PM can't skirt decision on referendum too long

[Lite Beer]

NATION ANALYSIS
PM can't skirt decision on referendum too long
SOMROUTAI SAPSOMBOON
NATION NEW AGENCY

BANGKOK: -- ISSUE LIKELY TO BE DISCUSSED LATER THIS MONTH BY NCPO AND THE CABINET

DESPITE Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha's repeated remark that the time has not come to decide on whether a national referendum will be held on the draft charter, reporters continue to put the question to him.

"Whether there will be a referendum or not, it will be considered again - I cannot answer it now," Prayut said on his weekly TV talk on Friday.

If one looks at Prayut's stance on the issue so far, both as PM and as head of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), it is obvious that he has been evasive. Reporters continue to ask him this question, something Prayut seems unhappy about.

But it doesn't look like there is going to be any respite from him until there is some clarity on the issue.

Before the provisional charter came into effect, Prayut said people should wait and see the provisional charter first. Nothing was written in it about a referendum, however, Prayut has never said that it would be forbidden and neither was it forbidden in the provisional constitution.

Prayut chose to stick to his stance, saying it's not time to decide even though the provisional charter is 10 months old and the charter-writing process is beyond the half-way mark. This leads to the question 'why?'

On one hand, it must be acknowledged that the public has got used to the notion that a referendum is the best way to gauge whether a draft charter is acceptable to the people or not.

This despite the fact that only the 2007 draft charter went through a referendum. Denial of a referendum would be seen as a regressive move.

Prayut seems to be skirting the issue because at this stage, there is no need for him to commit himself. Any move regarding the referendum will have a political impact, which could create ripples in society.

If the decision is to have a referendum, the immediate question will be whether people can have another charter written if this draft is rejected. There has been talk of reviving the 2007 charter or even the 1997 charter as an alternative.

Will the charter-drafting process begin anew with new voters choosing members of the new charter-drafting committee?

The interim charter stipulates that any decision should be made before the National Reform Council (NRC) votes on the draft charter on August 6.

If Prayut says no to a referendum, he is bound to come under severe criticism.

The Cabinet will meet with the NCPO on May 19 and the two must forward proposals for possible amendments to the draft charter. It is also expected that they may discuss the issue of a referendum and this may be the first time we will hear Prayut's stance on the draft charter and perhaps on a referendum.

Whether there will be a referendum or not and when an election will be held - all these depends on the situation, as Prayut has mentioned earlier.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/PM-cant-skirt-decision-on-referendum-too-long-30259729.html

-- The Nation 2015-05-10

[Lite Beer]

'Growing calls for referendum on charter'
THE SUNDAY NATION

BANGKOK: -- CALLS for a national referendum on the draft charter is growing, Surachai Liengboonlertchai, first vice president of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) has said, noting that the current climate is ready for a plebiscite.

Surachai said the NLA would meet on Friday and Saturday to deliberate on the draft charter and decide on amendments the assembly would propose to the Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDC). He said it has not been decided whether the assembly will vote in order to arrive at decisions on various proposals.

Among 10 issues tabled for debate are a non-elected prime minister, how members of parliament and senators will be elected or selected, the merging of the National Human Rights Commission with the Ombudsman's Office and whether to hold a referendum on the draft charter.

The NLA is expected to forward its proposed amendments to the CDC by May 25.

Surachai said although the call for a referendum is widespread, a decision needed to be made on whether the referendum should be only on certain Articles or the whole draft charter.

In a related development, Wiwat Salayakamthorn, a member of the National Reform Council (NRC) and deputy chairman of the council's educational reform committee, cast doubt on the maturity of ordinary Thais to decide their political future.

Wiwat said a large group of NRC members met and debated the maturity of the people and whether they should be given full power or not, and were ready to shoulder such a responsibility.

Wiwat said people needed to change their way of thinking and reform their responsibility and morality otherwise the country could not survive, even with the best of laws and constitution.

Government spokesperson Yongyuth Mayalarp, meanwhile, said Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha has instructed all |ministries, departments and state agencies to come up with proposals to amend the draft charter by Thursday.

The focus, he said, was on how the new charter would affect their work.

Regarding a referendum, Yongyuth said the time had not arrived to make a decision on the matter as the draft charter was still to be amended.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Growing-calls-for-referendum-on-charter-30259728.html

[NongKhaiKid]

It's obvious what the writer is saying but the truth of the matter is that the PM has absolute control and all the committees etc. are his handpicked people.

Nothing is going to happen until he says so or there's a major public backlash which we can be sure will be resisted if he has decided to overstay his welcome although welcome is only part of an expression and not necessarily reflective of the peoples' mood.

[Mango Bob]

Once again the mind through of the elite class shows in the statement that the people do not have the maturity to make a decision on the charter.

[NongKhaiKid]

Once again the mind through of the elite class shows in the statement that the people do not have the maturity to make a decision on the charter.

An ex-gf used to say, in private of course, that the government didn't want the people educated because things wouldn't be so easy for them and it couldn't be more obvious than now.

Not an uncommon attitude though as recently the Chief Executive of Hong Kong said in his opinion anyone earning less than HK$13,000 a month shouldn't have the vote.

Those in authority are supposed to be public servants but far too many see it the other way round.

[Praematura]

Hopefully someone at some point drastically cuts the military's budget so the cycle of coup, election redrafting ends.

Pay all these generals off, stop conscription and cut the budget. As far back as Rome generals weren't allowed into the city with soldiers in tow for obvious reasons we say in May 2014.

Thailand faces an existential military threat from where justifying a large military with an aircraft carrier and several subs to come? They shit on their only majority military ally (USA) by jumping in bed with China so Cobra gold is just humanitarian relief until it's cancelled. They have no international disputes except for a few temples on the borders of Cambodia and some minor skirmishes with Burma. ASEAN integration diminishes the need for a large standing military that can seize power at the whim of the rich elites.

[Plutojames88]

This is akin to bank robbers asking the hostages in the vault if they want to share their thoughts on whether they prefer being blindfolded and gagged or just blindfolded ?

How you know you are dealing with elitists are their inability to talk to you without contempt .

And additional outrage at trying to insist you don't utter anything....subtle and not so subtle threats.

This theatre is irrelevant.

It's just slight of hand to make people forget they actually have hijacked democracy under this charter , and have nil right to be there.

They are just a bunch of army middle aged and senior men with no mandate who will be punished so serverly by the international community and later dealt with , that it won't happen again.

The international community decided on April 1st these rulers are going.

What we see now is just the beginning.

First humiliate them ...deliver sanctions and then demands and then isolate and cut them down.

Watch.

But in the mean time some rocky times ahead.

The biggest fear is when sanctions meet with this guys tantrums .

Edited May 9, 2015 by Plutojames88

[Praematura]

So there going to vote on a charter taking away their rights to vote for the pm and their representatives. TiT[emoji23]

[zaphod reborn]

Once again the mind through of the elite class shows in the statement that the people do not have the maturity to make a decision on the charter.

A referendum would be good, because it would provide a legitimate basis to implement and maintain the charter. I don't think electoral "maturity" is the issue. The lack of education, understanding and, more importantly, the electorate's complete apathy towards the charter are clear impediments to obtaining an informed choice on the issue. I only think politicians and academics are currently in a position to cast a valid vote. This is a huge, complicated document. I have degrees in political science and law, and I would have difficulty with it. It doesn't help that the media has done such a poor job of educating the public about all the charter provisions, instead focusing on a few headline grabbers like direct election of the PM, selection of a non-MP as PM, and the composition of the Senate. A better public debate followed by a referendum would be the ideal path. Holding a referendum now is worthless IMHO.

Edited May 10, 2015 by zaphod reborn

[NongKhaiKid]

This is akin to bank robbers asking the hostages in the vault if they want to share their thoughts on whether they prefer being blindfolded and gagged or just blindfolded ?

How you know you are dealing with elitists are their inability to talk to you without contempt .

And additional outrage at trying to insist you don't utter anything....subtle and not so subtle threats.

This theatre is irrelevant.

It's just slight of hand to make people forget they actually have hijacked democracy under this charter , and have nil right to be there.

They are just a bunch of army middle aged and senior men with no mandate who will be punished so serverly by the international community and later dealt with , that it won't happen again.

The international community decided on April 1st these rulers are going.

What we see now is just the beginning.

First humiliate them ...deliver sanctions and then demands and then isolate and cut them down.

Watch.

But in the mean time some rocky times ahead.

The biggest fear is when sanctions meet with this guys tantrums .

Oh my brain hurts.

[tbthailand]

the 2015 constitution is much more anti-democratic than the 2007 version, so if the general dares to have a referendum, we can expect much more anti-democratic measures to be used to force through the referendum than we saw in 2007.

it's all a mute point. The intervention was not done so that the people could regain self-governance. Cheers...

[Plutojames88]

Once again the mind through of the elite class shows in the statement that the people do not have the maturity to make a decision on the charter.

A referendum would be good, because it would provide a legitimate basis to implement and maintain the charter. I don't think electoral "maturity" is the issue. The lack of education, understanding and, more importantly, the electorate's complete apathy towards the charter are clear impediments to obtaining an informed choice on the issue. I only think politicians and academics are currently in a position to cast a valid vote. This is a huge, complicated document. I have degrees in political science and law, and I would have difficulty with it. It doesn't help that the media has done such a poor job of educating the public about all the charter provisions, instead focusing on a few headline grabbers like direct election of the PM, selection of a non-MP as PM, and the composition of the Senate. A better public debate followed by a referendum would be the ideal path. Holding a referendum now is worthless IMHO.

You over look ( which is what they do ) several key issues.

The charter is not satisfactory as a document that delivers democracy.

You claim to have a political science degree but speak about an oppressive charter that excludes the chance of people's representation , in terms of being good?

You say even you have trouble fathoming it.....well let me help you.

It's an insidious document internationally acclaimed as draconian in its intensions.

It provides a means to rule undemocratically and prevent opponents from gaining power.

It's shameful you pander to these people and try to pretend the paper ( charter ) is anything but the child of rulers committed to over riding the democratic process.

More importantly , it won't fly , it's not acceptable to the international community.

It's fascist in the extreme.

So as I said asking hostages if they like being gagged ( which they are) as well as blindfolded is pointless.

And I would give back my degree if you think a referenda makes for legal status.

One word

Guns .

This power is backed by guns.

In a real election everyone knows the elites get trounced.

Edited May 10, 2015 by Plutojames88

[Plutojames88]

So there going to vote on a charter taking away their rights to vote for the pm and their representatives. TiT[emoji23]

Slight of hand tactic -

It's amazing really , a vote to rid yourself of representation sad .

Thailand 2015

But this guy will now be on the CIA list of people to cut down in time.

He signed his own demise with that charter .

They ( international community) will wipe them out for attempting this.

Now it's possible , to discern who is behind this really , the facade is over.

And it's a dying thing the elites attempt to hang on to influence and oppress the people.

It's literally the death roes of an era passing

[Just1Voice]

I could be wrong (It's happened before. lol), but to me this is all deception, duplicity, smoke and mirrors to merely sustain the current status quo until an event we can't talk about transpires, and they find out which way the new wind will blow, exerting every bit of influence they have, to make sure it blows the way they want.

[anon4546543]

It has been difficult to separate the two main political parties of the past. They did little to advance the plight of the majority, that is the underclass in the cities and the country. This underclass represents the majority of the population. The entire civil service, police and army is over represented in large numbers, is paid peanuts and is not beyond receiving a bit of "grease". Can anyone that wants a return of the former corrupted politics in Thailand truly say that they were/are better than the current junta? My wife says that army man brings little bit peace. I say cheers to everyone here because, as a guest here, I try not to dictate or give an opinion on democracy. Democracy is not understood or practised in my country (Australia) and is a futile ideal to expect from any Asian country. IMHO.

[djjamie]

What is the point. The last referendum showed the undemocratic ways of the 7% fanatical UDD supporters.

This can go two ways.

1/ No referendum which would result in the 7%'ers stating the government are not listening to the voice of the people.

2/ Have a referendum and if the voice of the people goes against the agenda of the 7% UDD fanatics it would be considered a rigged referendum or a forced vote where there were no viable alternative options.

Win win for the UDD propaganda machine. Loss loss for democracy.

Doesn't matter what you do Paryut the UDD will complain and blow things up if it does not get its way.

[Srikcir]

“NRC members met and debated the maturity of the people and whether they should be given full power or not, and were ready to shoulder such a responsibility.”

I don’t know who the NRC considers as “ordinary” Thais are but maturity wasn’t an issue for ordinary Thais to pay taxes, vote in elections, serve in the armed forces, contribute to domestic consumption and foreign trade, be punished for crimes, and believe in the principles of Buddha.

It would seem hypocritical to disenfranchise “ordinary” Thais from voting on their political future when the very draft constitution (as also stated in the 1997 and 2007 constitutions, and in the Interim Charter) that they would vote on states:

Section 3 - The sovereign power belongs to the Thai people.

Section 4 - The human dignity, right, liberty and equality of the people shall be protected.

THE THAI PEOPLE!

If the elite establishment represented by the Junta clone organizations can’t trust ITS POLITICAL FUTURE to the Thai people, then either move aside or concede that they cannot allow a democratic regime of government as prescribed in Section 2 of the draft constitution. Have the military regime continue unmitigated and test the extent of the ordinary Thai's political patience.

[toybits]

Only when he has secured a golden parachute will he let go..

[wowfactor10]

How about figure it all out before even bother writing up charters....