Students urged to contribute to charter

[Lite Beer]

Students urged to contribute to charter
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- Despite calm after the military coup, political division persists and the next charter will have to try to address the issue, Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) chairman Borwornsak Uwanno said yesterday.

The calm was "temporary", he said, and Thailand continued to be "deeply fractured". He predicted that conflict would return after an election if the problem was not tackled sufficiently through the new constitution.

Borwornsak made these remarks during a meeting with students from various universities, and urged young Thais to play a greater role in offering input for the charter.

The Bangkok forum was organised by the National Reform Council in order to gather opinions from students about how to reform the country.

"Young men and women should be people with idealism and recognise the importance of justice," he said. "I don't understand where these people have gone.

"If we want society to be just and peaceful you can't just be idle and you must come out and take responsibility constructively - not by staging protests but by taking part in expressing opinion.

"After this deliberative forum, please return and call meetings of university student councils and ask what kind of constitution you would like to have and return to us your opinion, such as how you would like to see rights and liberty, whether you would like to maintain or do away with capital punishment. The committee will give importance to every student's opinion."

Bowornsak said the generation which played a role in democratic change in 1970s was getting old but was still divided today and the young generation would have to participate in determining the future of Thai society.

Thienchay Kiranandana, chairman of the junta-appointed National Legislative Assembly (NLA), was also present at the forum and also tried to inspire the students to be more participatory.

"We have to push the country forward. Soon the term of the NLA will end," he said.

"The question is whether it will end well or not and whether it will end wastefully or not … We're waiting for students and people to propel Thailand forwards because I and everyone are Thai."

Thienchay said the younger generation must carry out this task.

The NLA chairman listed six goals that need to be achieved - free and fair elections, a democratic system suitable for Thais with His Majesty as head of the state, an effective corruption eradication system, and addressing social and economic inequity.

Supicha Luemsaisuk, a junior at Suranaree University of Technology, said an equitable educational system was needed.

Chindanai Nakthiang, a third-year student from Dhurakij Pundit University, asked for better infrastructure in order to make travel truly accessible throughout the Kingdom.

Meanwhile, CDC spokesman Lertrat Rattanawanit said many constitution drafters supported a call for holding a referendum on the final charter draft in order to help legitimise the post-coup charter.

Lertrat noted that the post-coup provisional charter would have to be amended to allow a referendum but said the CDC would not make that recommendation officially.

"Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who is also leader of the National Council for Peace and Order, will make a decision about this," he said. "Borwornsak has already commented that there should be a referendum."

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Students-urged-to-contribute-to-charter-30250326.html

-- The Nation 2014-12-21

[Plutojames88]

Junta invites students participate in reform but continues intimidating anti-coup student http://t.co/VeJwB7hdIx

[rubl]

Junta invites students participate in reform but continues intimidating anti-coup student http://t.co/VeJwB7hdIx

There may be a bit of a difference in usefulness between standing outside waving fingers an placards and participating in a discussion offering ideas, possibilities and so.

Saying "we want democracy now" and not being able to explain what you mean comes to mind.

[SamMunich]

Borwornsak Uwanno is right, when he says:

"Young men and women should be people with idealism and recognise the importance of justice. I don't understand where these people have gone. If we want society to be just and peaceful you can't just be idle and you must come out and take responsibility constructively ..."

But for this, the environment must be suitable. Subduing ever little bit of protest of difference of oppinion is certainly not favourable for a democratic behaviour as Khun Borwornsak is asking for. So far I am not aware of ANY kind of discussion about the pros and cons of yellow or red shirt politics of the past. Putting the lid on any such discussion will only increase the pressure to explode an a later time.

And if the present government is fighting against corruption, then why does it not allow public scrutiny of it's own handling of politics. That implies, that corruption NOW may not be pointed out. So why then should anybody trust the generals?

I'm no friend of Mr. T or the red shirts, but to suppress the freedom of oppinion and the freedom of the press is the wrong way that will lead backwards not forewards. And why should students take part in this?

[The stuttering parrot]

They shouldn't be having any discussions with this latest junta.

Just tell them that the thai people know it the rest of the world knows it and they themselves the junta knows that they are an unelected illegal government .

Just give them an election and get out and go an pursue your career as an Indian wedding planner because you sure can't cut it in politics.

[Fred Flinstone]

They shouldn't be having any discussions with this latest junta.

Just tell them that the thai people know it the rest of the world knows it and they themselves the junta knows that they are an unelected illegal government .

Just give them an election and get out and go an pursue your career as an Indian wedding planner because you sure can't cut it in politics.

Its Insidious they go near students -

Most of the time its to bully them .

Children , and Youth have very right to demand a democracy in their nation .

[FangFerang]

The article and similar stories all ask for ideas and commentary...but give no instructions. There is no time or place, no email address, and no concrete instructions how and when ideas would be accepted for consideration.

What is this?

This article ran Sunday in the Nation, but the back story is at Prachathai news, where it clearly states "The National Reform Forum will be held December 19-21."

The national reform forum, is already over. Pratchathai News ran the story Friday Night (after the first day of the forum). And university students across the country, many of whom had commencement ceremonies for graduation, were very busy getting diplomas Saturday or weree expected to drop everything and rush to the Reform Forum.

This is clearly obfuscation in a very pure form.

"Natchacha Kongudom, a student activist from the Thai Student Centre for Democracy (TSCD), told Prachatai that the junta is far from genuine in its gesture to welcome criticisms and ideas from students.“The junta is only inviting those who are believed to be in line with their regime, me and other students who have voiced criticisms against the junta before were of course not invited to participate in the forum, so I think the forum is somewhat useless,” said Natchacha.

[Lupatria]

In view of this it comes in handy that students are not allowed to ask (critical) questions in class.

[EnglishJohn]

They shouldn't be having any discussions with this latest junta.

Just tell them that the thai people know it the rest of the world knows it and they themselves the junta knows that they are an unelected illegal government .

Just give them an election and get out and go an pursue your career as an Indian wedding planner because you sure can't cut it in politics.

What the rest of the world knows, Mr Parrot, is that Thailand was governed by a convicted fugitive living in exile who used the wealth he stole to buy the loyalty of the most ethically bankrupt politicians in the world. The 310:0 amnesty disgrace made Thailand a laughing stock.

They took so much from the trough that the country was going bankrupt. Even so, they would rather take the country to civil war than pull their snouts out of that trough.

You might notice that there has been very little condemnation from the rest of the world, despite the best efforts of the anti-Junta brigade. Every statement I read was carefully worded to imply "We can't support a coup, but we understand why you did it".

Of course, you all know this but your boundless double-standards allow you to ignore it as it doesn't suit your purpose. No doubt your own chances of stealing a bit of taxpayers money have been diminished by the coup.

[Fred Flinstone]

Quote

You might notice that there has been very little condemnation from the rest of the world

BS

<<<< Off topic comment removed, you do not need to re-post that in every post you post in >>>>

[lildragon]

What's the point? They are not truly free to express themselves or challenge the almighty Junta. You're not even allowed to read 1984

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

What they fear is an uprising against the undemocratic regime by the students.

[fobuff]

Thailand continued to be "deeply fractured" yes by an illegal coup, militarty junta, military NLA, and the great leader... I wonder why... the only future for a student is to enroll in the military and be part of the illegal government, mary a rich thai women, and wait for the next coup as you go up with the ranks..

[rickirs]

"... the post-coup provisional charter would have to be amended to allow a referendum but ....Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who is also leader of the National Council for Peace and Order, will make a decision about this,"

So there you have it. Conversations, opinions, suggestions, etc. are just that - words. The NCPO holds absolute power over the entire Reform and Constitution process and the Students know that. They will not be part of the "window dressing" that the Junta wants to display to democratic countries as a new democracy. The Students have judged the Junta-government as illegitimate by virture of its overthrow of the elected government and abolishment of the constitution. As such, their participation would a hypocrisy to the democratic ideals they hold. Their resistence is NOBLE and HONORABLE.

[deckape]

Junta invites students participate in reform but continues intimidating anti-coup student http://t.co/VeJwB7hdIx

Methinks they only want a certain kind of student to participate. You know...Ferrari or two, lots of really important family members, that sort of thing.

[sgtsabai]

Yes, students do come forward and "contribute". That way we will know who you are and where to find you.

[Fred Flinstone]

What's the point? They are not truly free to express themselves or challenge the almighty Junta. You're not even allowed to read 1984

Correct-

[Fred Flinstone]

Junta invites students participate in reform but continues intimidating anti-coup student http://t.co/VeJwB7hdIx

Exactly.

[Plutojames88]

Seems Fred is well connected .

I agree in principle a great deal of information posted on this site is designed to give false impressions the Thai government is not just accepted by many western Nations .

But it also has their co operation .

As for students owning up to deluded leaders that they disagree ?

Sorry , that's as stupid as the polls