Martial law may hinder referendum on new Thai charter: CDC chief

[webfact]

CHARTER WRITING
Martial law may hinder referendum on new charter: CDC chief
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Borwornsak Uwanno, president of the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC), said the prospects of a national public referendum on the new constitution might be hindered by the martial law, and suggested that provincial public hearings led by CDC subcommittees be held instead.

He made this remark Tuesday at a meeting with representatives from Bhum Jai Thai and Chart Thai Pattana parties. The party members were at the meeting to offer their views on political reform as part of the CDC's most recent efforts to engage with the public.

CDC spokesman General Lertrat Ratanawanich explained that opinions provided by the two political parties were valuable in drafting a new constitution. However, he said it was not conclusive as drafters need to weigh all proposals and ideas.

Lertrat said one of the interesting points brought up was the dissolution of political parties, as the 2007 Constitution made it "too easy" for political parties to be abolished, hence politicians had nominees who were inexperienced and incompetent run the country. He said the charter drafters should keep this point in mind when writing the new charter.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Martial-law-may-hinder-referendum-on-new-charter-C-30248072.html

-- The Nation 2014-11-19

[noitom]

This isn't any reform for individual ordinary Thais. This about stacking the deck and "hand picking" who decides how ordinary Thais will behave and who calls the shots.

[NongKhaiKid]

Didn't someone say the exact opposite a couple of days ago that marital law would not affect consultation in any way and that people would not be afraid to give their opinions ?

[tbthailand]

a referendum is meaningless. Remember the last one?

Important is the process for creating the country's constitution and that is firmly under the control of the 'NCPO'

This is not an issue.

The 'intervention' and the sacking of the county's previous 2 constitutions is the issue

[Chris Lawrence]

Well it makes sense. If there was a gathering of people then they could be arrested. So how can the issues be discussed openly and fairly?

The drafters need to hear the views of the people.

[toybits]

Any government is good only up to the next Coup.

[rickirs]

"... suggested that provincial public hearings led by CDC subcommittees be held instead."

Why not a suggestion that martial law be lifted so that a referendum can be held with instead of using convoluted methods to work around martial law? And if martial law isn't lifted, the CDC members should resign to show their commitment to bringing democracy back to Thailand.

"The value systems of those with access to power and of those far removed cannot be the same. The viewpoint of the priviledged is unllike that of the underpriviledged." - Aung San Suu Kyi