Thais Pour Out Opinions On Charter Change

[webfact]

Thais pour out opinions on charter change

By Digital Media

BANGKOK, Dec 11 – Sixty per cent of Thai people are aware of the government’s move to amend the constitution but 90 per cent admit to not having any knowledge about details of the proposed changes, according to a poll by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA).

The poll was conducted on Friday and Saturday to mark Thailand’s Constitution Day which falls on December 10. A total of 1,255 people of varied educational levels and occupations nationwide responded to the survey.

Among the 60 per cent of respondents who know about the constitution amendment, 4.75 per cent say the changes will include Sections 68, 117, 190, 237, 291 and 309, while 4.63 per cent say the amendment process will involve pardon and amnesty to politicians and the political/administrative system.

Asked who will benefit from the charter change, 30 per cent say they don’t know while 20 per cent say the move will be advantageous to politicians; 16 per cent say benefit will go to the people; and some two per cent say every sector will gain from it.

Regarding whether they agree with the amendment or not, four in 10 -- 40 per cent -- disagree for fear of conflicts and favour being given to certain groups of politicians rather than the people or the nation, while 34 per cent advocate the move, reasoning that some sections in the charter need change and they believe that the amendment will lead to reconciliation among politicians and all sectors in the country.

Those uncertain if the constitution should be amended are 26 per cent of the respondents. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-12-11

[righteous]

A bit of a reach, indicating that 1,255 respondents represent all people in Thailand. These opinions only represent 1, 255 people and that is giving benefit of the doubt that there were 1,255 people - who were they, who selected them, and why these issues and questions?

All these Polls need to be considered within the context of who conducts them and why.

In this instance, there is references to Politicians in a negative light, people generally being confounded by this Constitution thing, many not having a clue what it is all about, pardonings and amnesty's for politicians, questioning why constitutional revisions are neccesary, etc.

All issues coincidentally propagated by one side of the Political Divide....Or is it coincidental?

Edited December 11, 2012 by righteous

[bigbamboo]

Bless.

The whole idea is to confuse the majority of the people to the point they will do what you want them to..... which is to vote for change, whatever it is.

[whybother]

Sixty per cent of Thai people are aware of the government’s move to amend the constitution

What rock are the other 40% living under?

[inzman]

It would be interesting to know the party affiliation of the respondents.

[jaidam]

How can anybody support/oppose the charter amendment when PTP have never said what the problem is with the current charter, and exactly how it will be changed?

So far as I can make out, it will be changed to whitewash all of Thaksin and families past crimes, as well as any future misdeeds, and take power away from the NACC. Has anybody seen reported any details of the proposed changes?

[righteous]

It would be interesting to know the party affiliation of the respondents.

And of the Pollsters ------except I know it, as reflected in Post #2.

But you make an extremely valid point.

[righteous]

How can anybody support/oppose the charter amendment when PTP have never said what the problem is with the current charter, and exactly how it will be changed?

So far as I can make out, it will be changed to whitewash all of Thaksin and families past crimes, as well as any future misdeeds, and take power away from the NACC. Has anybody seen reported any details of the proposed changes?

This may answer part of your question, and is an indication by the PTP what they see as the problem with the current charter:

>The present constitution does not support political parties but undermines them.

>Under the constitution, procedures to create independent organizations and select their members lack public participation and go against the principle of democracy.

>Independent organizations and the judiciary are allowed to operate without a system of checks and balances, which adversely affects the justice system and results in double standards.

>Moreover, the constitution is undemocratic as it resulted from the 2006 military coup.

>The charter creates divisions among the public, which necessitates drawing up a new and a more democratic constitution.

[ratcatcher]

A bit of a reach, indicating that 1,255 respondents represent all people in Thailand. These opinions only represent 1, 255 people and that is giving benefit of the doubt that there were 1,255 people - who were they, who selected them, and why these issues and questions?

All these Polls need to be considered within the context of who conducts them and why.

In this instance, there is references to Politicians in a negative light, people generally being confounded by this Constitution thing, many not having a clue what it is all about, pardonings and amnesty's for politicians, questioning why constitutional revisions are neccesary, etc.

All issues coincidentally propagated by one side of the Political Divide....Or is it coincidental?

".............. there is references to Politicians in a negative light,...........

Are there actually circumstances under which Thai politicians might be viewed in a positive light? And I do mean from any parties, not just PTP.

[jaidam]

How can anybody support/oppose the charter amendment when PTP have never said what the problem is with the current charter, and exactly how it will be changed?

So far as I can make out, it will be changed to whitewash all of Thaksin and families past crimes, as well as any future misdeeds, and take power away from the NACC. Has anybody seen reported any details of the proposed changes?

This may answer part of your question, and is an indication by the PTP what they see as the problem with the current charter:

>The present constitution does not support political parties but undermines them.

>Under the constitution, procedures to create independent organizations and select their members lack public participation and go against the principle of democracy.

>Independent organizations and the judiciary are allowed to operate without a system of checks and balances, which adversely affects the justice system and results in double standards.

>Moreover, the constitution is undemocratic as it resulted from the 2006 military coup.

>The charter creates divisions among the public, which necessitates drawing up a new and a more democratic constitution.

But we are still totally in the dark as to what the changes will be. Why is it being kept a secret? The very way that it isn't being disclosed is starting to hint that the changes might not be good for either democracy or the general public.

[righteous]

A bit of a reach, indicating that 1,255 respondents represent all people in Thailand. These opinions only represent 1, 255 people and that is giving benefit of the doubt that there were 1,255 people - who were they, who selected them, and why these issues and questions?

All these Polls need to be considered within the context of who conducts them and why.

In this instance, there is references to Politicians in a negative light, people generally being confounded by this Constitution thing, many not having a clue what it is all about, pardonings and amnesty's for politicians, questioning why constitutional revisions are neccesary, etc.

All issues coincidentally propagated by one side of the Political Divide....Or is it coincidental?

".............. there is references to Politicians in a negative light,...........

Are there actually circumstances under which Thai politicians might be viewed in a positive light? And I do mean from any parties, not just PTP.

Politicians and lawyers are favorite targets of abuse, and quite rightly so in many instances.

However, here in Thailand with certain sectors of the political sphere, it goes much further than that.

There are those who have no affinity for Electoral Democracy, in part because they cannot win elections. This deficiency causes them to cast about for alternatives, first of which is to demonize elections. And how better to do that then malign the product of elections, namely Politicians.

When I see Politicians assailed as a class in Thailand in a concerted fashion, it is an attack on Electoral Democracy. It goes beyond simple denigration of lawyers and politicians.

Edited December 11, 2012 by righteous

[righteous]

How can anybody support/oppose the charter amendment when PTP have never said what the problem is with the current charter, and exactly how it will be changed?

So far as I can make out, it will be changed to whitewash all of Thaksin and families past crimes, as well as any future misdeeds, and take power away from the NACC. Has anybody seen reported any details of the proposed changes?

This may answer part of your question, and is an indication by the PTP what they see as the problem with the current charter:

>The present constitution does not support political parties but undermines them.

>Under the constitution, procedures to create independent organizations and select their members lack public participation and go against the principle of democracy.

>Independent organizations and the judiciary are allowed to operate without a system of checks and balances, which adversely affects the justice system and results in double standards.

>Moreover, the constitution is undemocratic as it resulted from the 2006 military coup.

>The charter creates divisions among the public, which necessitates drawing up a new and a more democratic constitution.

But we are still totally in the dark as to what the changes will be. Why is it being kept a secret? The very way that it isn't being disclosed is starting to hint that the changes might not be good for either democracy or the general public.

That is the whole intent of the exercise....to find the most credible process of deliberating what changes need to occur in the face of these problems.

[ScouseTommy]

"That is the whole intent of the exercise....to find the most credible process of deliberating what changes need to occur in the face of these problems."

Do you honestly believe that this is the 'whole' intent of charter change from a PTP perspective?? I mean you sound knowledgeable, so I just ask. We all know 99.9% of politicians in this country simply want power and control. PTP are run through a proxy from Dubai. I find it hard to believe someone with your apparent knowledge would believe this amendment process is being carried out correctly, with political transparency and without a hidden agenda.

[hellodolly]

A bit of a reach, indicating that 1,255 respondents represent all people in Thailand. These opinions only represent 1, 255 people and that is giving benefit of the doubt that there were 1,255 people - who were they, who selected them, and why these issues and questions?

All these Polls need to be considered within the context of who conducts them and why.

In this instance, there is references to Politicians in a negative light, people generally being confounded by this Constitution thing, many not having a clue what it is all about, pardonings and amnesty's for politicians, questioning why constitutional revisions are neccesary, etc.

All issues coincidentally propagated by one side of the Political Divide....Or is it coincidental?

We are in Thailand the hub of what do you want the results to be we will take a poll and prove you are right. We have over 3,000 trained polies on call.

[hellodolly]

How can anybody support/oppose the charter amendment when PTP have never said what the problem is with the current charter, and exactly how it will be changed?

So far as I can make out, it will be changed to whitewash all of Thaksin and families past crimes, as well as any future misdeeds, and take power away from the NACC. Has anybody seen reported any details of the proposed changes?

This may answer part of your question, and is an indication by the PTP what they see as the problem with the current charter:

>The present constitution does not support political parties but undermines them.

>Under the constitution, procedures to create independent organizations and select their members lack public participation and go against the principle of democracy.

>Independent organizations and the judiciary are allowed to operate without a system of checks and balances, which adversely affects the justice system and results in double standards.

>Moreover, the constitution is undemocratic as it resulted from the 2006 military coup.

>The charter creates divisions among the public, which necessitates drawing up a new and a more democratic constitution.

But we are still totally in the dark as to what the changes will be. Why is it being kept a secret? The very way that it isn't being disclosed is starting to hint that the changes might not be good for either democracy or the general public.

That is the whole intent of the exercise....to find the most credible process of deliberating what changes need to occur in the face of these problems.

Then why is the free get out of jail card for Thaksin in it. That was a criminal offense that occurred before the coup. It was processed under Thaksin's party and he was condemned of it by the government which he had control of.

Now after many life's have been lost and people denied there access to employment and needles fires being set to large buildings he has his government try a new tactic.

I am not saying that some reforms are not needed but they should not be made just to benefit one man. If he was not guilty he could have appealed it. Being as he is now in power he can not honestly say this item in the changes is not a personal thing.

What other changes has he planned to justify his actions.

[hellodolly]

Make of it what you will but

"34 per cent advocate the move, reasoning that some sections in the charter need change and they believe that the amendment will lead to reconciliation among politicians and all sectors in the country."

I take that to read as 34% are clueless. They just believe any pap the PT feed them. I wonder how many of them have red shirts?

[siampolee]

When I see Politicians assailed as a class in Thailand in a concerted fashion, it is an attack on Electoral Democracy. It goes beyond simple denigration of lawyers and politicians.

Then pray sir or madam why are you so fond of criticizing but one faction, surely your not biased against one set of political views are you ?