Politicians rebuke Meechai over ‘distortion’ comment

[webfact]

Politicians rebuke Meechai over ‘distortion’ comment
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- PHEU THAI politicians have called on Meechai Ruchupan and his team of charter drafters to be held responsible if the constitutional draft fails to pass a national referendum.

The politicians also criticised him for threatening to blame such a failure on people who try to distort the document being written by the Constitution Drafting Commission.

Meechai, chairman of the CDC, had said the drafters were working to the best of their ability and were not concerned whether the draft passes a referendum.

However, he added that if the draft failed to pass the vote it would be the result of people causing misunderstanding among voters through distorted claims.

Phumtham Wechayachai, Pheu Thai's caretaker secretary-general, said in an open letter to Meechai that the CDC chairman seemed to believe that voters could be easily misled and influenced.

"His remark seems to reflect this thought. He does not seem to believe in the voters," Phumtham said in the letter. "He does not think that the voters have the potential to choose what they think is the best for them.

"On the contrary, he thinks that people are not clever and could be easily influenced. This is really an insult for the people.

"In fact, if the constitutional draft fails to pass the referendum, the drafters and those overseeing the process should be held responsible. It's because they have caused the country to waste a lot of money, |time and opportunity," he said.

The letter was titled "Phumtham's Note to Meechai: Adhering to Democracy or Supporting Dictatorship?"

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam has expressed his support of a provision in the charter draft that would ban for life any politician found to be involved in irregularities and electoral fraud.

"I agree that there is a need to use strong medicine in order to prevent corrupt politicians from entering politics through election," Wissanu said.

Wattana Muangsuk, another key Pheu Thai figure, said he did not think any politicians would be afraid of such "strong medicine", as long as the country's democratic mechanisms and justice process were respected.

He said Thailand's political conflict and violence were caused by weaknesses in those two areas.

"The CDC's duty is to write a new constitution that is based on the principles of democracy and the rule of law so that it [mandates] political rules respected by all sides," he said.

Wattana said that if the final draft were based on the principles of democracy and the rule of law, most voters would support it.

"Meechai and his team should spend the rest of their time drafting the new constitution in that way. That's better than trying to find excuses or some people to blame," he said.

"They should be aware that if the constitution draft fails to pass the referendum, the people who must be held responsible are Meechai and his team, as well as the people who appointed Meechai."

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Politicians-rebuke-Meechai-over-distortion-comment-30276141.html


-- The Nation 2016-01-05

[tbthailand]

The letter was titled "Phumtham's Note to Meechai: Adhering to Democracy or Supporting Dictatorship?"

he should be careful or he'll get a posting holiday...

[oneday]

"...if the constitutional draft fails to pass the referendum, the drafters and those overseeing the process should be held responsible..."

They are correct and this referendum will fail because the CDC is writting non-Democratic rules/laws/sections into the Draft.

[tuanku]

if the draft failed to pass the vote it would be the result of people causing misunderstanding among voters through distorted claims.

This sentence is better written as if the draft failed to pass the vote it would be a result of us failing to cause a misunderstanding among voters through distorted claims

[Srikcir]

I doubt Meechai is really concerned about the draft failing a referendum any more than Prayut is concerned. If it fails, Prayut says he has other "options." I think Meechai knows what the other option is and it doesn't matter what the cause for failure is. His draft will remain intact without changes.

The 1997 junta draft Constitution junta never went to a national referendum. It was approved by the junta-appointed National Assembly, then endorsed by the monarchy. If the Meechai draft fails a referendum, Prayut may decide to use the same process again, effectively bypassing the Thai electorate and adhering to his roadmap timetable for elections.

[Baerboxer]

The letter was titled "Phumtham's Note to Meechai: Adhering to Democracy or Supporting Dictatorship?"

he should be careful or he'll get a posting holiday...

Is Phumatham connected to the UDD - United Defense for Dictatorship ?

He certainly wants to mislead and influence the voters, something he accuses others of.

Usual PTP fare.

[jesimps]

The letter was titled "Phumtham's Note to Meechai: Adhering to Democracy or Supporting Dictatorship?"

he should be careful or he'll get a posting holiday...

Is Phumatham connected to the UDD - United Defense for Dictatorship ?

He certainly wants to mislead and influence the voters, something he accuses others of.

Usual PTP fare.

He's merely making comments on the draft charter, a very basic right which all political parties should be entitled to being that it will affect everyone, not just the junta.

[toybits]

"Meechai, chairman of the CDC, had said the drafters were working to the best of their ability and were not concerned whether the draft passes a referendum."

Was this a typo? They SHOULD be concerned if the draft fails to pass because it would mean they did a very sloppy job. The reason they are in that position is that they have been tasked to create a draft constitution that would be used to govern the country. THAT - my dear K. Meechai, is your unfortunate job.

[scorecard]

"Meechai, chairman of the CDC, had said the drafters were working to the best of their ability and were not concerned whether the draft passes a referendum."

Was this a typo? They SHOULD be concerned if the draft fails to pass because it would mean they did a very sloppy job. The reason they are in that position is that they have been tasked to create a draft constitution that would be used to govern the country. THAT - my dear K. Meechai, is your unfortunate job.

On the other side of the coin, perhaps the paymaster and his gang should remember the paymasters' very public statements 'democracy is not my goal', 'democracy is not important for Thailand'.

And on top of that his minions (salaries incapable yes men) / puppet / clone /fake pm openly made quite some progress to destroy the pillars of democracy and circumvent the rule of law.