Activist warns citizens against becoming 'pets of rulers' with new charter

[Lite Beer]

Activist warns citizens against becoming 'pets of rulers' with new charter
PRAVIT ROJANAPHRUK
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- NOT even the much-anticipated national referendum can legitimise the junta-sponsored draft charter, though those opposing it are most likely to vote against it, Supanut Boonsod of the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) group said yesterday.

"Demands must be made of the next elected government to amend this new constitution [if it passes the referendum] and eventually draft a new charter," he said.

Supanut said Thailand's biggest problem was its many constitutions. This charter, if accepted in the referendum, will become the Kingdom's 20th in 83 years, he said. This means that the average life span of each of these 20 constitutions has been just over four years and people have not felt a sense of ownership with any of them.

He said Thailand needed a genuine constitution that is written in a participatory manner from bottom up - a point that is the exact opposite of this draft charter. The entire process of drafting it was driven by the junta, also known as the National Council for Peace and Order, which appointed the drafters and set several conditions in the process, including having the junta-appointed National Reform Council decide on whether it can go through a national referendum.

"There's no legitimacy in any of these steps. It [the draft charter] came about illegally," Supanut argued, adding that some of his colleagues would not even participate in the referendum because they regard the entire process illegitimate.

Supanut said he would go to vote against the draft charter, because he wants his voice to be registered.

"I don't accept this draft charter, but voting [against it] is a choice," he said, adding that the TLHR is not likely to come up with a position on whether people should reject the draft charter by voting against it or by not participating in the process at all.

Supanut said he understood that millions would still endorse the draft charter, which curbs the authority of elected politicians, because they don't trust politicians. However, he warned that these people would be harming themselves eventually.

"Democracy is a system in which the power rests with the people. Going against this system is like locking yourself in a cage, and becoming a pet that belongs to the rulers. It's harmful," he said, adding that he hopes people will understand this and allow the democratic system to work things out.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Activist-warns-citizens-against-becoming-pets-of-r-30268189.html

-- The Nation 2015-09-05

[noitom]

Not pets rather sheeple.

[tbthailand]

"Democracy is a system in which the power rests with the people. Going against this system is like locking yourself in a cage, and becoming a pet that belongs to the rulers. It's harmful," he said, adding that he hopes people will understand this and allow the democratic system to work things out.

how true....

[Praematura]

Why so many charters and constitutions? Um let's see who overthrew the elected government and then deal with the source of the problem.

[Bluespunk]

"Activist warns citizens against becoming 'pets of rulers' with new charter"

Too late.

By several decades.

[rubl]

The NRC should have taken the 2007 constitution and used input from all 'modification attempts' and other comments to improve it once more. That way Thailand would have a constitution already in place since 1997.

BTW may I assume all posters here have read and/or studied their country of origin's constitution and any amendments over the years ? Did you notice that a few pages of constitution require rows of cupboards with law books to explain?

[Emster23]

"Demands must be made of the next elected government to amend this new constitution [if it passes the referendum] and eventually draft a new charter," he said."

Doesn't the charter give power to special committee to overrule and/or dissolve parliament in interests of national security? Seems that would put a lock on attempts to make democracy actually mean something here.

[Now or Never]

Obviously these so called activists support the previous government who ran the country using the Big C terrorists convicted and sentenced to life in prison after confessing to their terrorist activities.

[Broken Record]

Not pets rather sheeple.

Not much choice when your staring at a loaded gun.

[Jai Dee]

One flame post and subsequent replies have been removed from this thread.

[sawadee1947]

"pets" might be ok, because pets would be hugged and cuddled sometimes. "Slave" would be a good expression. You can order them and they have to obey!

[cockatoowho]

The Pets are the Junta, the rulers the Elite / Chinese so it is very true what has been previously posted, the Citizens are the Slaves. Add to that the foreign tourists are the Idiot Financiers and we have Amazing Thailand.

[Just1Voice]

Obviously these so called activists support the previous government who ran the country using the Big C terrorists convicted and sentenced to life in prison after confessing to their terrorist activities.

Inane comments such as yours give good argument for the installation of a "Dislike" button on TVF.

[rubl]

Obviously these so called activists support the previous government who ran the country using the Big C terrorists convicted and sentenced to life in prison after confessing to their terrorist activities.

Inane comments such as yours give good argument for the installation of a "Dislike" button on TVF.

The first step in the 'right' direction? Followed by mandatory re-education as to what one voice mean?

[Srikcir]

The NRC should have taken the 2007 constitution and used input from all 'modification attempts' and other comments to improve it once more. That way Thailand would have a constitution already in place since 1997.

BTW may I assume all posters here have read and/or studied their country of origin's constitution and any amendments over the years ? Did you notice that a few pages of constitution require rows of cupboards with law books to explain?

Nothing to explain with the United Kingdom constitution - it has none yet democracy has continued to exist there for more than 400 years.

Thailand has had a new constitution almost every 4 years and still can't sustain a democractic regime.

The point you inadvertantly make is that constitutions can be and are amended by democratic regimes throughout the world WITHOUT undemocratic overthrow and use of totalitarian rule. What makes Thailand the exception is that the military establishment operates OUTSIDE of the constitution, sees itself as having legitimate authority to deprive Thais of their constitutional rights and liberties, and has the right unilaterally to impose its own rule of law upon the people.

No amount of "cupboards" with law books will ever sustain a Thai people's constitution until the military pledges its loyalty to the same.

[EnglishJohn]

I got as far as "Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR)" and stopped reading.

People hiding behind a 'Human Rights' banner to propagate their political rhetoric and bias are as low as snakes. Some people have no shame.

He got 'Thailand's biggest problem' completely wrong. It's not the number of constitutions, it's the absence of ethics in the people around them. Himself as much as anybody.

[rubl]

The NRC should have taken the 2007 constitution and used input from all 'modification attempts' and other comments to improve it once more. That way Thailand would have a constitution already in place since 1997.

BTW may I assume all posters here have read and/or studied their country of origin's constitution and any amendments over the years ? Did you notice that a few pages of constitution require rows of cupboards with law books to explain?

Nothing to explain with the United Kingdom constitution - it has none yet democracy has continued to exist there for more than 400 years.

Thailand has had a new constitution almost every 4 years and still can't sustain a democractic regime.

The point you inadvertantly make is that constitutions can be and are amended by democratic regimes throughout the world WITHOUT undemocratic overthrow and use of totalitarian rule. What makes Thailand the exception is that the military establishment operates OUTSIDE of the constitution, sees itself as having legitimate authority to deprive Thais of their constitutional rights and liberties, and has the right unilaterally to impose its own rule of law upon the people.

No amount of "cupboards" with law books will ever sustain a Thai people's constitution until the military pledges its loyalty to the same.

For one Thailand never had a 'democratic regime' and probably not even a democratic government.

So, constitutions get modified and to ensure fairness, the law, etc., etc. there tend to be very strict restrictions as to what and how.

As for 'military pledges', the previous government tried to get the Military to instate Martial Law to allow elections to procide. Is that your idea of how the army should listen to the government?