The King of Thailand this 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.