Thai Govt Will Not Delay Charter Debate

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CHARTER REVIEW

Govt will not delay charter debate

Kornchanok Raksaseri

The Nation

Setting up of CDA to be deliberated on next; Democrats want to wait for drafts from civic groups

BANGKOK: -- It took more than two hours for parliamentarians to decide whether the debate on charter amendment should be delayed yesterday, though the result of this discussion went as was expected - the debate will not be postponed. The Opposition has been encouraging the government to hold back on the deliberation until drafts proposed by civic groups are ready for consideration since the signatures are still being verified.

Yet, the parliamentarians voted 341:181 to deliberate the drafts proposed by the Cabinet, Pheu Thai and Chart Thai Pattana parties yesterday.

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung, who presented the government's draft to the meeting, defended Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's decision to not expedite charter amendments, saying the lengthy process cannot be changed.

"I guarantee that Article 112 of the Penal Code will not be changed and nobody will be protected," he said.

Chalerm also asked parliamentarians to not start questioning the amendments because the Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA) will draft the laws.

The proposed change to the Constitution's Article 291 states that the CDA will comprise 99 members, of whom 77 will be elected provincial representatives, while the remaining 22 will come from law, political science or the political field or those who already have experience with charter drafting.

"Who knows who will become a member of the CDA?" Chalerm asked.

In response to arguments that there might be a hidden agenda to the charter amendment, he said the ruling Pheu Thai Party had made no secret of its plan to amend the Constitution, which was sponsored by the 2006 coup-makers. As for the alleged plot to bring former PM Thaksin Shinawatra back, Chalerm said that was a separate mission.

"I am straightforward. I will bring Thaksin home but it depends on the opportunity and political situation. I will also propose a reconciliation bill soon," he said.

Meanwhile, Chart Thai Pattana Party leader Chumpol Silapa-archa, who is contending for a seat in the CDA, said amendments were necessary because there were too many differences between the 1997 and 2007 charters.

"According to the 2007 Constitution, political parties can be dissolved easily. A 35-year-old party was dissolved. Now only a 65-year-old party remains, but I don't know when that will go," he said referring to the Democrat Party.

Chumpol is bitter because his previous party Chart Thai was dissolved under the current Constitution's Article 237, which states that a political party and executives will be penalised if an executive is found cheating in the elections.

He said it was unfair that all executives had to be banned due to one person's misconduct.

"In case you are worried that the new draft produced by the CDA will be abused for the sake of certain people, a political party or that it has a hidden agenda, then the draft should first be considered in Parliament before it takes effect," Chumpol said.

According to the proposal, if the Parliament approves the draft, then it must be put forward for royal endorsement before it takes effect or it can be put through a national referendum.

Government chief whip Udomdej Ratanasathien, who presented the Pheu Thai Party's draft of charter amendment, said the 2007 Constitution had many Articles that weakened the political party system resulting in instability and a disruption in administration of the country.

Democrat MP Banyat Bantadtan said the charter did not pose such a great problem for the country, though the amendments would cause conflict in society. He said that people related to politicians as well as banned MPs should be prohibited from becoming CDA members.

Democrat Tirdpong Jayanandana agreed, saying the Constitution itself was not the problem but depended on the people who used it.

The 1997 Constitution was good and posed no problems when Democrat Chuan Leekpai was PM, he said, adding that problems only arose when independent agencies began interfering during Thaksin's tenure.

Tirdpong added that it would suffice if certain Articles of the charter were changed.

Nonthaburi senator Direk Teungfang, former chairman of the reconciliation committee, said he has been anticipating a new CDA to rewrite the charter, even though some Articles had been changed as per his panel's proposals.

He agreed that Article 237 on party dissolution went against the principles of democracy, that it weakened the party system and made the government unstable. He also added that other Articles of the charter, which was a result of the 2006 coup, are undemocratic.

Appointed Senator Prajit Rojanaphruk said it is not true that changes to only one Article were being proposed, adding that the addition of another Chapter of the Constitution was actually meant to topple the current charter. He too proposed that certain Articles be amended.

-- The Nation 2012-02-24

[pimay11]

The photo in this OP says so much.

[maeab]

What a disgusting ignorant bitch, It says a lot about the red shirts

[Moruya]

What a disgusting ignorant bitch, It says a lot about the red shirts

Is it Thaksin in drag?

[Jingthing]

What a disgusting ignorant bitch, It says a lot about the red shirts

Is it Thaksin in drag?

Looks like the Thai equivalent of the U.S. Sarah Palin constituency. Maybe rebrand to Rice Party?

[OzMick]

Please tell me that is not a telescopic sight on a shotgun.

Severe penalties against parties caught breaking electoral law are only a problem if you intend to break those laws. It stops the use of nominated "fall guys" and puts the onus on the party to select persons of high moral character to their executive. Why that would be objectionable to PTP is bloody obvious at a quick glance.

[Buchholz]

Please tell me that is not a telescopic sight on a shotgun.

Severe penalties against parties caught breaking electoral law are only a problem if you intend to break those laws. It stops the use of nominated "fall guys" and puts the onus on the party to select persons of high moral character to their executive. Why that would be objectionable to PTP is bloody obvious at a quick glance.

It's not a real weapon. It's a toy held by one of the child abusing parents I described earlier

The media is resplendent with photos of children involved in various deplorable situations including human shielding, presence in live fire zones, and various other participatory involvement. Any parent that would have their children present at any time after the announcement was made the rallies were illegal and it was known the potential for violence was extremely high is bad parenting IMO.

This one seems to encapsulate the Red Shirt feeling quite well:

Teaching them young - children of the red shirt movement play with toy guns during the fund-raising rally

http://pattayamail.c...12/news15.shtml

[WackySomchai]

This photo says more than thousand words ...

[anterian]

These pump up water guns should be banned, this year if I get attacked on my patio I shall retaliate with my 100psi jet spray.

[geriatrickid]

A picture is posted of which no one knows the context. Was it taken at Songkran? Why was the woman asked to pose in an unflattering manner? I believe it is evident that the intent was to present a negative image, yet the gullible guppies see the photo and immediately take off on their usual frothing at the mouth.

I find it somewhat amusing that some of the U.S. citizens would announce their anger at people carrying toy water "guns". Perhaps they should consider their homeland where the NRA rules with a nastiness and vindictiveness that suggests a moral bankruptcy.

Look, I am a firm believer in gun control, but I also know that in Thailand, it is "normal" for people to have firearms. My belief that it is wrong (because of the threat to public safety and health) cannot be imposed upon the local population. Instead, I can only spread the message that firearms in the hands of the untrained, including many police officers is a dangerous situation. I spent enough time around assorted weaponry to understand that guns kill and yes, I think it is wrong that children play with guns. However, a quick tour of google images will show some equally distressing images from many other countries, including Australia and Canada where there is strict gun control. Would posting such an image from Tasmania evoke similar wide scale condemnation of a population people? I think not. Get a grip. The use of the image is intended to provoke and wind people up and to distract from the issue of the charter discussions,

[Anon999]

A picture is posted of which no one knows the context. Was it taken at Songkran? Why was the woman asked to pose in an unflattering manner? I believe it is evident that the intent was to present a negative image, yet the gullible guppies see the photo and immediately take off on their usual frothing at the mouth.

I find it somewhat amusing that some of the U.S. citizens would announce their anger at people carrying toy water "guns". Perhaps they should consider their homeland where the NRA rules with a nastiness and vindictiveness that suggests a moral bankruptcy.

Look, I am a firm believer in gun control, but I also know that in Thailand, it is "normal" for people to have firearms. My belief that it is wrong (because of the threat to public safety and health) cannot be imposed upon the local population. Instead, I can only spread the message that firearms in the hands of the untrained, including many police officers is a dangerous situation. I spent enough time around assorted weaponry to understand that guns kill and yes, I think it is wrong that children play with guns. However, a quick tour of google images will show some equally distressing images from many other countries, including Australia and Canada where there is strict gun control. Would posting such an image from Tasmania evoke similar wide scale condemnation of a population people? I think not. Get a grip. The use of the image is intended to provoke and wind people up and to distract from the issue of the charter discussions,

So you know it was a posed photo, therefore produce your evidence. Why is it that any post that shows the Red Shirts in a negative light induces you to jump to their defence and without exception provide a response that tries to prove the opposite? Your are so in love with them that you fail to see any other point of view or accept that things are often what they seem to be. You could always take a balanced view but there again I won't hold my breath.

We all know what your posts are going to say as soon as your name pops up.

[MikeOboe57]

A picture is posted of which no one knows the context. Was it taken at Songkran? Why was the woman asked to pose in an unflattering manner? I believe it is evident that the intent was to present a negative image, yet the gullible guppies see the photo and immediately take off on their usual frothing at the mouth.

I find it somewhat amusing that some of the U.S. citizens would announce their anger at people carrying toy water "guns". Perhaps they should consider their homeland where the NRA rules with a nastiness and vindictiveness that suggests a moral bankruptcy.

Look, I am a firm believer in gun control, but I also know that in Thailand, it is "normal" for people to have firearms. My belief that it is wrong (because of the threat to public safety and health) cannot be imposed upon the local population. Instead, I can only spread the message that firearms in the hands of the untrained, including many police officers is a dangerous situation. I spent enough time around assorted weaponry to understand that guns kill and yes, I think it is wrong that children play with guns. However, a quick tour of google images will show some equally distressing images from many other countries, including Australia and Canada where there is strict gun control. Would posting such an image from Tasmania evoke similar wide scale condemnation of a population people? I think not. Get a grip. The use of the image is intended to provoke and wind people up and to distract from the issue of the charter discussions,

Showing up at a political rally with a gun, be it real or a toy, speaks for itself.