Thai junta picks panel to write new constitution after unpopular draft rejected last month

BANGKOK – Thailand's military government has appointed a new committee to draft a post-coup constitution after an unpopular earlier draft was rejected in a move that has delayed elections until at least 2017.

Authorities said Monday the new 21-member committee will start work Tuesday and has six months to write its draft charter. It will need approval from the legislature before being submitted to a national referendum.

Deputy Prime Minister Visanu Krua-ngam said the junta had chosen legal expert Meechai Ruchupan to head the Constitution Drafting Committee.

Meechai also led a panel that drafted the 2007 constitution, written after a 2006 coup that overthrew then-leader Thaksin Shinawatra.

The junta that seized power in May 2014 overthrew the elected government of Thaksin's sister Yingluck Shinawatra.