EC To Arrange Public Referendum In August

[Jai Dee]

EC to arrange public referendum in August

Chairman of the Election Commission (EC) said the elction body is ready to a public referendum in August 19th, 1-2 weeks sooner.

EC Chairman Aphichart Sukhakkhanon (อภิชาต สุขัคคานนท์) said that EC is waiting for further assignments related to the Cabinet's decision to lift the 15th announcement of the Council for National Security (CNS). In related news concerning the establishment of a new Thai Rak Thai Party using the old party name, Mr Aphichart said the EC cannot implement anything at this moment due to the 15th and 27th CNS announcements.

EC member Sodsri Sattayatham (สดศรี สัตยธรรม) discloses that representatives of political parties will be called upon to attend a meeting with non-governmental organizations and former key leaders of People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) to discuss on political movements.

She says Political Party Act in the new Constitution will be amended. She personally wants to place more difficulties in setting up a new political party.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 08 June 2007

[soundman]

EC to arrange public referendum in August

In related news concerning the establishment of a new Thai Rak Thai Party using the old party name, Mr Aphichart said the EC cannot implement anything at this moment due to the 15th and 27th CNS announcements.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 08 June 2007

What was the point of banning the TRT party, if all they have to do is go and re-register it the next day?

Sure the execs. were banned as well, however will that really stop them from becoming puppet masters?

Back to square one....

Cheers,

Soundman.

[Mid]

CDA chairman urges Govt to speed up referendum bill enactment

June 8, 2007 : Last updated 07:51 pm (Thai local time)

Constitution Drafting Assembly chairman Noranitr Sethabutr Friday reminded the government to speed up a legislation for referendum and voiced concern about insufficient time to push for the passage of the new constitution.

"As the vote for the new constitution has moved from September 2 to August 19, there is still no law on how to organise the referendum," he said.

Noranitr said the government should not wait until the last minute to forward the referendum bill for the deliberation by the National Legislative Assembly.

"If the government can not complete the referendum draft by early July, I don't think the vote on the charter will take place as has been planned," he said.

The Nation

Edited June 8, 2007 by Mid

[Jai Dee]

EC to educate Trat officials about political parties and constitutional referendum

The Director of the Provincial Election Commission (EC) of Trat, Mr. Santipol Patsa-nguan (สันติพล พัตรสงวน), says the Office of the Provincial Election Commission of Trat, will organize a seminar to inform the local officials about the political parties and the general.

The seminar will be held at the Golden Cliff Beach Resort in Muang district of Trat province on June 21st and 22nd. The purpose of this seminar is to allow the local officials to understand the roles of political parties and the general election. Participants will also be informed about the constitutional referendum for this year.

The seminar will help the local officials when they are performing their duties and providing the knowledge to the people in their respective areas.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 18 June 2007

[Mid]

inform the local officials about the political parties and the general.

The Freudian Slip

[thedude]

EC to arrange public referendum in August

In related news concerning the establishment of a new Thai Rak Thai Party using the old party name, Mr Aphichart said the EC cannot implement anything at this moment due to the 15th and 27th CNS announcements.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 08 June 2007

What was the point of banning the TRT party, if all they have to do is go and re-register it the next day?

Sure the execs. were banned as well, however will that really stop them from becoming puppet masters?

Back to square one....

Cheers,

Soundman.

Agreed. To get rid of the TRT forever they need to make it illegal for any party to be named as such.

They'd also need to round up all former executives and execute them, in public if necessary to warn sympathisers of their fate.

They should then plant agents in communities especially rural areas to make sure no one is organising any pro-TRT activities.

Educate children on the merits of the present system (songs and storytelling are very effective) and teach them to watch out for any agitators or secret TRT sympathisers in their communities and homes.

Taking care of 14 million past voters is tough, but with a bit of organisation down the grassroots, it should be achievable. Hopefully it won't require any money, just a strong message of hope.

[Jai Dee]

EC gears up for referendum

The Election Commission (EC) expresses readiness in arranging the referendum for the constitution draft.

Election Commissioner Prapan Naikowit (ประพันธ์ นัยโกวิท) says the referendum is scheduled to take place on August 19th and the general election on November 25th. He adds that EC has already prepared working plans for the two events.

In addition, Mr Prapan says EC has continuously campaigned for the referendum and the election and believes that people will pay attention to the two events and more of them will practice their right to vote. He encourages people to contact either the central EC, provincial EC offices, or the Constitution Drafting Assembly for information about the referendum and the election.

As for the registration of a new political party by the Thai Rak Thai group, Mr Prapan says the group will be able to set up a party in time as it takes only a month for the registration.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 25 June 2007

[Mid]

Mr Prapan says the group will be able to set up a party in time as it takes only a month for the registration.

not arguing otherwise ,

the deal is the amount of campaign and organisational time available ,

and since #15 is still law , it's illegal currently .

[Plus]

TRT is not dissolved yet, it would take a few months to close all their books. Until then they can set up a new party but can't use the same name.

[lukamar]

Agreed. To get rid of the TRT forever they need to make it illegal for any party to be named as such.

They'd also need to round up all former executives and execute them, in public if necessary to warn sympathisers of their fate.

They should then plant agents in communities especially rural areas to make sure no one is organising any pro-TRT activities.

Educate children on the merits of the present system (songs and storytelling are very effective) and teach them to watch out for any agitators or secret TRT sympathisers in their communities and homes.

Taking care of 14 million past voters is tough, but with a bit of organisation down the grassroots, it should be achievable. Hopefully it won't require any money, just a strong message of hope.

Didn't they try that some years back but Communism didn't take, maybe with umpteen million disillusioned voters a second go around would do better..

[lukamar]

the deal is the amount of campaign and organisational time available ,

and since #15 is still law , it's illegal currently .

They will eventually allow new parties to be formed but they will also carefully adjust the timing so that it is impossible for members of those new parties to run under the timing rules that everyone accused Thaksin of using. It will be interesting to see if those same people will be so outraged this time around, I somehow don't think so.

[hammered]

the deal is the amount of campaign and organisational time available ,

and since #15 is still law , it's illegal currently .

They will eventually allow new parties to be formed but they will also carefully adjust the timing so that it is impossible for members of those new parties to run under the timing rules that everyone accused Thaksin of using. It will be interesting to see if those same people will be so outraged this time around, I somehow don't think so.

So the junta favored new parties made up of primarily TRT defectors from the large ex-TRT factions will be at a disadvantage to Chart Thai and the Dems because of timing. Not many military governments would allow that to happen.

Of course the truth is, and most know this, that Thai elections are not about campaigning or policies with the exception of a few constitutencies mostly in Bangkok. Campaigning and policies are window dressing. They are about canvassers, village headmen, kamnan and money, and this is even truer thuis time around as no party controls the government, state purse strings and oversight bodies. With even only a few weeks any organised faction with a strong base and a financier in an area will be able to turn the votes out. The problem TRT has is not about setting up a new party and name or campaigning. It is about having no large organised factions anymore and no big financiers unless Mr. T or a family member is willing, and with rumors already spreading that the family are willing to spend big to buy seats alerting the EC it is quite likely Mr. Thaksin will just change his mind and save his investment for another day.

[hammered]

It looks like the ex-TRT candidate in Chiang Mai has been surprisingly beaten by a Dem favored candidate in the mayoral election on a high turnout. I dont know the local politics of Chiang Mai but the Dems must be happy. Only on Saturday the bangkok post was saying she was just trying to assess her support (not expected to win) prior to running as a Dem in the general election.

[lukamar]

with rumors already spreading that the family are willing to spend big to buy seats

Have you asked yourself who is spreading the rumors. Thailand has been rife with rumors for over a year. Why would we believe this one.

[hammered]

Interesting to note that the ex-Dem candidate Duentemduang has just taken the Chiang Mai mayoral election by a landslide from the favorite and incumbant and ex-TRT candidate Boonlert in Mr. Thaksins home town on a high turnout for a mayoral election.

Chiang Mai residents vote for change

SUBIN KHEUNKAEW CHEEWIN SATTHA

Chiang Mai _ Duentemduang na Chiang Mai won the Chiang Mai mayoral election by a landslide with 24,204 votes, unofficial results showed yesterday.

Her arch-rival and former mayor Boonlert Buranupakorn, No.1 on the ballot paper, came second with 17,570 votes, while Pornchai Jittanavasathien, a former aide of Mr Boonlert and No.3 on the ballot paper, came third with 9,577 votes. A total of 65,213 people _ 59.66% of the 109,311 eligible voters _ made it to the polling booths on Sunday.

From: http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/26Jun2007_news13.php

[sriracha john]

TRT's hometown support falls

Mayoral election result seen as concrete proof

The result of the mayoral election in Chiang Mai on Sunday is an indication that TRT is now falling from public favour, CNS chairman Sonthi Boonyaratkalin said yesterday. Duentemduang Na Chiang Mai's landslide victory was concrete proof the popularity of the former ruling party had waned significantly, Sonthi said in a radio show interview. Afterall, Chiang Mai was the hometown of ousted PM Thaksin Shinawatra and was his strongest support base, Sonthi said. Somjai Phagaphasvivat, a political science lecturer of Thammasat University, said the mayoral election was a pointer to the coming general election. He said it would be difficult for former TRT MPs to stick together as a group and return to power, since many had now gone their separate ways and become members of new political groups. ABAC poll director Noppadon Kannika said the results of the local election showed TRT was reeling from the effects of the Constitution Tribunal's decision to dissolve the party.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/27Jun2007_news08.php

Edited June 27, 2007 by sriracha john

[Jai Dee]

Battle over referendum cranking up

Newspaper advertising space has become a new battleground between pro-coup technocrats and anti-coup activists with each side launching separate campaigns to gain public support for opposing positions in the upcoming constitution referendum.

Matichon daily on Monday ran two full-page ads with distinctly different messages - a piece from the Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA) urged people to vote in favour of the draft constitution, while the 19 September Network Against the Coup advocated a "no" vote on August 19 with detailed arguments on how the country would benefit if the draft charter did not pass the referendum.

Thanaphol Eawsakul, said the network raised Bt1.2 million to pay for 10 advertising spaces in Matichon for 10 weeks, while the CDA's Chutinant Bhirompakdi, president of the PR sub-committee, said he could not remember the figure but noted that the entire public relations campaign was "expensive".

Matichon reader Chatri Prakit-nonthakan said it was good to see campaigns from both sides in the media.

"But I'm disappointed the CDA chose to tell us half truths, just like many other product advertisements. Voting 'no' does not mean there would be no election as the interim constitution from the coup group stated," said Chatri, who teaches Thai Architecture at Silapakorn University.

Meanwhile, businessman Anon Tirakij, said he was convinced by the CDA ad that there would be no election if people did not vote in favour of the CDA's draft charter.

Media scholar Ruj Kamonbut, said he was afraid the CDA had misunderstood its role as it was misleading the public into thinking the general election would be held only if people voted for the draft.

"Though a half-truth is normally used as strategy by advertising companies, the CDA is an independent body and using people's tax money [to buy ad space]. It should realise that its duty is to give straightforward information to the public," said Ruj, a lecturer at Thammasat University's faculty of journalism and mass communications.

Looking at the ad by the op-position group that published Professor Nidhi Eoseewongse's explanation on "how the country would benefit if people vote "no" for the draft charter", Ruj said that it was smart, but the group should also have notified readers that it was advertisement.

Thanapol of the anti-coup network said his group has also produced other campaigning tools such as the website www.wevoteno.net.

He said his the 19 September Network paid for media space because the media failed to represent opposing voices in their news reports.

Chutinant conceded that the CDA intentionally urged people to vote in favour of the draft charter. "Why not?" he asked, "We believe that our draft is better than the 1997 Constitution."

Source: The Nation - 28 June 2007

[Mid]

"But I'm disappointed the CDA chose to tell us half truths, just like many other product advertisements

outrageous ........................

[chinthee]

The U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights took something like 5 years to finish. I guess since Thailand is a smaller country we only need a month or so to do it here.

[chanchao]

TRT's hometown support falls

Mayoral election result seen as concrete proof

The result of the mayoral election in Chiang Mai on Sunday is an indication that TRT is now falling from public favour, CNS chairman Sonthi Boonyaratkalin said yesterday. Duentemduang Na Chiang Mai's landslide victory was concrete proof the popularity of the former ruling party had waned significantly, Sonthi said in a radio show interview. Afterall, Chiang Mai was the hometown of ousted PM Thaksin Shinawatra and was his strongest support base, Sonthi said. Somjai Phagaphasvivat, a political science lecturer of Thammasat University, said the mayoral election was a pointer to the coming general election. He said it would be difficult for former TRT MPs to stick together as a group and return to power, since many had now gone their separate ways and become members of new political groups. ABAC poll director Noppadon Kannika said the results of the local election showed TRT was reeling from the effects of the Constitution Tribunal's decision to dissolve the party.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/27Jun2007_news08.php

Well, everyone deserves their dreams, but keep in mind this is an election for a city mayor, and as such only official residents of the Muang Chiang Mai district can vote. Being an urban area, the demographic is similar to the Bangkok urban area and middle class urban people elsewhere. That was never TRT's strongest support base, which is more rural areas.

Check the result of past elections: Chiang Mai is a big province and voted TRT, of course, though most of those votes come from rural districts, not city district.

[Jai Dee]

EC gears up for referendum for charter draft

The Chairman of the Election Commission (EC) says the EC is ready to arrange a referendum for the constitution draft and suggests that general elections should take place within this year.

EC Chairman Apichart Sukhagganond (อภิชาต สุขัคคานนท์) affirms EC wants the government to officially announce election date and says it is possible for the election to take place on November 25th. EC is expediting the referendum which is expected to be held on August 19th as proposed by Chairman of the Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA) Noranit Settabutr (นรนิติ เศรษฐบุตร). CDA’s resolution on the matter will be reached on July 6th.

As for the budget for the referendum, Mr Apichart affirms EC has already prepared it. He also admits that it is difficult for EC to arrange the senator election shortly after the general election.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 29 June 2007

[Mid]

He also admits that it is difficult for EC to arrange the senator election shortly after the general election.

well , it's only 1/2 an election at best so .............................................................

[Jai Dee]

Meechai says NLA will not pass referendum bill in three straight readings

National Legislative Assembly Meechai Ruchuphan said Tuesday that the NLA would not pass the public referendum bill in three straight readings.

Earlier the day, Prasong Soonsiri, chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee, said the NLA should pass the bill in three straight reading so that it could be enacted in time for organising the public referendum on the draft constitution on August 19.

But Meechai said he heard the bill had a lot of content so the NLA would take time in deliberating it thoroughly.

He said the government should urgently submit the bill to the NLA.

He said he had learnt that the Council of State had finished scrutinising the bill but he did not understand why the government had not yet submitted it to the NLA.

Source: The Nation - 03 July 2007

[Jai Dee]

NLA Chairman concerned over delays in Referendum Act draft

Chairman of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) Meechai Ruchuphan (มีชัย ฤชุพันธ์) expresses concern over the government’s delay in the submission of the Referendum Act draft to NLA.

NLA Chairman says the Council of the State informed him that it had sent the Act draft back to the government for quite some time and affirms NLA cannot pass the Act draft outright as the Council of the State has amended many articles of it. However, the chairman says NLA will approve the Act draft in time before the referendum takes place.

Mr Meechai admits that he is also concerned that people would not have enough knowledge about the Act draft. As for a campaign against the new constitution, he says it is the task of the Election Commission to consider whether it is illegal.

Meanwhile, NLA Deputy Chairman Gen.Charan Kullawanich (จรัล กุลละวนิชย์) expresses confidence that NLA will be able to approve the Referendum Act draft in time as it is similar to the election law. He also calls on the general public to thoroughly consider the constitution draft before deciding whether to vote for or against it.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 03 July 2007

[Mid]

As for a campaign against the new constitution, he says it is the task of the Election Commission to consider whether it is illegal.

[Mid]

Opinion

Stoppage time :Guidelines for all 'proxy-voter' wannabes out there

Tue, July 3, 2007 : Last updated 23:12 pm

Vote "Yes" if every time you dream that Thaksin Shinawatra has come back as prime minister, you wake up in a cold sweat and then heave a long sigh of relief after coming to the realisation that Thailand is still under a repressive military junta.

Vote "No" if you cry knowing that dream was just a dream.

Tulsathit Taptim

nationmultimedia.com

[Jai Dee]

NLA Chairman says bill on constitution referendum cannot be considered in 3 straight readings

The Chairman of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA), Mr. Meechai Ruchuphan, insists that the bill concerning the constitution referendum cannot be considered in three consecutive readings due to its hefty content.

Mr. Meechai says the bill must be deliberated meticulously, and once its principle has been approved, a committee will be form to amend it. He says the committee will have three days to amend the bill, and it will be submitted to the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) for further consideration.

The CDC is expected to take no more than two weeks to consider the bill, and Mr. Meechai believes the CDC will deliver it to the NLA within the end of this month.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 04 July 2007

[Jai Dee]

CDA Chairman tells people to study charter draft before referendum

The Chairman of the Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA), Mr. Noraniti Setrabutra, asks the general public to consider the details of the new charter draft thoroughly and cautiously before deciding whether they will accept or reject it during the constitution referendum.

Mr. Noraniti cites that if the CDA has approved the constitution draft, a referendum will then be held for public members to approve it. Therefore, he would like people to study its details before taking part in the referendum so corrections could be made appropriately.

As for the general election date, Mr. Noraniti says it would be up to the Election Commission (EC) and the interim government to determine it. If the election date has to be postponed, Mr. Noraniti says the government will have to explain to members of the public on this decision.

The CDA Chairman says he is not worried about the pressures from the protestors who are against the new charter draft, saying the CDA welcomes the suggestions from all sides but they have to be reasonable. He says the constitution belongs to everyone in the country.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 04 July 2007

[Mid]

most should have the message ,

want any election , better agree to this ..........................

[Jai Dee]

BMA supports constitution referendum

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is encouraging the general public to take part in the constitution referendum, and plans to set the date for holding the referendum as quickly as possible. The BMA believes public members will not be confused if the general election has been postponed.

Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin talks about the Bangkok’s Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) meeting yesterday (Jul 3), saying narcotics and natural disasters were the main issues being discussed. At the same time, the meeting also agreed to organize activities to educate members of the public about the constitution referendum, and relevant agencies will decide the date for holding it so public relations activities on this issue can be prepared to create public awareness.

Bangkok Governor Apirak says the plan to renovate Sanam Luang will be implemented while trying to facilitate the demonstration. If the demonstrators request to use Sanam Luang to stage their rallies, the BMA would consider them case by case.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 04 July 2007