Call For Urgent Action In Thai Charter Change Process

[webfact]

CONSTITUTION REVIEW

Call for urgent action in charter change process

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Proponents of charter change, including barred party executive Chaturon Chaisang, yesterday called for the government to activate the rewriting process within the remaining three months of the current House session.

Chaturon said the government should pave a way for the formation of the Constitution Drafting Assembly by sponsoring the amendment of the charter's Article 291 to transfer the parliamentary mandate for the charter change to the CDA.

"The CDA should be activated within this House session, otherwise the government might not be able to meet the one-year deadline to bring about the charter amendments," he said.

In the face of time constraints, the government might need to convene an extraordinary session in order to activate the CDA, he said.

He said the debate on the extent of charter amendments should take place after the CDA came into existence.

Senator Direk Thuengfung, in his capacity as former chair of the reconciliation committee, said the charter rewrite should start off with a debate on Article 237 of the Constitution which prescribes for punishment by party dissolution and a ban of party executives.

Direk said the provision was seen as the thorniest issue causing the political divide. In his opinion, it was unfair to penalise all party executives, he said, arguing that punishment should be confined to those executives convicted of electoral fraud.

The defunct reconciliation committee had proposed six charter amendments and this should be addressed before activating the CDA which would be responsible for rewriting the entire charter, he said.

The 2007 Constitution should be changed because it was not a people's charter, he said.

He said the CDA formation would be a key link between the people and the charter drafting process. The idea of forming a panel to take charge of charter amendments would not be acceptable to all sides because the panel was not linked to the people, he said.

Pheu Thai secretary-general Charupong Ruangsuwan said the Constitution, sponsored by the 2006 coup, was prone to trigger turmoil unless it was amended to be in line with democratic principles.

Article 237 was undemocratic because it undermined political parties, he said.

He said the CDA should be formed and based on the model responsible for drafting the suspended 1997 charter.

Democrat Party MP Niphon Bunyamanee said the country saw the charter rewritten several times. At issue was not whether the charter should be rewritten but how the writers should be chosen and the scope of rewriting, he said.

Niphon said the rewriting process should involve non-partisan academics because politicians tended to design the political system to serve partisanship if they had a free rein in the matter.

Bhum Jai Thai MP Suphachai Jaisamut said he saw no urgency in rushing the charter change, arguing the charter amendments should not be enacted at the expense of political stability.

Suphachai said the charter rewrite should be delayed until the time was right.

Chart Thai Pattana Party adviser Nkorn Chamnong said he supported the idea of entrusting the CDA to take charge of the charter rewrite. He said he deemed it unnecessary to hold a referendum vote on the charter draft since the people had already elected the CDA to work on their behalf.

Senator Tuang Untachai said the charter rewrite should be carried out in connection with bringing about national reconciliation.

Tuang urged the government to take the lead role in spearheading the charter change.

-- The Nation 2012-01-30

[Buchholz]

barred party executive Chaturon Chaisang, yesterday called for

Until you are no longer banned, how about if the only thing you call for is a taxi, Chaturon.

.

Edited January 30, 2012 by Buchholz

[hellodolly]

And if it dosen't get done this year will Thailand sink into the ocean?

[Buchholz]

And if it dosen't get done this year will Thailand sink into the ocean?

That is a possibility if the government's flood response is handled as badly as last year.

.

[Bakseedaa]

why do some MPs NOT want a referendum on charter change..? what are they scared of... do they think the Thai people are stupid..? Of course there should be a referendum... sooner the better, and certainly before the rains come...

[whybother]

why do some MPs NOT want a referendum on charter change..? what are they scared of... do they think the Thai people are stupid..? Of course there should be a referendum... sooner the better, and certainly before the rains come...

There is no point having a referendum on charter change until the changes are known.

In Aus, there was a referendum on becoming a republic. It failed, not because a majority of people don't want a republic, but because there was indecision on what type of republic it was going to be.

I would guess that most Thai people don't mind that there are charter changes, but there is no point having a "we want change" vote if it's not clear what the changes will be. The referendum should also be a vote on each change, not an all encompassing vote on all changes.

[OzMick]

<deleted>, what's the use of having a fall guy if the whole executive gets banned? Of course, they could give up their corrupt and illegal practices, but TIT and nobody expects that to happen.

Note to PTP - learn and understand commandment 11 "don't get caught"

[JurgenG]

It is to be remembered that the 2007 constitution was forced upon the people as a condition to the return to democracy. The junta had made clear at that time that if the new constitution was not approved, it won't allow free election.

"The 2007 Constitution should be changed because it was not a people's charter" We have to agree with that.

Edited January 30, 2012 by JurgenG

[scorecard]

It is to be remembered that the 2007 constitution was forced upon the people as a condition to the return to democracy. The junta had made clear at that time that if the new constitution was not approved, it won't allow free election.

"The 2007 Constitution should be changed because it was not a people's charter" We have to agree with that.

Thats's not my understanding of that referendum.

[Ricardo]

The 2007 Constitution should be changed because it was not a people's charter

and

he deemed it unnecessary to hold a referendum vote on the charter draft since the people had already elected the CDA to work on their behalf.

Trans : The old constitution is Bad, despite its having been confirmed by a referendum, but the new constitution will be Good, so there's no need to bother to consult the people about it.

Yay for Red-Shirt/PTP True-Democracy, or double-speak, as many might otherwise call it !

[Buchholz]

"The 2007 Constitution should be changed because it was not a people's charter" We have to agree with that.

at least that's what the disgraceful banned for electoral fraud Chaturong seems to think

[whybother]

It is to be remembered that the 2007 constitution was forced upon the people as a condition to the return to democracy. The junta had made clear at that time that if the new constitution was not approved, it won't allow free election.

"The 2007 Constitution should be changed because it was not a people's charter" We have to agree with that.

Just because it's not "a people's charter" doesn't make it wrong, and doesn't mean that it needs to be completely scrapped.

There are sections that need to be changed, so have a referendum on the changes.

[OzMick]

It is to be remembered that the 2007 constitution was forced upon the people as a condition to the return to democracy. The junta had made clear at that time that if the new constitution was not approved, it won't allow free election.

"The 2007 Constitution should be changed because it was not a people's charter" We have to agree with that.

But isn't it interesting that the section he wishes to change is that concerning punishment for electoral fraud, bribery and other misdemeanors. Understandable seeming it cost him his lucrative position - and I suppose obeying the respective laws is asking a bit much.

[sparebox2]

Charter change is suppose to benefit 1 man and 1 man only. Thaksin.

We have to stop it at all cost. Even if another good coup is needed.