The King of Thailand Thursday morning issued a royal command to
appoint the 242-member National Legislative Assembly, a new body
which will act as the country's parliament, local media
reported.
The assembly has 17 representatives from permanent officials, 12
representatives of judicial officials and public prosecutors, 35
military officials, seven police officers, eight representatives
from the state enterprise employees, six representatives of
bankers, 19 representatives of trade, service, transport,
construction and real estate businesses, and 11 representatives of
general businesses, multimedia news-network The Nation
reported.
There are also seven representatives of lawyers, four
representatives of political parties, 11 academics from the fields
of philosophy, religion, arts and culture, and 20 representatives
of the media, entertainers, artists and writers as well as 43
retired civil servants.
The four representatives of political parties in the assembly
are Surin Pitsuwan of the Democrat Party, Akkarapol Sorasuchart of
the Mahachon Party, Pinij Jarusombat, who is former Thai Rak Thai
Party member, and Kanchana Silapa-archa of the Chat Thai Party.
Chamlong Srimuang, a leader of the anti-Thaksin group People's
Alliance of Democracy (PAD) is also appointed as a legislative
representative.
Earlier this month, Chairman of the military Council for
National Security (CNS) and Royal Thai Army Commander-in-chief Gen.
Sonthi Boonyaratkalin said that the body will be formed to fulfill
an obligation under the current temporary Constitution.
Under the interim charter, the assembly can question cabinet
members on policy but has no power to remove them from office, the
report said.
(Xinhua News Agency October 12, 2006)
