BANGKOK
A draft constitution being drawn up by a junta-appointed committee has been blasted by a former Thai prime minister previously seen to be in favor of last year's coup.
In an interview with The Bangkok Post on Monday, Democrat party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said that if the draft becomes law it "will snatch democracy away from the people."
"It will lead to fresh rounds of political conflicts," he added, and demanded that the constitution be the subject of a referendum once completed.
So far the junta -- which has led the country since the May 22 coup -- has ignored numerous calls for a vote on the constitution, including one from the committee chairman himself, legal expert Bowornsak Uwanno.
The 36-member committee is working on a charter blueprint to be approved by the 250-member military-appointed member National Reconciliation Council before September.
Among the latest proposals are a clause saying the prime minister could be a non-MP proposed by a majority of parliamentarians, another stipulating that Senate members be selected from pools of candidates nominated by ex-politicians and high-ranking civil servants (including military officers).
It has also proposed a German-style mixed-member proportional representation system for the elections, which would give more weight to small parties and result in coalition governments of multiple partners, as was the case in pre-1997 Thailand.
In the exclusive interview, Vejjajiva strongly rejected most of the new features, underlining that the proposed electoral system would "weaken political parties and strengthen the power of the executive branch."
"What is right is that parties must be strong and the executive branch must be scrutinized effectively," he told the Post.
Vejjajiva -- who led the country from December 2008 to July 2011 -- also criticized a clause that would allow a government to dissolve the house if certain legislative bills earmarked for a special fast-track process are not passed.
He lashed out at a proposal for the senate to be selected, particularly as its members are also given the power to impeach elected MPs.
"Those who will act on behalf of the people should also be given a mandate by the people," he said.
Vejjajiva underlined that any constitution should first be passed by the people; otherwise it will lack legitimacy and will only bring new political tensions.
"If it is not passed [by a referendum], the new charter will perpetuate conflict, particularly in matters relating to administration of power," he said. "No reform will last without legitimacy from the public."
A nationwide survey by the Office of National Statistics published by The Nation newspaper Monday showed that a majority of respondents did not agree with at least some points of the draft charter.
Of the 5,800 respondents, 70 percent said they did not want a non-elected prime minister.
