Big bike forced off road by car on Bangkok highway - video

[webfact]

Most Bangkokians welcome draft charter
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Meanwhile, the Bansomdej Poll revealed yesterday that most Bangkokians see the draft charter in a positive light. The survey, conducted on August 31 to September 1, covered 1,143 residents.

Of the respondents, 46 per cent believe this draft charter is beneficial for people, though 31 per cent disagree. More than 47 per cent believe the charter will promote democracy, while 32 per cent dismiss the point.

Around 43 per cent say the charter will cut corruption, while 31 per cent disagree. Almost 47 per cent say the new charter will attract more good politicians, versus 28 per cent who disagree. More than 46 per cent said they looked forward to the charter referendum, while 26 per cent said they would ignore it.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Most-Bangkokians-welcome-draft-charter-30268021.html


-- The Nation 2015-09-03

[nidieunimaitre]

Did the poll also ask how many actually read the charter?

[aussieinthailand]

Did the poll also ask how many actually read the charter?

Not only that, did they read it and understand it and the potential it has of an adverse affect on the country as well as positives out comes???

Do they also know that the two major political parties have denounced it, and calling on it to be reviewed?

So how can an accurate outcome of a question be proclaimed when those polled may or may not be fully informed?

Also if and when it goes to the people just how many will read through it and fully understand it? and how many will just vote the way their preferred political party recommends them to vote?

The thing is the people that drafted this have been told no it needs reviewing, the people that are to vote in three days have been told no it needs reviewing, and many others have told that it needs reviewing, but less than 200 out of the 247 selected people that like it will vote and Thailand will have it thrust upon them informed or not.

[Fat Haggis]

NOBODY in our village in Issan has received a copy of the draft charter, and nobody there knows there's supposed to be a vote for it on Sunday!! When I asked my wife and her friends last night if she was voting she hadn't a clue what for!! I told her the new constitution and her and her friends seemed to think that it was only the people in bangkok who were going to vote on this. Now that's hardly surprising since no canvassing was allowed, when you had firebrands like Suthep and Pra Isssara backing these and wanting reforms complete before elections.

Sounds very much like the rural people are about to have the wool pulled over their eyes again, and have Bangkok dictate to the rest of the country once again. I find it quite odd that nobody up here seems to know there's big changes coming with regards to the draft charter, and that they're the ones who get to say yes or no.

[englishoak]

Like watching a trainwreck in slow motion, with no signs of slowing

Pressure cooker springs to mind.

[bamnutsak]

nobody there knows there's supposed to be a vote for it on Sunday!! When I asked my wife and her friends last night if she was voting she hadn't a clue what for!!

Is your wife a member of the NRC? If so, then she'll know where to go to vote.

At some point the people may be allowed to vote for the new Constitution.

[WhizBang]

NOBODY in our village in Issan has received a copy of the draft charter, and nobody there knows there's supposed to be a vote for it on Sunday!! When I asked my wife and her friends last night if she was voting she hadn't a clue what for!! I told her the new constitution and her and her friends seemed to think that it was only the people in bangkok who were going to vote on this. Now that's hardly surprising since no canvassing was allowed, when you had firebrands like Suthep and Pra Isssara backing these and wanting reforms complete before elections.

Sounds very much like the rural people are about to have the wool pulled over their eyes again, and have Bangkok dictate to the rest of the country once again. I find it quite odd that nobody up here seems to know there's big changes coming with regards to the draft charter, and that they're the ones who get to say yes or no.

New flash: Neither you nor you Issan friends get to vote on the charter on Sept 6. That vote is ONLY for the NRC. If the charter passes that vote, then, in about 6 months time, a national referendum will be held. THAT is when you and your Issan friends get to vote on it.

[Blackfalds]

Bansomdej Poll

So where does this Poll originate, so one can contextualize it's motivations and results?

Apparently it is a Rjabhat University based thing, and thoroughly Amart rooted.

With that context, judge this thing as you like.

[Fat Haggis]

Thanks for that info guys, for some reason I had the public referendum in my head for September, thanks for the clarification, she's deffo not in the NRC although she thinks she is as she's a right effin boss these days!!

[bamnutsak]

Most Bangkokians welcome draft charter

Still not enough to pass this limp-d*cked excuse of a "constitution". The current "rules" (I know, these can be changed/re-interpreted) say that a majority of registered voters must vote FOR the constiution, not a majority of those who choose to vote. So with 47 million registered voters, 23.5 million must vote for the Constitution.

That said, the NCPO, NRC, NLA, Courts will probably change that to read, a majority of those who vote on the "referendum" day?

[yellowboat]

Does not most development in Thailand happen in Bangkok ? Aren't Bangkok residence better off than their poorer country men in the rural areas. Do Bangkok residence's opinions reflect that of the entire country. I doubt it.

[h90]

Did the poll also ask how many actually read the charter?

Not only that, did they read it and understand it and the potential it has of an adverse affect on the country as well as positives out comes???

Do they also know that the two major political parties have denounced it, and calling on it to be reviewed?

So how can an accurate outcome of a question be proclaimed when those polled may or may not be fully informed?

Also if and when it goes to the people just how many will read through it and fully understand it? and how many will just vote the way their preferred political party recommends them to vote?

The thing is the people that drafted this have been told no it needs reviewing, the people that are to vote in three days have been told no it needs reviewing, and many others have told that it needs reviewing, but less than 200 out of the 247 selected people that like it will vote and Thailand will have it thrust upon them informed or not.

That the two most greedy biggest parties worry that they can't fill their pockets for democracy is actually reason enough to see the draft charter positive.

But anyway it is the complete wrong way. Instead of drafting charter number 700, they should have look into some successful charters like the Swiss one, fix the minor problems, adjust it to the situation in Thailand and use it. It is silly to develop the wheel again.....

[aircut]

bangkok had a population of 1000 back in the late 18th century

[Blackfalds]

Bansomdej Poll

So where does this Poll originate, so one can contextualize it's motivations and results?

Apparently it is a Rjabhat University based thing, and thoroughly Amart rooted.

With that context, judge this thing as you like.

One additional point.

Expect a flurry of these things, all saying essentially the same, couched in Polling lingo/jargon, leading up to the 'confirendum'

NIDA will be front and center.

The Amart will consider this a convenient tool to promote their charter machinations under the guise of public opinion.

Those less discerning will take them at face value, which is their intention.

One can guarantee....You won't see a Poll meaningfully opinionated against the charter, other than some lame minor comments just to add some legitimizing smoke. That will be a safe bet.

[MaxLee]

Bangkok Elite only.... ONLY BAAAANGKOK

[Srikcir]

Did the poll also ask how many actually read the charter?

Not only that, did they read it and understand it and the potential it has of an adverse affect on the country as well as positives out comes???

Do they also know that the two major political parties have denounced it, and calling on it to be reviewed?

So how can an accurate outcome of a question be proclaimed when those polled may or may not be fully informed?

Also if and when it goes to the people just how many will read through it and fully understand it? and how many will just vote the way their preferred political party recommends them to vote?

The thing is the people that drafted this have been told no it needs reviewing, the people that are to vote in three days have been told no it needs reviewing, and many others have told that it needs reviewing, but less than 200 out of the 247 selected people that like it will vote and Thailand will have it thrust upon them informed or not.

That the two most greedy biggest parties worry that they can't fill their pockets for democracy is actually reason enough to see the draft charter positive.

But anyway it is the complete wrong way. Instead of drafting charter number 700, they should have look into some successful charters like the Swiss one, fix the minor problems, adjust it to the situation in Thailand and use it. It is silly to develop the wheel again.....

The Swiss government is a direct democracy with the Head of State and Head of Government controlled by a federal elected council. Unless the Kingdom of Thailand is willing to revert to a Republic, the Swiss charter is entirely inappropriate for Thailand. But there are successful constitutional monarchial governments such as Canada and Japan that might serve as good models.

The problem with Thailand adopting any democratic charter, whether it be foreign or a previous Thai constitution, is that the Thai military will always posses its own sovereignty separate from the Thai people's soveriengty. And it has maintained the right through force to subvert the people's sovereignty at any time and deems itself superior to the people's sovereignty.

There is no present system of democratic governance in the world that allows for such subversion of the people by the military.

[taony]

nobody there knows there's supposed to be a vote for it on Sunday!! When I asked my wife and her friends last night if she was voting she hadn't a clue what for!!

Is your wife a member of the NRC? If so, then she'll know where to go to vote.

At some point the people may be allowed to vote for the new Constitution.

Right, but people should know not only that the NRC is voting for it on Sunday, but also the substance of what they are voting on. Then his wife would have been able to say "No, honey, on Sunday its the NRC voting on it, not us".

[thaiguzzi]

Quite shocked the poll is not 93.7%. It's always 93.7%, regardless of the questions...

[tigermonkey]

Did the poll also ask how many actually read the charter?

Not only that, did they read it and understand it and the potential it has of an adverse affect on the country as well as positives out comes???

Do they also know that the two major political parties have denounced it, and calling on it to be reviewed?

So how can an accurate outcome of a question be proclaimed when those polled may or may not be fully informed?

Also if and when it goes to the people just how many will read through it and fully understand it? and how many will just vote the way their preferred political party recommends them to vote?

The thing is the people that drafted this have been told no it needs reviewing, the people that are to vote in three days have been told no it needs reviewing, and many others have told that it needs reviewing, but less than 200 out of the 247 selected people that like it will vote and Thailand will have it thrust upon them informed or not.

That the two most greedy biggest parties worry that they can't fill their pockets for democracy is actually reason enough to see the draft charter positive.

But anyway it is the complete wrong way. Instead of drafting charter number 700, they should have look into some successful charters like the Swiss one, fix the minor problems, adjust it to the situation in Thailand and use it. It is silly to develop the wheel again.....

The Swiss government is a direct democracy with the Head of State and Head of Government controlled by a federal elected council. Unless the Kingdom of Thailand is willing to revert to a Republic, the Swiss charter is entirely inappropriate for Thailand. But there are successful constitutional monarchial governments such as Canada and Japan that might serve as good models.

The problem with Thailand adopting any democratic charter, whether it be foreign or a previous Thai constitution, is that the Thai military will always posses its own sovereignty separate from the Thai people's soveriengty. And it has maintained the right through force to subvert the people's sovereignty at any time and deems itself superior to the people's sovereignty.

There is no present system of democratic governance in the world that allows for such subversion of the people by the military.

I don't think that you understand the content of the proposed constitution on which NRC is about to vote. You state that "the Thai military will always posses its own sovereignty separate from the Thai people's soveriengty. And it has maintained the right through force to subvert the people's sovereignty at any time and deems itself superior to the people's sovereignty.". The proposed constitution has the mechanism to forever change that situation,

The new constitution would form a new governing body called the National Strategic Reform and Reconciliation Committee ( NSRRC). The NSRRC is an appointed group ( by whom unknown) which supposedly exists to avert any national crisis; the NSRRC would have absolute power over all, elected appointed or otherwise in Thailand to solve any crisis according to their decisions. Does it sound a little like a Politburo - yes it does ! The NSRRC has complete sovereignty !

If the Army controls the NSRRC, it will not need separate sovereignty, its right to make a coup will be vested in the new constitution. I feel reasonably confident that after the next "election" the NCPO will morph into the NSRCC.

Knowledge is a dangerous asset !

[tigermonkey]

I have a simple question for those who claim that they know and or like the draft charter. Please ask them to explain what the NSRRC is, and its place in a democratic government. I have asked roughly 30 people this question, all of whom claimed to know/like the draft charter and most of whom were Thai. Only one person had heard of it, and she completely misunderstood its purpose.

[skildpadden]

The point that worries me the most in the draft charter is the crisis committee who has the authority to intervene with parliamentary politics. That could be mis-used in the future.