MFA:Thailand's national reform toward general election is on progress

BANGKOK, January 28 (TNA) - Comprehensive national reform in Thailand toward the new general election next year has been on progress. Foreign Ministry Spokesman Sek Wannamethee told journalists on Thursday that the Thai government is determined to follow its roadmap on the comprehensive national reform in order to achieve a firm democratic system, a unity in the society and national stability. Under the official roadmap, the spokesman acknowledged, Thailand's new general election will be held in June 2017 and a newly-elected government will be formed about a month thereafter. The spokesman stated that Thailand's Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) is preparing to disclose in details the first Charter draft to the public on July 29, 2016 and will later gather opinions from local people for amendments in the final draft, set to be completed in April 2017 before a public referendum. The spokesman anticipated that Thailand's new Charter draft should be accepted by every sector in the country, as it tries to prevent any repetition of past problems. The spokesman pointed out that over the past one year since the Thai military ruled the country, its interim administration has submitted 164 draft laws to the National Legislative Assembly (NLA), designed to support the national reform and respect international agreements. The spokesman's remarks were in response to a report issued by the New York-based Human Rights Watch on January 27, alleging the Thai military junta of tightening its grip on power and repressing people's fundamental rights, while calling on the army-led National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to respect human rights and return the country to the elected civilian rule. “The Thai government is disappointed because the report was not based on facts and did not reflect the progress on national reform, which has advanced considerably", said the spokesman. "The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs views the Human Rights Watch's report as the one issued by a non-governmental organisation and the issue about Thailand was only a part of the entire report. The spokesman insisted there is no difference between the adjudication process in the Thai military court and the civilian courts, as the military court also provides the accused or defendants with basic rights just as they are entitled to in civilian courts. "At the moment, civilians can only be tried in the military court if their actions fall under one of four types of offences, including crime against the Thai monarchy and national security, as well as those relating to war weapons and the violation of NCPO orders", explained the spokesman. (TNA)