The opposition People’s Party (PP) called on the government to prioritise the rewrite of the 2017 constitution as an urgent policy. The party, formerly known as the Move Forward Party, expressed doubts about the promised changes, citing the minimal mention and low priority given to the charter rewrite in the government’s recent policy statement.

 

Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, PP leader, criticised the government’s approach during the first day of a two-day parliamentary session dedicated to the government’s policy statement and subsequent debate. He challenged Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to explain, in her own words, why the charter rewrite is not being treated as a priority if the government fails to address this issue.

 

“If the government cannot make the charter rewrite a priority, I will ask the prime minister to stop reading from her script and tell us why not herself.”

 

The PP urged the government to reclassify the charter rewrite as an urgent policy alongside four amendment bills proposed by the party. Unlike the policy statement delivered by former Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin in September last year, which listed the charter rewrite as one of his administration’s five urgent policies, the recent statement by the new Thai PM did not give it the same emphasis.

 

This time, the statement only mentioned that the government would expedite the drafting of a people’s version of the constitution and make it as democratic as possible, without providing much detail.

 

 

 

 

Political time bomb

 

Phuthita Chaianuan, a PP MP for Chiang Mai, described the 2017 constitution as a political time bomb, criticising its allowance for judicial activism and military influence over government and the public.

 

“This problem is evident but the government dares not even clearly talk about it. Why on earth does the charter rewrite now come after the middle- and long-term policy categories? And why does the government dare not pledge when to begin and finish it?”

 

Phuthita also pointed out the lack of public participation in the new policy statement, which contrasts with previous promises. Earlier commitments included public involvement in designing the charter referendum question and drafting the new constitution. These elements, she noted, had disappeared from the current policy statement.

 

“This makes me seriously doubt if the public will be allowed to take part in the charter rewrite, whether a new charter drafting assembly will be elected by voters, and if the promised charter rewrite will ever happen.”

 

Prime Minister Paetongtarn delivered her policy statement in Parliament, focusing primarily on measures to improve people’s financial status and increase state income, reported Bangkok Post.

 

By Puntid Tantivangphaisal

Photo courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

Source: The Thaiger

-- 2024-09-13

 

 

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Oddly missing from

4 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

formerly known as the Move Forward Party

Please NOOOOOOOOOOO. We all know that Twitter is now X not X formerly known as Twitter. Same applies here.

 

7 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

“This makes me seriously doubt if the public will be allowed to take part in the charter rewrite, whether a new charter drafting assembly will be elected by voters, and if the promised charter rewrite will ever happen.”

 

When or if this is done it doesn't matter if the people are involved or not. The status quo which protects and increases the wealth and power of the establishment will remain in place through manipulation and corruption. This will only change when the progressive powers take full power over these corrupt dinosaurs. How or if this happens makes for an interesting and possibly very dangerous future for Thailand.

There is no charter in Thailand , only section 1 and 2.. When there is a coup the whole charter is being thrown away and be rewriting by the junta and changes will be impossible.. Just to keep the power. Why not write a complete new one like the US have with rights and duties for everyone that can stand for ages...

9 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

“If the government cannot make the charter rewrite a priority, I will ask the prime minister to stop reading from her script and tell us why not herself.”

Thaksin will be after you if you give his daughter a hard time.

9 hours ago, dinsdale said:

Oddly missing from

Please NOOOOOOOOOOO. We all know that Twitter is now X not X formerly known as Twitter. Same applies here.

Same applies to De Facto Thaksin

Only a completely new one written without any interference by the most toxic and useless  institution in Thailand, the army, would be of any benefit to the people. And since Thaksin has sold his soul, his party and his people to the army, in exchange for a get out of jail free card, this won't happen. 

A rewrite isn't necessary. Just reinstate the 2007 Constitution, not the best but there was a reason the Prayut junta immediately abolished it in its coup. Such reinstatement would likely reverse Prayut coup amensty. 

However, current election, judicial, anti-corruption and state-owned institutions need to be reformulated by elected representatives of The People to best serve The People. Immediately thereafter, new elections.

One would think this should be one of the most important things to be mentioned.  I suppose the politics of total rewrite is complicated.

1) The biggest party in Parliament urges charter reform.

 

2) Assorted dinosaurs in white uniforms make complaints to the Electoral Commission (EC) and Constitutional Court (CC).

 

3) EC recommends dissolution.

 

4) CC dissolves biggest party in Parliament.

11 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

I will ask the prime minister to stop reading from her script and tell us why not herself

Can you imagine the deafening silence.....I would love to be there, it would be excruciating.

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

“If the government cannot make the charter rewrite a priority, I will ask the prime minister to stop reading from her script and tell us why not herself.”

 

oh my big lego head puppet master wont be happy if he does that... 

9 hours ago, Srikcir said:

A rewrite isn't necessary. Just reinstate the 2007 Constitution, not the best but there was a reason the Prayut junta immediately abolished it in its coup. Such reinstatement would likely reverse Prayut coup amensty. 

However, current election, judicial, anti-corruption and state-owned institutions need to be reformulated by elected representatives of The People to best serve The People. Immediately thereafter, new elections.

That was drafted after a coup by the junta no less.

Revert back to the 1997 one, widely regarded as the people’s constitution is best 

10 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Only a completely new one written without any interference by the most toxic and useless  institution in Thailand, the army, would be of any benefit to the people. And since Thaksin has sold his soul, his party and his people to the army, in exchange for a get out of jail free card, this won't happen. 

Any rewrite is bound to benefit everyone except the military so I dun see why the government is not keen. As someone pointed out a rewrite is complicated so it takes time. 

34 minutes ago, Hunz Kittisak said:

Any rewrite is bound to benefit everyone except the military so I dun see why the government is not keen. As someone pointed out a rewrite is complicated so it takes time. 

Because the current government is in bed with the military, that's why. Anyone who thinks this is a civilian government which represents the people, is naive at best. 

58 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Because the current government is in bed with the military, that's why. Anyone who thinks this is a civilian government which represents the people, is naive at best. 

Change takes time

Cant you see Thaksin is purging the military dinosaurs? And seeing the pushback in the form of lawsuits against PT now…..you know it’s not going to be easy

It seems that with every new government, a new constitution is written.

1 hour ago, Puccini said:

It seems that with every new government, a new constitution is written.

Except for governments under or related to Thaksin. Seems this guy won elections fairly and didn’t change the rules unfairly. 

'Won elections fairly.'   He won elections by open massive vote buying and he broke several other serious laws and plenty of evidence was made public and he was convicted and sentenced to jail. And fled.

 

He made it plain that he didn't like foreigners. 

 

One young foreign journalist asked him a pertinent and awkward question that he didn't like. Thaksin responded with the comment 'idiot scum' and the journalist was deported the next day.

 

At local press conferences he had 2 table tennis bats, one had a big YES on it, the other had NO on it.

 

If he didn't like the question he held up the NO bat which meant not answering that question and also meant next question...

 

 

8 hours ago, Hunz Kittisak said:

Change takes time

Cant you see Thaksin is purging the military dinosaurs? And seeing the pushback in the form of lawsuits against PT now…..you know it’s not going to be easy

 You're naive if you think thaksin can purge the old military dinosaurs. 

5 hours ago, scorecard said:

'Won elections fairly.'   He won elections by open massive vote buying and he broke several other serious laws and plenty of evidence was made public and he was convicted and sentenced to jail. And fled.

 

He made it plain that he didn't like foreigners. 

 

One young foreign journalist asked him a pertinent and awkward question that he didn't like. Thaksin responded with the comment 'idiot scum' and the journalist was deported the next day.

 

At local press conferences he had 2 table tennis bats, one had a big YES on it, the other had NO on it.

 

If he didn't like the question he held up the NO bat which meant not answering that question and also meant next question...

 

 

Kindly Google and see what the world thinks of the elections that Thaksin won.

 

The January 2001 house election, the first house election contested under the 1997 constitution, was called the most open, corruption-free election in Thai history.

5 hours ago, scorecard said:

 You're naive if you think thaksin can purge the old military dinosaurs. 

Well Prayuth is gone and Prawit is on his way out. Check back soon for updates 

imagine what 500 billion could have done for some real education of the people instead temple crap

4 hours ago, Hunz Kittisak said:

Well Prayuth is gone and Prawit is on his way out. Check back soon for updates 

Keep in mind that there's plenty more ruthless and powerful generals who are waiting to exert their power. 

4 hours ago, Hunz Kittisak said:

Kindly Google and see what the world thinks of the elections that Thaksin won.

 

The January 2001 house election, the first house election contested under the 1997 constitution, was called the most open, corruption-free election in Thai history.

 

 Yeah yeah, seen all that before. Talk to a few Thais across the country from different backgrounds and you'll get a different answer. 

 

A Thai lady accountant I worked with (in Bkk) was outspoken and regularly told the staff that she was very proud of her very high ranking red policeman father.

 

She had no hesitation to talk about how vote buying works and talk about the cozy relationship between thaksin and her father.

 

She also mentioned that the locals in her fathers 'domain' wouldn't dare to vote for other candidates / parties and they were convinced if they did they would easily be identified and punished.

 

One punishment was to put flyers in all the letter boxes of numerous nearby houses saying that the target house / family were not supporting the paymaster, resulting in the errant family being ostracized refused service at local shops, kids harassed beaten up at school etc.