CDC suggests PM to allow public referendum of new charter

[webfact]

CDC suggests PM to allow public referendum of new charter

BANGKOK, 13 May 2015 (NNT) – The Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) has agreed to send a statement to the Prime Minister, suggesting that a referendum should be initiated regarding the approval of the new constitution, says a CDC spokesman.

After the CDC meeting, the CDC Spokesman Kamnoon Sidhisamarn has said that the committee will send a letter to the Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha today, suggesting a public referendum regarding the approval or disapproval the new constitution among the general public.

He has said that the committee has agreed that a referendum should take place, while the committee has also agreed to change the name of the subcommittees regarding the organic laws into the subcommittee for the study of legislation and drafting laws.

Another CDC Spokesman, Gen Lertrat Ratanavanich, has said that a referendum should take place within 90 days, after the distribution of the drafted constitution to the public, expected after 6 August 2015.

He has said that the CDC respects the constitution as the highest law of the nation, and that requires participation from the public in order to create thorough acceptance and value. The amendment of the core sections of the constitution will require the charter to qualify the public referendum process first.

On the procedures after the referendum whether the results come as approved or disapproved, the CDC Spokesman has said that there are many solutions, but they are not related to the CDC.

He has said that the CDC would like to make suggestion as the Prime Minister once said that he would like to hear feedback from all related persons. He added that the CDC's decision is not intended to put any pressure on the Prime Minister.


-- NNT 2015-05-13

[JOC]

Why waste time and money on a referendum, when the PM has already declared, if the people don't vote the way he wants, he is staying on as the PM??

Time to stop "playing democracy" and put the uniforms back on.............

[Stradavarius37]

Why waste time and money on a referendum, when the PM has already declared, if the people don't vote the way he wants, he is staying on as the PM??

Time to stop "playing democracy" and put the uniforms back on.............

Hey look kids, Grandpa's awake!!!

[heybruce]

Will the people actually be given 90 days to discuss and publicly critique the proposed constitution? Just curious.

[webfact]

CDC agrees to propose referendum on draft charter



BANGKOK: -- The Constitutional Crafting Committee (CDC) agreed to propose a referendum of the draft charter and would propose the prime minister its decision today.

CDC spokespersons Gen Lertrat Ratanavanit and Khamnoon Sitthisamarn revealed the CDC’s decision after a special meeting today to deliberate the referendum.

They said the CDC reached an unanimous decision to propose the referendum with reason that as the draft charter will be the country’s supreme law which will have impact on the people, therefore they should have a say in the draft charter before it becomes effective.

CDC chairman Bovornsak Uwanno was designated by the meeting to officially notify the prime minister of its decision today.

Khamnoon said the CDC’s proposed referendum was not to pressure the prime minister or to intervene in his personal right to make decision but merely a proposal in principle of the CDC.

It was up to the decision of the prime minister when the cabinet and the National Council for Peace and Order on May 19.

He said if both the military junta and the cabinet agree to the referendum then the draft charter will be submitted to the National Legislative Assembly for amendment.

Referendum could be possible after August 6 when the NLA will meet to vote on the draft charter, and within 90 days after the vote.

Meanwhile Mr Bovornsak said he has already signed off the proposal and sent to the prime minister today.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/cdc-agrees-to-propose-referendum-on-draft-charter


-- Thai PBS 2015-05-13

[webfact]

CDC tells PM to hold referendum on entire charter
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) has proposed to Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha that a national referendum be held on the new charter, a crucial step that it said should not affect the country's roadmap to democracy.

The CDC's referendum call was supported by the National Reform Council, whose chief whip, Alongkorn Ponlaboot, |said voters should be allowed |to decide whether they ap-|prove or reject the entire new charter.

CDC spokesman General Lertrat Rattanawanich said there were five reasons to back the CDC proposal on holding a referendum.

First, legally speaking, the constitution is the country's highest law, which will affect the rights and freedom of all Thai people, so they have the right to examine the proposed charter before it is used.

Second, politically speaking, Thai citizens need to approve or disapprove the proposed charter.

Third, a national referendum was held for the 2007 charter, hence the new constitution should go through the same process for the sake of legitimacy.

Fourth, a national referendum would allow the CDC to explain the rationale and principles of the new charter to the people, and this would be beneficial to all citizens, politicians, bureaucrats and others, all of whom have to abide by the highest law in the land.

Finally, the proposed new charter consists of articles which require the government to hold national referendums on charter amendments that may be needed in the future, so this would set a precedent for such a requirement, he said.

The CDC yesterday held a special session, during which members agreed unanimously to write an official letter to the premier, who is also head of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), urging his government to hold a referendum on the new charter.

Lertrat said that in the event that the majority of voters rejected the proposed constitution, it would be the duty of the NCPO and the Cabinet to decide what to do next. For example, there could be a new charter-drafting body, or one of the previous versions of the constitution might be adopted.

Earlier, CDC chairman Borwornsak Uwanno insisted that a national referendum |must be held to endorse the proposed new charter, but said this would add at least one more month to the whole process because 42 million copies of the charter draft would have to be printed for distribution to eligible voters.

Lertrat believes the Cabinet and the NCPO will hold a joint session to decide on this issue on May 19, while the NLA will likely consider amendments to the interim charter in June.

In a related development, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam made a four-point proposal to the charter drafters yesterday, including doing away with the many new assemblies and committees to be created under the new charter, such as a Citizen's Assembly, Reform Movement Council, Strategic Reform Committee and National Ethics Assembly.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/CDC-tells-PM-to-hold-referendum-on-entire-charter-30260035.html


-- The Nation 2015-05-14

[quandow]

"The CDC Spokesman Kamnoon Sidhisamarn has said that the committee will send a letter to the Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha today, suggesting a public referendum regarding the approval or disapproval the new constitution among the general public."

Upon hearing this idea, PM Cha-cha invoked Article 44, disbanded the CDC and had representatives hauled in for "readjustment." No one has heard from the CDC members since.

[Srikcir]

If Sovereign power truly belongs to all Thais according to Article 3 of the Interim Charter and all the previous constitutions, the CDC as well as the NRC and NLA should DEMAND that Gen. Prayut put the draft 2015 charter before a referendum. The CDC should not have to SUGGEST, ASK or ADVISE Prayut to do so. If Prayut refuses, the entire government including the judicial system should resign as a show of solidarity to the Thai people.

It is not enough to dream of democracy.