About 100 people will be invited to participate in a political reformforum to be held by the Thai Government on December 15, Prime Minister’sOffice Secretary Thongthong Chandrangsu said on December 13.
Thongthong, who was assigned by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra toorganise the forum, said these people will represent both the public andprivate sectors.
They include the seven businessorganisations, permanent secretaries of all ministries, the mass media,political parties, university rectors, appointed and elected senators,and representatives of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC)and the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD).
The forum is intended to lead to the formation of a political reform committee that would consist of 400-1,000 people.
Meanwhile, the PDRC leader Suthep Thaugsuban said the committee willorganise a public forum on December 14. He also announced plans toestablish a people’s council with 400 members. The council will map outreforms for the country before a general election is held, possibly inMay 2015.
The same day, Puea Thai leader CharupongRuangsuwan suggested a referendum should take place in case the generalelection planned for February 2 cannot be held.
If this happens, a national referendum could help voters find a way out of the political deadlock, he said.
However, he urged the Democrat Party to participate in the electionand leave Thailand ’s political future in the hands of voters.
The opposition Democrat Party is to hold its congress soon to discusswhether to join in the February election, as well as to elect theirleadership and propose ideas for reform.-VNA
Thongthong, who was assigned by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra toorganise the forum, said these people will represent both the public andprivate sectors.
They include the seven businessorganisations, permanent secretaries of all ministries, the mass media,political parties, university rectors, appointed and elected senators,and representatives of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC)and the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD).
The forum is intended to lead to the formation of a political reform committee that would consist of 400-1,000 people.
Meanwhile, the PDRC leader Suthep Thaugsuban said the committee willorganise a public forum on December 14. He also announced plans toestablish a people’s council with 400 members. The council will map outreforms for the country before a general election is held, possibly inMay 2015.
The same day, Puea Thai leader CharupongRuangsuwan suggested a referendum should take place in case the generalelection planned for February 2 cannot be held.
If this happens, a national referendum could help voters find a way out of the political deadlock, he said.
However, he urged the Democrat Party to participate in the electionand leave Thailand ’s political future in the hands of voters.
The opposition Democrat Party is to hold its congress soon to discusswhether to join in the February election, as well as to elect theirleadership and propose ideas for reform.-VNA
