Groups call for removal of 2007 Constitution

BANGKOK: -- Political activist groups Wednesday pushed for the removal of 2007 Constitution saying the country's highest law destroyed democracy, the parliament system and weakened political parties.

The June 24 Democracy led by Somyos Prueksakasemsuk and the Saturday People against Dictatorship led by Wipoothalaeng Pattanapumthai submitted a letter stating their demand to scrap the Constitution to the second deputy House speaker Apiwan Wiriyachai.

The letter stated that the Constitution and laws legislated by the National Legislative Assembly and the Council for National Security did not have the legitimacy. Enforcing these laws means the country accepts coup and military dictatorship ruling.

They called on the Parliament to revoke all those laws and set up a House special committee to check damages incurred from the September coup with members from the public, academics and civic groups.

-- The Nation 2008-03-05

A brave move... that however cannot succeed, given the way the senate is rigged through this same constitution. Check mate, Thailand..

A brave move... that however cannot succeed, given the way the senate is rigged through this same constitution. Check mate, Thailand..

Nah, they may get it through; everyone has their price.

Last senate did. Even with all the checks and balances, the court in the Thaksin Asset concealment case did. With enough pressure, there will be a new constitution or at least the 111 will get off and then possibly thereafter.

It's all about mobilising people to think that a new constitution will be better than the current one. And there are some holes that can motivate Bangkokians....North and Northeast are easily encouraged to support a new one, as they already don't support anything anti Thaksin as it is.

Let's pray the 2007 Constitution is trashed quickly!!!

Let's pray the 2007 Constitution is trashed quickly!!!

Is this the same constitution that most Thais voted for?

Let's pray the 2007 Constitution is trashed quickly!!!

Is this the same constitution that most Thais voted for?

Yes - just like most Thai's voted for Thaksin.

You really ought to be even handed in your analysis.

Actually, is you read carefully, this new constitution is in many ways better than the previous one. The thing that is worrying is the last minute 'security act' passed by the military before they went fishing. This is an open field for abuses ...

In what way(s) is it better? What I understand is that half of the Senate is no longer elected but appointed. Surely that can't be the right way forward ?

Of course I suppose that sometimes it is best to throw out a constitution and write a new one but I think a case can be made that it is preferable when possible to amend an existing consitution.....the reason being that when students (who will in the future become the leaders and the voters) study the constitution it becomes much easier for them to see what the old text was and what it was replaced with thus giving them some perspective on why the change was made and how the change was either an improvement or not. Also it helps to create a sense of continuity of gov't which might help people strive for continuity in gov't in the future and thus help create stability.

Chownah

In what way(s) is it better? What I understand is that half of the Senate is no longer elected but appointed. Surely that can't be the right way forward ?

That part can be easily amended, it won't face major opposition even from appointed senators lest alone the parlament.

These guys want to tear up the constitution as a matter of principle, not because it has good or bad points.