Chuan does not recognize this Constitution, but disagrees with dumping it

[snoop1130]

Chuan does not recognize this Constitution, but disagrees with dumping it

 

 

House Speaker Chuan Leekpai said today that he has not recognized the existing Constitution from the beginning, while disagreeing with a rewrite of the entire document “because that won’t be useful at all”.

 

“We must sit down together to discuss what we want, as far as democracy is concerned.  How many Houses should we have?  Should we have a Senate?  What should be the role of the Senate?  Should the Senate be elected or appointed?” said Chuan as he voiced his support for constitutional amendments.

 

The opposition, particularly the Future Forward party, has been calling for a new charter, likening the existing Constitution to the “poisoned fruit” from a “poisoned tree”, because it was enacted under an unelected military administration.

 

In his special lecture, entitled “the Hope of the House of Representatives under the 2017 Constitution” at Thammasat University today, Mr. Chuan categorically dismissed the claim, by Constitution Drafting Committee chairman Meechai Ruchupan, that the 2017 Constitution is an anti-corruption charter, noting that, even if the charter was equipped with built-in mechanisms, corruption would still exist if the law enforcers break the law themselves.

 

The House Speaker said that several Thai constitutions have been modelled on those in western countries, which were already obsolete and had been dumped by those countries.  He cited a meeting some time ago, with the German ambassador to Thailand, who said Germany used to have several smaller parties, each of which won not many votes, but such an electoral system had already been abandoned.

 

“Now we have 15-16 parties in the Thai government and seven parties in the opposition block, which is not a common phenomenon,” said Mr Chuan.

 

Elected as an MP sixteen times over the past five decades, the former prime minister noted that every constitution enacted after a coup contains provisions to ensure that the coup makers will be the next administration, citing the cases of the late Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn and General Kriangsak Chomanan.

 

However, he said that those charters were short-lived, unlike the existing Constitution “which I have no idea how long it will last”.

 

Chuan recalled a private meeting with Mr. Supote Khaimook, vice chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee tasked with writing the current charter, saying that he told the latter the problems stem, not from shortcomings in the document, but from people who defy the rule of law.

 

The House of Representatives, said Chuan, should be the role model for compliance with the law, adding that he has reminded Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-ha to appear in response to invitations from House committees, adding that he also reminded House committees that those invited for questioning or clarifications are not criminal suspects and should be treated with due respect.

 

Source: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/chuan-does-not-recognize-this-constitution-but-disagrees-with-dumping-it/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2019-11-05

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[Thaiwrath]

23 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

corruption would still exist if the law enforcers break the law themselves.

 

So, in effect, it will be here forever !

[Matzzon]

That´s exacly what you say when you do not have a clue what you are talking about. 

[thaiguzzi]

Geez. I'm shocked.

Common sense spoken?

Shocked i tell ya.

[Reigntax]

 

"Should the Senate be elected or appointed?”

He clearly doesn't understand the meaning of democracy. Maybe rubbing shoulders with their Chinese comrades over the last few days has rubbed off on him.

[yellowboat]

He sounds like one who can speak to the junta in no uncertain terms and a role model for the country.  Rule of law, enforcement, how did he live so long?

[TooBigToFit]

Chuan has never been for real democracy but that's the belief of his party the Democrats which have survived every single coup since 1946. Since 1946! They are hardly a party for Democracy and the people. They are absolutely with the generals and their owners.

[ChrisY1]

"Should we have a Senate?"

Spooky stuff when these types of questions are asked.....less government control could likely mean supreme control by one maybe.

[hotchilli]

14 hours ago, Thaiwrath said:

So, in effect, it will be here forever !

Got it in one !

[whimsicalmike]

14 hours ago, Reigntax said:

 

"Should the Senate be elected or appointed?”

He clearly doesn't understand the meaning of democracy. Maybe rubbing shoulders with their Chinese comrades over the last few days has rubbed off on him.

what does that say for the English house of lords?

[metisdead]

A post containing off topic Nazi comparisons has been removed. 

 

A post commenting on moderation has been removed. 

[Srikcir]

18 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

“We must sit down together to discuss what we want, as far as democracy is concerned. 

Why not first look at some of the Constitutions of other Democratic Monarchies such as The Netherlands, Norway, Spain and Sweden?

For example, some interesting parts from the Constitution of the Kingdom of the Netherlands 2008, published by the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, Constitutional Affairs and Legislation Division in collaboration with the Translation Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6b5730.html

• Article 49 Upon accepting office Ministers and State Secretaries shall swear an oath or make an affirmation and promise in the presence of the King, in the manner prescribed by Act of Parliament, that they have not done anything which may legally debar them from holding office, and shall also swear or promise allegiance to the Constitution and that they will faithfully discharge their duties.
• Article 60 Upon accepting office members of the houses shall swear an oath or make an affirmation and promise before the house in the manner prescribed by Act of Parliament that they have not done anything which may legally debar them from holding office, and shall also swear or promise allegiance to the Constitution and that they will faithfully discharge their duties.
• Article 97 1. There shall be armed forces for the defence and protection of the interests of the Kingdom, and in order to maintain and promote the international legal order. 2. The Government shall have supreme authority over the armed forces.

The nations of Netherlands, Norway, Spain and Sweden were ranked by the EIU Democracy Index 2018 as Full Democracies versus Thailand ranked as a Hybrid regime and not even a Flawed Democracy. https://www.eiu.com/topic/democracy-index

 

[Mavideol]

18 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

We must sit down together to discuss what we want, as far as democracy is concerned.

does he really knows what that word DEMOCRACY mean...... this it's pity laughable

[DrTuner]

Never understood "houses". Have a parliament and select ministers from there. If you must have a talking head, get a president. It's still very flawed as it's just a representional system where you can't get rid of them between elections. Direct, 24/7/365, vote on any matter continuously and scrap the parliament kind of system would be best. Doable already, but political suicide.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-democracy