Nearly half don't know of Constitution referendum

BANGKOK: -- Fifty-five per cent of the broad spectrum of Thais queried in a current public opinion poll know that there will be a special election-- a referendum -- to approve or reject the draft Constitution later this year.

The downside of that news is that as many as 44.30 per cent of all respondents in the Dusit Poll still do not know they must cast votes in Thailand's first referendum for its new draft constitution.

The survey was conducted on 3,716 people nationwide between April 26-29 found that 55.70 per cent knew about the coming public referendum on the draft constitution, but 44.30 per cent were totally in the dark because they did not follow the news and campaigns by concerned officials, according to the poll.

Only slightly over half of the respondents -- 50.88 per cent -- were interested to learn about the draft charter because they wanted to know what impact might occur in the future, while one in three -- 30.55 per cent -- knew very little.

Less than one in ten -- only 9.41 per cent -- fully understood the draft charter as they followed its progress in the media.

Less than half of the total respondents -- 47 per cent -- said that the draft charter was written from ideas expressed by the many drafters followed by some 13 per cent, who believed that the draft constitution had been carefully scrutinised. About 11 per cent thought that with improving rules the country would become more peaceful.

Regarding satisfaction with the draft constitution, one in three of the respondents -- 33.5 per cent -- said those who helped draft the draft charter must soften their stance while one in four -- about 25 per cent -- said the Constitution Drafting Assembly members should listen more to public opinion for a better draft, as many as and 8.70 per cent believed that influential politicians intervened during the drafting process, causing demonstrations against the draft charter.

--TNA 2007-04-29

Me neither!

50.88% of survey respondents know about the constitution draft and a referendum, claims by Suan Dusit Poll

Members of the public have called for the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) to take the people and the nation into consideration for true democracy.

Suan Dusit Poll of Suan Dusit Rajabhat University conducted a survey on “Thai people and the Constitution”.

50.88 percent of the samples acknowledge the constitution draft while a referendum will be hold. They are also concerned about the pros and cons of the charter. 46.99 percent are satisfies with the public participation while 33.54 percent are unhappy with the irrational debate in the charter.

However, the respondents remind relevant parties to be concerned of the people and the nation at the utmost because they want to see the real democracy with fairness and impartiality.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 30 April 2007