The attempt to adopt a mixed-member proportional election system ...

55
versity’s University Council), who was the chairperson of the CDA. This group had
long helped the Democrat Party in various legislative processes.
23 Pairote was retired high-ranking civil servant. He used to be provincial governor,
director general of the community development department and deputy permanent
secretary of the Ministry of the Interior. Pairote was later appointed to the Political
Development Council, which had been established based on the 2007 constitution that
he helped to draft.
24 Woothisarn used to be a lecturer at the faculty of social administration of Thammasat
University. At the time of the CDC, he was a deputy secretary general of the King
Prajadhipok’s Institute (KPI), whose college of local government development he had
previously directed. He had been a long-standing and instrumental member of the decentralization
committee since its inception following the 1997 constitution. In 2007,
he was the editor of the fourth KPI yearbook, entitled Exploring the 2007 Constitution.
This book collects public-relations oriented articles by constitution drafters
Somkit Lertpaithoon, Noranit Setabutr, Pakorn Priyakorn, Choochai Supawongse,
Paiboon Varahapaitoon, Vicha Mahakun, and Woothisarn Tanchai himself (Woothisarn,
ed. 2007).
25 The secretary of the CDC, Somkit Lertpaithoon, also belonged to the conservative
camp. However, as the secretary he did not participate in the debates. Relying on the
analysis of the meeting records, his position became clear only in the CDA meeting
that deliberated and decided the issue (CDA 29:passim). Somkit used to be dean of
the faculty of law at Thammasat University, and a deputy rector. He was the deputy
secretary of the CDC in 1997, and has long been involved in the legislative politics of
the House of Representatives, mostly in the Democrats’ camp. He has also been a
member of the decentralization committee from its inception (after he had helped
drafting the decentralization act). At the time of the CDC, Somkit’s stated goal was to
become rector of Thammasat University, a goal that he shortly afterwards achieved.
26 It is perhaps interesting to note that the main defenders of the MMM system had
backgrounds in political science, while those who promoted the MMP system had
backgrounds in accountancy, medicine, law, and economics.
27 At the time of the CDC, Prasong was 80 years old, and had been involved with anti-
Thaksin activities, including coup preparations, for some time. He “has long been politically
active and is widely perceived as a staunchly nationalistic, somewhat rightwing,
influential figure. It is widely recognized that he has a privileged relationship
with the palace, mainly through his strong ties with Chief Privy Councilor Prem Tinsulanonda.
It is said by palace insiders that he is viewed favorably by King Bhumibol
as a true nationalist and pro-monarchist” (Tasker 2006). In meeting No. 27 of April
11, 2007 (p. 35f.), he stated, “As for the claim that I have been with the PAD
[People’s Alliance for Democracy, or “yellow shirts”], I confirm that I have been with
them, because they have been a group without hidden benefits. Moreover, they fought
for and demanded the right things, which I think are good and correct for the country.
Therefore, I joined them. And if new problems occur, and the people think that they
will have to fight again, I will join them in their struggle. I would like to inform [you]
accordingly.”
28 He was the president of the Rubber Tree Association of Thailand, and referred to
himself as being from “up-country,” meaning the southern province of Phuket.