to hear and give recommendations on obstacles and guidelines on drafting the new constitution, said the spokesman. They were briefed on how to develop political parties and make them more independent from influential people, how to prevent cheating during an election and on preventing state power from gaining advantages before an election, the spokesman said. Suggestions were also made to empower the Office of the Ombudsman on investigating any government agencies suspicious of indulging in corruption and allowing it to have a special budget in operations, the spokesman said. (TNA)