PM says he has no power to order a referendum to be held

[Lite Beer]

PM says he has no power to order a referendum to be held

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha has insisted that he has no power to stage a referendum to endorse the draft charter because it was not written in the interim constitution.

He said that it would depend on the National Reform Council to decide whether there should be a referendum or not.

Responding to a reporter’s question about the suggestion by Dr Bovornsak Uwanno, chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee, that the current draft charter, if becomes law, should be enforced for five years, the prime minister said, from his own understanding, Dr Bovornsak might mean that the time line for the reform might take five years.

He said that the draft charter was written in a way to resolve the country’s core problems among them corruption, lack of transparency and misuse of power by politicians with an intention to effect reform. But if the draft was written like all the previous charters, then there will never been reform in this country, he added.

The prime minister further said that he could not stop the next government from amending the constitution as there is no provision in the current draft that prohibits constitutional amendments.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/pm-says-he-has-no-power-to-order-a-referendum-to-be-held

-- Thai PBS 2015-04-29

[Orac]

Has he forgotten he gave himself absolute power to make up any rules/laws he wants?

[NeverSure]

Some people who have the power to ram a new constitution through don't have the power to ask for anyone else's opinion.

[tx22cb]

Perhaps the PM is afraid of what the result of the referendum might be.

He also knows that the clock is ticking.

[Your Thainess]

This guy is an epic piss-taker. But, congrats on making it a full week without getting shirty with the media!

Edited April 29, 2015 by Your Thainess

[Snig27]

Just surreal - he stole power with guns, he anointed himself above god and now he has no power? He's a caricature.

[HeijoshinCool]

For a guy representing the Land of Smiles, why does he always look like he needs more fiber?

Edited April 29, 2015 by HeijoshinCool

[phoenixdoglover]

The Prime Minister has a droll sense of humor.

"Hi honey, I'm home! Guess what I told the media today."

[Pikeybkk]

he could use section 4

[Chicog]

The flower shop must love him though.

[ozzieovaseas]

IMO what he is saying, (the way i read it anyway) is that there is no provision in the constitution to offer a referendum where the actual people can have any say in the decision making process.

It is this way the world over..no politician in his right mind would ever contemplate giving the people any REAL powers..

how would the politicians give themselves XX% pay rise every year?

In this day and age with the technology available, every country could slash the number of politicians in half.

Make it law that every person alive be issued with a passport, and their passport number to be used as an online identiity. Make a daily/weekly online electronic referendum vote for the signing off of EVERY decision made by our local elected pollies.

[MarkmBha]

Thailand is still in a mess.

[LannaGuy]

but he has power to eject a democratically elected government?

[dcutman]

Some people who have the power to ram a new constitution through don't have the power to ask for anyone else's opinion.

You think it would really matter if there is a referendum? How many voters would actually read it? Of those, how many would fully understand it? I am guessing zero, this constitution will be written just like the other 15 or so, ambiguous and totally open for interpretation. Depending on the circumstance, the constitutional court judges will interpret it, to the favor of the govt in power or the ouster of the govt in power, again depending on circumstance.

[rubl]

"He said that it would depend on the National Reform Council to decide whether there should be a referendum or not."

Probably better to come from the reform committee than from the PM. Mind you, from comments I gather some posters would really like the PM to force his way through

[heybruce]

"The prime minister further said that he could not stop the next government from amending the constitution as there is no provision in the current draft that prohibits constitutional amendments."

Is there a provision that explains how to amend the constitution?

[candide]

It's really not fun to comment and critisize. Too easy....

[WhizBang]

Wow. Brilliant, just brilliant.

You couldn't make this stuff up if you tried.

[webfact]

Referendum up to NRC and CDC: PM
THE NATION



PRAWIT ASSURES PUBLIC THERE'S PLENTY OF TIME TO MAKE CHANGES TO CHARTER DRAFT

BANGKOK: -- THE DECISION on whether to hold a referendum on the new draft constitution lies with the National Reform Council (NRC) and the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC), Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha said yesterday.

"The roadmap is in accordance with the interim constitution. If there is no amendment to the interim constitution, then things will proceed accordingly," said the premier, who is also head of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).

Contrary to popular belief, it is not up to him to decide on the matter, but up to the NRC and the CDC, he said.

As for CDC chairman Borwornsak Uwanno's suggestion to use the constitution for five years first before amending it, Prayut replied: "This constitution can be called a constitution for reform, if we see it that way. The reform could take five, 10 or 20 years. If [future elected politicians] want to amend it, they can do so as they are elected."

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan yesterday asked the public not to criticise the draft charter so that it does not get stuck in an impasse. He added that there was still sufficient time to adjust the draft.

Prawit also met Borwornsak to discuss the draft charter yesterday.

"The charter's draft has to be accepted first. Then, we can proceed according to the process laid down in the roadmap. It is up to the NRC and the CDC to figure out how they would amend [the draft charter] before submitting it to the NCPO and the cabinet. "

He went on to say: "We do not even know whether the NRC would approve the draft charter. This is a matter for the future. However, I have not seen the suggestion regarding Articles 181 and 182, which provide the premier with power to implement laws and grant pardons to those who exhibit remorse and those who give useful testimony to a case. I do not know things in detail. I will have to study the draft charter first. As for the issue on whether to amend it or not, that is another issue."

When asked whether the NCPO would like to prolong its time in power by delaying the deadline for the implementation of the new constitution, Prawit replied that the NCPO had no intention of staying longer in power.

Asked if the new CDC and NRC would still be set up if the current draft fails to get NRC approval, Prawit said the provisional constitution already provided the outline on what to do in those circumstances. Nevertheless, Prawit added that we should not think too much about this at the moment, as it is a matter for the future.

"The premier and head of the NCPO, Prayut Chan-o-cha, has always insisted that he would always stick to the roadmap," said Prawit.

Talking on the same topic, former prime minister General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh suggested that the charter drafters prepare two constitutions for people to choose. As for Borwornsak's proposal to accept the charter and use it for five years before changing it, Chavalit said it was not enough.

"It's better to have an alternative for the people."

In a related development, former prime minister Chuan Leekpai said the new draft charter has been written in such a way that if he were to run for a seat in the House for the first time, it would be difficult or almost impossible for him to win.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Referendum-up-to-NRC-and-CDC-PM-30259067.html


-- The Nation 2015-04-30

[bobmac10]

Total BS

just shows the amount of respect he has for ordinary Thais.

[Praematura]

I mean a dictator can only do so much with unlimited power...

"He has no power to order a referendum..." Lol

[DennisF]

Oh and so the stupidity continues.....

There just has to be an end to this....

I vote for a coup

Edited: Keyboard went 44 and forgot how to spell..... It did not have the power to auto-correct.

Edited April 30, 2015 by DennisF

[Always18]

"The prime minister further said that he could not stop the next government from amending the constitution as there is no provision in the current draft that prohibits constitutional amendments."

Is there a provision that explains how to amend the constitution?

Yes - it's the section that requires the proposed amendments to be submitted to the military for approval......................

[Bellacissa]

Nevertheless, Prawit added that we should not think too much about this at the moment, as it is a matter for the future.

Consider only today, never tomorrow. Oh, the Thainess...

Is there an Office of Future Thinking? I think there is a definite need here. Maybe someone in the Inactive Post Department could slide over?

[Lovekorat]

I am no supporter of military intervention in any 'democracy', but when he arrived I thought ok, if he stops the violence then that's something.

But of course he didn't stop the violence using rhetoric, considered opinions and an understanding of the problems, just with the shadow of the gun and threats about disruption.

Ok, the problems stopped but they seem to have been replaced by a different set of problems of a more dangerous kind.

I feel a bit sorry for him now.

He appears way out of his depth and is struggling to maintain any credibility. And no matter what he thinks about the opinion polls that are presented for our consumption, he is not popular in many circles and even less overseas. Mr Bean I am told he was likened to in one journal.

He attacks the press when they question him, denies freedom of speech, treats the people he is unelected to represent as second and third class citizens , tells girls if you don't want to get murdered don't wear bikinis,and has achieved very little except clearing a few beaches of dodgy vendors, oh and arresting a few potential opponents for corruption while ignoring those on the other side.

The constitution the Thai people are supposed to be getting is constantly delayed, presumably because they cannot find a way to make sure they win, and then he announces absolute power for himself but then says I cannot order a referendum.

He cannot clear up corruption and most Thai's know why and tries to divert attention away from the real issues this country is facing.

If he wants to get the job he so clearly covets it doesn't seem to have crossed his mind that he needs to start actually doing something.

With over a million Thai people ( estimated figure from WHO) who do not have food, proper facilities and endless other needs , beggars on the streets, orphanages that are often run and funded by foreigners who care for children with HIV etc and receive nothing from his government in the way of assistance, and 'the under Thai law, illegal prostitution' that is allowed to be legal because the police are taking bribes and money from the girls and the bars openly to allow them to continue, ( some, not all, of whom are only doing it to send money home to impoverished families in the north beset by the aforementioned problems,) isn't it about time he started looking at what he's going to do to help them and thus maybe win their support ?

As an educated Thai man said to me last week, 'do you really think he's bothered?'

I wonder why he turns his back on the people he 'came to save'?

When you set yourself up as an 'untouchable' then I am afraid the buck stops with you.

And the icing on the cake is that to prevent the buck stopping anywhere he has built in to this new judicial system an amnesty for him and all those involved in the coup.

So effectively he can do what he likes with no buck stopping anywhere near him

Isn't that one of the things that kicked this while thing off....amnesty for certain people.

I fear this beautiful country and the majority of its people, not the rich ones of course,

are hurtling headlong towards disaster.

I know some, not me I might add, think that history is really boring but it does give us practical examples of. what can happen if you push a people just that bit too hard.

He has his power, he has control, he has his authority, so.......I hope he wakes up one morning and thinks ok, I can do this, let's make a start here.

But to be honest I am not holding my breath.

What a shame.

What a mess.

But this is South East Asia.

As foreigners living here we should not try and impose our way of life on Thai people. God knows the west has it's own corruption, lies and deceit in its various governments especially within one that shall remain nameless, but surely the majority of the people deserve better than this don't they?

This is Thailand. Paradise.

It's not of course but it could get very close if someone can sort it out.

I hope either the general or someone else does.

[15Peter20]

"He said that it would depend on the National Reform Council to decide whether there should be a referendum or not."

Probably better to come from the reform committee than from the PM. Mind you, from comments I gather some posters would really like the PM to force his way through

Do you enjoy being lied to?

He said he hasn't got the power to order a referendum. Section 44 gives him that power. What part of this logic do you disagree with?

[tracker1]

He said that the draft charter was written in a way to resolve the country’s core problems among them corruption, lack of transparency and misuse of power by politicians with an intention to effect reform. Have they been implemented ? Not sure they are working if it has !

[Alwyn]

but he has power to eject a democratically elected government?

and the constitution that was in place at the time

[Alwyn]

How can one person be so full of sh*t but only have one body?

[wowfactor10]

No longer in government Kaki uniforms ?

Nice flowers too