Democrats urge PM to hold a referendum

[Lite Beer]

DRAFT CHARTER
Democrats urge PM to hold a referendum
THE SUNDAY NATION May 17, 2015 1:00 am

BANGKOK: -- Say people must have a say on laws that bind them; deny political motivation

THE DEMOCRAT Party has urged the Prayut government to amend the interim charter to pave the way for a public referendum to be held on the draft constitution.

Democrat Party spokesman Ramet Rattanachaweng said a public referendum on the new charter was a must because the charter was binding on people across the country.

He said people were directly affected. Holding a plebiscite was necessary, as it would provide legitimacy to the charter, which would help prevent conflict and hassles in the future.

He said the public must be well informed about content in the draft charter before a referendum is held.

He rejected speculation that politicians' push for a public referendum was politically motivated and geared towards extending the term of the coup-installed government. "We want a charter which is as democratic as possible. The people are the judge of the real intention of the Prayut government,'' he said.

Democrat Party deputy spokesman Pramual Aimpea urged the Constitution Drafting Committee to accept proposals from the National Reform Council to amend certain points in the charter, especially provision 181-182 on the power of the PM and allowing senators to impeach political officer holders.

"This will show whether the CDC is sincere in reforming the country or just wants to lay a political trap for the country,'' he said.

He said the public had not been informed about the contents of the draft charter because they had been hit hard by economic problems. "If the 36 CDC members refuse to change the charter as proposed by the NRC, instead of spending Bt3 billion on the referendum the government should use this money to shore up farm produce,'' he said.

Pramual praised the NRC members who threatened to vote down the charter if the CDC refused to amend the draft. "But how many people are willing to commit suicide. If they do that, it is equal to playing the game of those in power, who would be allowed to cling to power,'' he said.

Snoh Thienthong, a key figure of the Pheu Thai Party, said the move by the CDC to ask for the approval of the Cabinet and the National Council for Peace and Order to hold a public referendum was beyond his expectation. "I could not believe that the CDC would be sincere in allowing public participation in the charter-drafting process. I fully support the council,'' he said.

Snoh, a veteran politician, said he did not mind delaying the general election in order to hold a referendum.

He said the country was in dire need of reform and the political problems facing the country for over a decade were caused by previous charters especially the 1997 charter, which gave birth to independent agencies such as the Election Commission that had too much power and brought about national conflicts and divisions.

"Nowhere else in the world can such a committee [the Election Commission] give yellow or red cards to anyone and especially when it is not politically neutral - ruling that one political camp is wrong and the other is right,'' he said.

The former Pheu Thai Party MP said former MPs of the party would meet to decide their next move if the National Legislative Assembly accepted the petition from the National Anti-Corruption Commission to impeach 250 former MPs for amending the 2007 Constitution regarding the make-up of the Senate.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Democrats-urge-PM-to-hold-a-referendum-30260272.html

-- The Nation 2015-05-17

[metisdead]

Please use discretion in your references to the government. Phrases which can be considered as anti-coup will be removed. Referring to Thailand or the government as a dictatorship, military dictatorship or other such terms will be removed.

[BSJ]

A referendum is needed so that the people can reject the proposed constitution thereby allowing the PM further time to work on a few revisions and stay a little bit longer for the good of Thailand.

[NongKhaiKid]

Catch 22, tell the PM to hold a referendum, he will spit the dummy and dig his heels in. Remain silent and he will claim the silence show people support him.

[rametindallas]

When both major political parties, PTP and the Democrats, agree that this proposed constitution is not good and would rather delay elections by holding a referendum first, you can be sure that the proposed new constitution stinks. The constitution is so important that it should have to win each and every province for ratification. Put up a choice in the referendum: 1997 People's Constitution, 2007 Constitution, or this self-serving, secret constitution written by a committee hand-picked by a government that came to power with a coup d etat. Do any forum members know/remember how the 1997 Constitution was ratified?

[chainarong]

A referendum is needed so that the people can reject the proposed constitution thereby allowing the PM further time to work on a few revisions and stay a little bit longer for the good of Thailand.

It has been known for sometime your theory , let the people decide and they reject it , the rest will be history

[h90]

A referendum is needed so that the people can reject the proposed constitution thereby allowing the PM further time to work on a few revisions and stay a little bit longer for the good of Thailand.

yes would be good, in the South is already a lot talk about mass demonstrations for Prayut to keep staying.........I want to read the international press if they really do that....

[smedly]

First of all to say these opinions are not politically motivated is a poke in the eye to anyone with a brain, second of all it is only the politicians that are wanting a referendum simply because they think they can convince the Thai people to reject it or at least for the removal of certain parts - why ? is that, well it's because for the first time in Thailand politicians will actually be answerable for their actions and be forced to serve the people and not themselves.

Every working democracy in the world has constraints procedures and forces accountability on office holders to stop abuse and rampant corruption, if this charter is put into law it will represent massive step in changing the perceived ideology that winning an election in Thailand and getting into government is a step to massive personal riches and power, I say no referendum and lets see how it works out over the first couple of years after elections are held, then let the people vote on whether it is working or not

Edited May 17, 2015 by smedly

[Mango Bob]

Anyone who does not want a referendum is just a puppet of the qovernment. They want to be told what to do, how to do it, they are too lazy to voice their opinion on any issue. Just let big brother control you and have no voice or any issues, and God bless Article 44.

[Srikcir]

When both major political parties, PTP and the Democrats, agree that this proposed constitution is not good and would rather delay elections by holding a referendum first, you can be sure that the proposed new constitution stinks. The constitution is so important that it should have to win each and every province for ratification. Put up a choice in the referendum: 1997 People's Constitution, 2007 Constitution, or this self-serving, secret constitution written by a committee hand-picked by a government that came to power with a coup d etat. Do any forum members know/remember how the 1997 Constitution was ratified?

You can google it.

The draft was approved by the National Assembly (something like the military-appointed NLA) with 518 votes for, 16 against, and 17 abstentions.^[5] A referendum, called for if the draft was rejected by the National Assembly, was not necessary.

[jesimps]

You Democrats opened this can of worms by getting into bed with the military and the amart. Now you're about to reap the whirlwind.

[Godders]

The suspicion is growing that the temporary government is using the prolonged gestation of the proposed constitution as an excuse to cling on to power longer than they promised.

The way to counter this criticism is simple: lift the ban on political activity forthwith, call a general election and let a democratically-elected government oversee the process of drawing up a new charter and holding any referendum.

What have the generals got to lose? They are riding so high in the popularity polls that they have only to form their own party to make mincemeat of their rivals at the ballot box.;

[MaxLee]

Democrats urge PM to hold a referendum

"Mommy, mommy,.... we can't win an election collection!!!!