Draft charter: Thai politicians may be allowed to air their views

[webfact]

DRAFT CHARTER
Politicians may be allowed to air their views
THE NATION

FORUMS MAY BE SET UP TO DISCUSS CHARTER

BANGKOK: -- THE ELECTION Commission is considering allowing forums for political parties to express their views on the draft charter, while a decision on whether to lift the ban on political gatherings is up to the National Council for Peace and Order, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam has said.

Wissanu said he had received some details from the EC already, but needed to look further into them.

He said there was still the issue of whether political parties could hold forums by themselves. But what was certain was public campaigns could not be held, just like in the lead-up to elections, he said.

Wissanu said the EC was responsible for any related activities ahead of the referendum.

He said various groups had inquired about using items such as stickers or flags to symbolise election campaigns, and the request was being looked into.

But he stressed that any activity aimed at invoking an opposition response or violence was not allowed, even via the expression of a personal opinion.

He admitted that it was unlikely there would be a sufficient amount of time ahead of the referendum to educate everyone about it, but he said the process would be done without bias.

Pravit Rattanapian, an Election commissioner, said the EC was looking at formulating regulations that would allow politicians to register ahead of the referendum so they could air their opinions.

However, he said activities aimed at inciting a public disturbance would not be allowed.

General Surasak Kanjanarat, chair of the NCPO's reconciliation and reform committee, said at a |seminar on long-term reform work yesterday that the political temperature would become tenser as the vote on the charter by the National Reform Council draws nearer.

But he insisted that the proposal to set up the National Strategic Reform and Reconciliation Committee would result in good consequences for the country.

"People should not judge [the committee] by their feelings, but rather see its authority in detail," he said.

Surasak said he was worried about how Thais would judge the draft charter without understanding it well.

He said it was time for people to find a new balance between moral standards and personal gain so that true reform could be brought about.

Alongkorn Ponlaboot, the NRC whip, said the NRC would meet tomorrow to review its reform proposals, and may also consider the procedures to be used for the September 6 vote on the draft.

He said the proposals included the questions to be asked in the |referendum in accordance with the interim charter.

In a related development, a Nida Poll conducted last Wednesday and Thursday asked about 1,200 people whether they wanted the NRC to vote to approve the draft charter.

Some 40 per cent of the respondents said they wanted the charter draft approved so they could vote on it in the referendum

Asked if they would vote in favour of the draft in the referendum, 40 per cent said they would because the NRC's endorsement should guarantee the draft's standard to some extent.

Some 28 per cent of respondents said they would abstain from voting in the referendum as they did not know its content well enough, while 15 per cent said they would vote against the draft because it tended to benefit some political groups more than the public.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Politicians-may-be-allowed-to-air-their-views-30267787.html


-- The Nation 2015-08-31

[WhizBang]

And this charter is supposed to bring true democracy to Thailand. But one cannot hold public meetings to discuss it, or form any kind of opposition to it and one definately cannot publically air any opposition to it or why it should be rejected.

Just blindly accept what dear leader says is good for you.

Ok. Got it.

[tbthailand]

He said there was still the issue of whether political parties could hold forums by themselves. But what was certain was public campaigns could not be held, just like in the lead-up to elections, he said.

Democracy junta-style, no campaigning.

This will be worse than 2007.

[tbthailand]

And this charter is supposed to bring true democracy to Thailand. But one cannot hold public meetings to discuss it, or form any kind of opposition to it and one definately cannot publically air any opposition to it or why it should be rejected.

Just blindly accept what dear leader says is good for you.

Ok. Got it.

spot on, but remember, the ONLY people claiming this constitution is democratic are the military generals and their hand-picked people who wrote it. Everyone else is calling it a giant step backwards for democracy. A throwback to the 60s.

[tomhell]

Politicians may be allowed to air their views

wow, what a headline! It´s really funny how the the rich elites in Bangkok (and everywhere else) always talk about: Nation - Religion - King

I think it´s clear for all intelligent people it´s just about money and power. They use the military to avoid real democratic change.

Why are ther are no progressive/left-wing parties in Thailand? Are Thai people free to found parties?

[Lupatria]

Politicians may be allowed to air their views

as long as…

[bamnutsak]

It is amazing that they clearly do not have any plan whatsoever.

Every day some NCPO/NLA/NRC/CDC stooge flaps his gums about banning any sort of public discourse on the new charter.

Surasak said he was worried about how Thais would judge the draft charter without understanding it well.

Well, if they are not free to discuss it, expressing both positives and negatives, then how can they be expected to understand all ~315 pages, and ~ 65,000 words?

I think they (NRC/NLA) should just approve the new Constitution, have Filed Marshal Prayut approve it, and send it to the King for endorsement and Gazetting.

There is no need to involve the "people".

[Srikcir]

"any activity aimed at invoking an opposition response or violence was not allowed, even via the expression of a personal opinion."

Why waste the public's funds and give it hope for a democractic society with this referendum?

If the Junta can't afford even personal expression, the draft Constitution is already a fake.

The Junta might as well get the final draft endorsed, passed by the junta-appointed NLA into law and just move forward with its control of the nation.

[Blackfalds]

Amazing how predictable these people are.

I said yesterday to expect a blizzard of phony Polls pretending to be Public Opinion Polls, but rooted in one side of the political divide. All of them touting the wonders of 'their' constitution.

The confirendum hasn't even started yet but they are not waiting:

a Nida Poll conducted last Wednesday and Thursday asked about 1,200 people whether they wanted the NRC to vote to approve the draft charter.

Some 40 per cent of the respondents said they wanted the charter draft approved so they could vote on it in the referendum

Asked if they would vote in favour of the draft in the referendum, 40 per cent said they would because the NRC's endorsement should guarantee the draft's standard to some extent.

If there is any doubt about these Polls efficacy, the above quote should dispel that, except for those who want to believe.

Edited August 31, 2015 by Blackfalds

[MZurf]

And this charter is supposed to bring true democracy to Thailand. But one cannot hold public meetings to discuss it, or form any kind of opposition to it and one definately cannot publically air any opposition to it or why it should be rejected.

Just blindly accept what dear leader says is good for you.

Ok. Got it.

spot on, but remember, the ONLY people claiming this constitution is democratic are the military generals and their hand-picked people who wrote it. Everyone else is calling it a giant step backwards for democracy. A throwback to the 60s.

"the ONLY people claiming this constitution is democratic are the military generals and their hand-picked people who wrote it."

Not that they matter but don't forget the TVF junta cheerleaders like djjamie, halloween, englishjohn et al.

[fred Kubasa]

Many/most of their previous and current " Views " are what screwed up Thailand in the first

place. Thailand desperately needs a Trump like person to chop heads !

[lildragon]

Democrats or the PTP or indeed any form of flawed civilian government has to be an improvement on this bunch of absolutely out of touch dinosaurs.

Edited August 31, 2015 by lildragon