NCPO will select National Reform Council members

– Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community

PHUKET: The National Council for Peace and Order yesterday clarified its decision to cancel the appointment of a 14-member committee to select the 250-member National Reform Council.

NCPO spokesman Colonel Winthai Suvari said the committee was disbanded because Article 30 of the interim charter empowered the NCPO to select the members itself.

The NCPO on Thursday appointed the committee that was supposed to select the NRC.

Its members were General Tanasak Patimapragorn, General Surasak Kanjanarat, General Udomdej Sitabutr, Admiral Narong Pipatanasai, ACM Prajin Juntong, General Jiradej Mokkhasmit, General Chatchai Sarikallaya, General Paiboon Koomchaya, General Worapong Sanganet, Admiral Chumnum Ajwong, Admiral Jakchai Poocharoenyos, ACM Sritpong Komutanont, Pol General Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit and General Uthit Sunthorn.

Winthai said that although there were a number of applicants, the NRC selection committees were short-listing them so that the nominees represented diversity in terms of occupation, social sectors and region.

He said the selection committees had to check the background of nominees during the initial stage of the selection process in line with standard procedures.

The final NRC selection committee was not needed because the NCPO had a team of specialists and advisers to help them select the NRC, he said.

Election Commission deputy secretary-general Boonyakiat Rakchartcharoen said the NCPO’s decision would not affect the selection process as the junta had the authority to select the NRC.

He said the selection committees had nominated some candidates, so the EC had forwarded their names to the NCPO. It would submit the rest of the names on Tuesday. Meanwhile, former deputy Senate speaker Anan Ariyachaiphanit has filed a complaint with the Election Commission – calling on it to investigate the National Reform Council selection process.

Anan said the fact that some members of the NRC selection committee in Surin were relatives of NRC applicants might not be fair to him and others NRC candidates.

He demanded that concerned officials check the selection process to ensure good governance in line with Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha’s policy that the process must be transparent without collusion or the fixing of candidates.

Election Commission deputy secretary-general Boonyakiat Rakchartcharoen said the agency would instruct the NRC selection committee in Surin to respond.

— Phuket Gazette Editors