CDC spokesman: Rewrite of Article 41, 42, 43 and 54 of draft charter completed

BANGKOK, 24 February 2016 (NNT) – The spokesman of the Constitution Drafting Commission has updated the progress of the charter rewrite.

CDC spokesman Chatchai Na Chiang Mai on Tuesday told reporters that the charter drafters have already reviewed opinions and suggestions from the public and various agencies and organizations and applied them to the rewrite of Article 41, 42, 43 and 54 of the draft Constitution.

Mr. Chatchai said that the rewrite of these articles have made them clearer in their own ways.

For Article 41, the CDC has clearly specified that individuals or communities have the right to sign a petition to propose any state agency to launch any action to benefit the public or communities, or to suspend any action that may affect their well-being.

The charter drafters also rewrote Article 42 to endorse any individual’s freedom to form an association, a co-op, a union or a community organization while the rewritten Article 43 now clearly confirms the rights of individuals and communities to help manage, maintain and make use of national resources, the environment and biodiversity in a sustainable manner.

Lastly, the charter drafters have changed the content of Article 54 to make sure that the government will act against any action of any authorities to allow for the impact on the quality of the environment, health and sanitation, and life.


-- NNT 2016-02-24

So much for listening to the peoples written submissions stated only yesterday. No wonder they didnt want negative media reporting the flaws. The 4 to 5 year cycle begins again.

At least it "appears" they are listening this time compared to the last time when they had closed ears which resulted in voters disapproving the draft charter.

This time, the charter might actually pass....not to imply that means it's a good charter.

The charter drafters also rewrote Article 42 to endorse any individual’s freedom to form an association, a co-op, a union or a community organization

How thoughtful.

Whereas the abolished 2007 Constitution, Part II Liberties to Assembly and Association, had the following provisions:

Article 63: A person shall enjoy the liberty to assemble peacefully and without arms.

Article 64: A person shall enjoy the liberty to unite and form an association, a union, a league, a co-operative, a farmer group, a private organization, a non-governmental organization or any other group.

So the junta takes liberties from the Thai people, then graciously returns them. Albeit under a layer of new organic laws that essentially strangles those liberties.

And Article 44?