New Thai constitution: Charter 'will empower state over people'

[webfact]

NEW CONSTITUTION
Charter 'will empower state over people'
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- DR NIRAN Pitakwatchara, the National Human Rights Commissioner, has criticised the charter draft, saying it disempowers people while giving the state more power.

Niran dismissed the claim in the charter draft of "upgrading the status of subjects to citizens", saying provisions in the draft did not support that.

For instance, he said the charter draft ignored the rights of migrants, displaced people and ethnic minorities without Thai citizenship - only Thai citizens enjoyed the rights and privileges stated in the charter.

He said these people would not have rights to access official information, file complaints, express an opinion and take part in political activities.

The charter also deprived Thais the right to file complaints against state agencies through the Administrative Court, as provided by the 2007 Charter.

Niran said the draft removed the right of the public to participate in decision-making processes for development policies such as economic zones and industrial estates.

This would pave the way for the state to implement mega projects such as deep-sea ports without allowing people to join in the decision making.

Niran also objected to the plan to merge his agency with the Ombudsman, saying they were independent agencies that help check and balance each other.

He also disapproved of the proposal to set up new independent agencies, and called for current independent agencies to be overhauled and freed from political interference and domination.

"This charter draft is a step back from empowering the people because it gives the state a firmer grip and deprives people of the rights they earlier enjoyed,'' he said.

Meanwhile, at a seminar held by the National Reform Council yesterday, NRC member Sungsidh Piriyarangsan said the 1997 and 2007 charters created parliamentary dictatorships.

He said the 1997 Charter created a turning point in the political landscape because it strengthened political parties, leading to parliamentary dictatorships because of a poor checks-and-balances mechanism in the power structure.

And although the 2007 Charter established independent agencies to serve as a check-and-balances mechanism, the agencies failed to achieve their objectives, he said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Charter-will-empower-state-over-people-30259788.html


-- The Nation 2015-05-11

[Snig27]

Pitakwatchara is right - and it's not a million miles away from the way Communist China runs their state.

[NongKhaiKid]

Has he just worked out this is the idea ?

[Lovekorat]

So basically a police state then.

Is that what we are saying?

[quandow]

It's starting with the Thai folks, soon will spill over to ALL people residing. Time to move on . . .

Silly farang just not understand "Thainess."

[trogers]

My guess is two-thirds of the country does not even know what a Charter is?

[15Peter20]

So basically a police state then.

Is that what we are saying?

Kind of. It is illegal on this forum to describe the exact form of government the junta is seeking to install.

[lucky11]

Pitakwatchara is right - and it's not a million miles away from the way Communist China runs their state.

Pitakwatchara is simply peeved at having his job diluted to irrelevant status (as it should be) as they serve no useful purpose if the truth be known and Piriyarngsan is spot on with his deliberation, particularly his comment about parliamentary dictatorships!!

Bring the new charter on, it is just the medicine the country needs at the moment and all Thai's should welcome it with open arms.

[englishoak]

My guess is two-thirds of the country does not even know what a Charter is?

Sadly probably more like 95% don't

[micmichd]

Pitakwatchara is right - and it's not a million miles away from the way Communist China runs their state.

and EU.

[DM07]

Pitakwatchara is right - and it's not a million miles away from the way Communist China runs their state.

and EU.

Trolllollloollloolllooolll....

[FangFerang]

Curious, no coup and new charter was necessary when Abhisit and Suthep were in power...and lots more people died and property was destroyed....

"Curiouser and curiouser," said Alice to the Cheshire cat hiding in the wings....

[sehervomstein]

Yeah well it fits with the downgrade to Tier 3 does it not?

[elgordo38]

So basically a police state then.

Is that what we are saying?

They are just following the rest of the world who are creeping towards a police state. We are just evolving to the next step where every citizen will be on his own except for the super rich who will have private armies to protect them and their enterprises. First there must be a period of consolidation (It is starting now. Like Pac Man businesses are gobbling each other up with cheap money and exchanging useless paper stock certificates like a monopoly game at an alarming rate and governments do nothing) where 99% of all businesses are controlled by about a dozen uber rich who will live in super fortified fortresses(good movie plot here). They will have their own power structure, deep wells(to reach what little water is left), greenhouses and solar panels. Any poor person who tries to scale the walls will be met with boiling oil from the ramparts. It will truly be a Game of Thrones.

[micmichd]

Then one by one will perish and die.

In the end, they will cannibalize themselves.

Edited May 11, 2015 by micmichd

[bikerlou47]

The charter needs to insure that red shirts will never have the power to choose who will run this country!

Only the elite will have this right!

[tbthailand]

Niran ... disapproved of the proposal to set up new independent agencies, and called for current independent agencies to be overhauled and freed from political interference and domination.

"This charter draft is a step back from empowering the people because it gives the state a firmer grip and deprives people of the rights they earlier enjoyed,'' he said.

I think I like this guy...

Meanwhile, at a seminar held by the National Reform Council yesterday, NRC member Sungsidh Piriyarangsan said the 1997 and 2007 charters created parliamentary dictatorships.

And this guy is a complete and total moron.

[wabothai]

New constitution made by the yellow State.

[Godders]

He said the 1997 Charter created. . . parliamentary dictatorships

As opposed to non-parliamentary dictatorships.

Take your pick - devil or deep blue sea.