Decision on a charter referendum will be made when time is right, Prayut says

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Decision on a charter referendum will be made when time is right, Prayut says
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha reiterated yesterday that he would decide "when it is time" to determine whether a national referendum should be organised on the new constitution.

He said he would make the decision as the leader of the National Council for Peace and Order, as empowered by the post-coup interim charter, although that does not require a public vote on the charter written by the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC).

"I will decide if it should be done or not. I will consider this matter along with other people. Today, it is not yet time, but people are heavily bickering already," Prayut said.

"It seems everybody does not want to change. They want things to remain the same. Are we going to be able to reform then?" he said, adding that he would not allow the reform efforts to be wasted.

The prime minister warned that heavy bickering and opposition to the draft charter could cause it to be rejected by relevant bodies. This in turn would restart the entire process of constitution drafting, as prescribed in the provisional charter.

When asked if that would be a waste, the PM responded: "Waste of time, waste of brains."

Chaturon Chaisang, a senior politician from the Pheu Thai Party, voiced his support for holding a national referendum on the new constitution.

He said a decision on whether to hold a referendum should be made as early as possible in order to allow sufficient time for preparation. Also, the constitution drafters would find it necessary to heed the opinions of the public. Election Commissioner Somchai Srisuthiyakorn said that in principle a new constitution was important enough to warrant the holding of a referendum.

He said it would cost a little over Bt3 billion to conduct, about the same amount as a general election.

Meanwhile, many National Reform Council (NRC) members plan to oppose certain provisions in the draft constitution when the council meets next month to discuss the draft completed by the CDC, Direk Theungfang, deputy chairman of the NRC's committee on political reform, said.

Direk, who is a former senator, said key issues that NRC members disagree with were a provision that allows a non-MP to become prime minister, the nomination of senators instead via direct elections, and a new electoral system based on one used in Germany.

The NRC is scheduled to meet from April 20-26 so its members can express their views on the first charter draft.

In a related development, a group calling itself "Thailand's Free People 58" yesterday submitted a petition to CDC spokesman Kamnoon Sidhisamarn calling on the committee to review certain clauses they describe as undemocratic. These include the provisions allowing for a non-MP prime minister and unelected senators.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Decision-on-a-charter-referendum-will-be-made-when-30256158.html


-- The Nation 2015-03-17

[NongKhaiKid]

Right for whom ?

[whatawonderfulday]

Right for whom ?

Himself of course

[yellowboat]

"It seems everybody does not want to change. They want things to remain the same. Are we going to be able to reform then?" he said, adding that he would not allow the reform efforts to be wasted.

"He", it is up to him and not 60 million Thais ? After the coup, he finds out change is unwanted. Who does this man serve ? It does not sound like he serves the average Thai Citizen.

[FangFerang]

The history of coups is a lesson the military is dooming Thailand to repeat....the new face on it is a built-in Political Coup by the appointed military senate.

[Chris Lawrence]

What if the referrendum was held and the new constitution was rejected? Its about the only avenue any opposition would have against this regime.

[Srikcir]

Prayut is wrong to say that people do not want change just because they want to have a referendum or oppose some of the charter provisions. They want change that they approve.

Thus far, Prayut has insulated his NCPO clone organizations from public suggestions that do not comply with the NCPO agenda. At times the CDC or NRC try to incorporate public input and attempt changes to the darft, but quickly get suppressed by the NCPO. Prayut knows the Thai electorate cannot agree with this draft charter, despite hearing from all the political parties, business and educational institutions. The 2007 Constitution was put to a referendum, so why would he deludehimself that after eight years the electorate would settle for less?

Having appointed himself PM, he then seems to believe that he represents the interests of 27.5 million Thai electorate. It's clear now that he represents only the interest of the NCPO and HIMSELF. He makes clear that HE will be the one to decide the final draft. And makes a thin threat that if the NCPO has to start the draft charter process over again, NCPO will remain firmly in power.

One would think that Gen. Prayut as a democratic soldier (as he calls himself) would willingly take his orders from the electorate. He instead has drafted 60 mllion Thais as his personal aide de camp.