Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BANGKOK56
2007-01-04 10:24:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:
CONSTITUTION DRAFTING ASSEMBLY FORMED
how-toVZCZCXRO8709 OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM DE RUEHBK #0056 0041024 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 041024Z JAN 07 FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3764 INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS PRIORITY RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 6503 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON PRIORITY 1618 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RHHMUNA/USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 000056
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/04/2017
TAGS: PGOV KDEM TH
SUBJECT: CONSTITUTION DRAFTING ASSEMBLY FORMED
REF: 06 BANGKOK 7490 (FIELD NARROWS)
Classified By: Political Officer David R. Greenberg, reason: 1.4 (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 000056
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/04/2017
TAGS: PGOV KDEM TH
SUBJECT: CONSTITUTION DRAFTING ASSEMBLY FORMED
REF: 06 BANGKOK 7490 (FIELD NARROWS)
Classified By: Political Officer David R. Greenberg, reason: 1.4 (d).
1. (U) On January 1, a royal command appointing the 100
members of the Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA) came into
force. The 100 members, selected by the Council for National
Security (CNS) from a field of 200 short-listed by the
National People's Assembly (reftel),will have 180 days from
the date of their first meeting to complete a draft
constitution, subsequently to be submitted for a referendum.
Thailand's interim constitution provides that, should the CDA
fail to meet this deadline, the CDA "shall cease to function
and the (CNS) shall hold a joint meeting with the Council of
Ministers to consider and revise one of the previously
promulgated Constitutions... within thirty days as from the
date of the referendum..."
2. (U) The CDA consists of 20 representatives of the private
sector, 19 academics, 16 representatives of the social sector
and media, 16 representatives of public sector and state
enterprises, nine former Senators and representatives of
independent agencies, eight local politicians, eight judges
and former constitution drafters, and four provincial
governors. Two of these members are former police Generals,
one is a former Navy Admiral. The CDA will soon choose 25
people to serve on a Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC).
Although the interim constitution states that these 25 do not
need to be members of the CDA, the widespread presumption is
that the CDA will choose from its own membership. The CNS
then will appoint 10 other CDC members. On December 20, the
cabinet endorsed a royal decree stipulating that the CNS's 10
appointees must have a background in charter writing.
3. (C) Comment: CNS Chairman General Sonthi Boonyaratglin has
publicly expressed a preference for including certain
provisions in the next constitution. Given the CNS's
dominant role in selecting the members of the CDA, it appears
likely that the CDA will accord significant weight to CNS
views. We believe that Thai civil society will pay close
attention to CDA deliberations, however, and that CDA members
cannot easily disregard popular sentiment on controversial
issues. We will follow the CDA's work with great interest.
BOYCE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/04/2017
TAGS: PGOV KDEM TH
SUBJECT: CONSTITUTION DRAFTING ASSEMBLY FORMED
REF: 06 BANGKOK 7490 (FIELD NARROWS)
Classified By: Political Officer David R. Greenberg, reason: 1.4 (d).
1. (U) On January 1, a royal command appointing the 100
members of the Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA) came into
force. The 100 members, selected by the Council for National
Security (CNS) from a field of 200 short-listed by the
National People's Assembly (reftel),will have 180 days from
the date of their first meeting to complete a draft
constitution, subsequently to be submitted for a referendum.
Thailand's interim constitution provides that, should the CDA
fail to meet this deadline, the CDA "shall cease to function
and the (CNS) shall hold a joint meeting with the Council of
Ministers to consider and revise one of the previously
promulgated Constitutions... within thirty days as from the
date of the referendum..."
2. (U) The CDA consists of 20 representatives of the private
sector, 19 academics, 16 representatives of the social sector
and media, 16 representatives of public sector and state
enterprises, nine former Senators and representatives of
independent agencies, eight local politicians, eight judges
and former constitution drafters, and four provincial
governors. Two of these members are former police Generals,
one is a former Navy Admiral. The CDA will soon choose 25
people to serve on a Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC).
Although the interim constitution states that these 25 do not
need to be members of the CDA, the widespread presumption is
that the CDA will choose from its own membership. The CNS
then will appoint 10 other CDC members. On December 20, the
cabinet endorsed a royal decree stipulating that the CNS's 10
appointees must have a background in charter writing.
3. (C) Comment: CNS Chairman General Sonthi Boonyaratglin has
publicly expressed a preference for including certain
provisions in the next constitution. Given the CNS's
dominant role in selecting the members of the CDA, it appears
likely that the CDA will accord significant weight to CNS
views. We believe that Thai civil society will pay close
attention to CDA deliberations, however, and that CDA members
cannot easily disregard popular sentiment on controversial
issues. We will follow the CDA's work with great interest.
BOYCE