Thai PM sets one-year framework for NRC

BANGKOK, September 4 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha wants the National Reform Council (NRC) to finish its work within a year. General Prayuth, who is also Army and National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) Chief, gave the policy to committees tasked with selecting national reform councilors at a meeting held at the Army Club in Bangkok on Thursday, telling them to do their duty fairly and honestly and base their selection on knowledge, capabilities and achievements of candidates. The prime minister acknowledged that it is difficult to select the maximum of 250 candidates for the NRC from a total of 8,000-9,000 of them nationwide, suggesting that selecting the NRC's total 250 members based on their knowledge, capabilities and achievements help guarantee maximal benefits of the nation. The prime minister also recommended that selected National Reform Councilors should represent various sectors in the Thai society so that they could propose a variety of opinions. Present at the meeting included NCPO deputy chiefs, election commissioners and new Cabinet mebers. The selection committees are, meanwhile, scheduled to propose their shortlisted candidates to the NCPO for further consideration by October 2. (TNA)