Bangkok Poll reveals planned charter referendum findings

BANGKOK: While the Election Commission is confident to see over 80% of eligible voters coming out to vote in the August 7 charter referendum, the leading research centre, Bangkok Poll, says only half of the voters will go to the polling stations to vote.

Bangkok University Research Center or known as Bangkok Poll conducted the poll using simple random sampling by phone interviews with a total of 1,198 people in all regions on a two-day survey this week.

According to Bangkok Post, it found out that 58.4% of people asked said they will come out for the August 7 referendum of the draft constitution.

But it also found that 19.1% will not go to the poll and 22.5% remained undecided.

Of the people coming out to vote, Bangkok Poll says, only 34.5% will vote “Yes” for the charter.

8% will vote “No” while 21% will abstain, and 36.5% remain uncertain.

But Bangkok Poll says it discovered from the phone interviews that 56.6% of people were unaware that the draft constitution has already been finished and put for referendum, while 43.4% said they knew of the draft constitution being ready for referendum.

Asked which should be an option if the draft constitution is rejected in the referendum, 33.3% said they wanted the present interim constitution drafted by the National Council for Peace and Order in 2014 be used in its place.

However 18.4% preferred the 1997 charter and 17% would like the 2007 constitution.

But the remaining 31.3% were undecided.

For the last question of “training courses” for all groups of people critical of the government, 77.3% agreed to the courses, 14.6 disagreed and 8.1% uncertain.

Earlier a commissioner of the Election Commission (EC) Mr Dhirawat Dhirarojvit said that the EC aimed to draw 80% of eligible voters to the August 7 charter referendum

He said this aim might be deemed “daydreaming” by some people but the EC was determined to achieve it.

EC plans to use about three billion baht to hold the referendum.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/158008

-- Thai PBS 2016-04-03

Looking forward to the real results and even more so that those results are respected even if it doesn't suit some.

So the poll is saying most Thai people don't know or care about a new charter. Is it because of who wrote it?

Looking forward to the real results and even more so that those results are respected even if it doesn't suit some.

yes we all know you support this while Thais are not allowed to discuss, disagree or debate it and the new camps are got ready to detain still more

Looking forward to the real results and even more so that those results are respected even if it doesn't suit some.

yes we all know you support this while Thais are not allowed to discuss, disagree or debate it and the new camps are got ready to detain still more

Well, that's democracy Junta and djjamie style. Let's vote on a charter that cements eternal elite rule, but, of course, any public debate is not allowed.

Yet again, more rubbish!

Looking forward to the real results and even more so that those results are respected even if it doesn't suit some.

yes we all know you support this while Thais are not allowed to discuss, disagree or debate it and the new camps are got ready to detain still more

Well, that's democracy Junta and djjamie style. Let's vote on a charter that cements eternal elite rule, but, of course, any public debate is not allowed.

Eternal elite rule! Nooooo...More doom and gloom like tourist numbers will drop and the country will turn to ruin!

Goodness me, that sounds downright awful. Lets hope the majority don't vote for that and if they don't I will respect that majorities voice. However if they do vote for it we all have to respect the majority in that instance too. Which kinda goes back to what I originally said.

Edited April 3, 201610 yr by djjamie

From the Inter-Parliamentary Union,

DECLARATION ON CRITERIA FOR FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS

Unanimously adopted by the Inter-Parliamentary Council at its 154th session

(Paris, 26 March 1994)

Section 4. 4. The Rights and Responsibilities of States

(3) States shall respect and ensure the human rights of all individuals within their territory and subject to their jurisdiction. In time of elections, the State and its organs should therefore ensure:

That freedom of movement, assembly, association and expression are respected, particularly in the context of political rallies and meetings;

That parties and candidates are free to communicate their views to the electorate, and that they enjoy equality of access to State and public-service media;

That the necessary steps are taken to guarantee non-partisan coverage in State and public-service media.

On the basis of these criteria, it appears the Junta is failing, and the referendum, regardless of outcome, may be considered illegitimate.

Looking forward to the real results and even more so that those results are respected even if it doesn't suit some.

yes we all know you support this while Thais are not allowed to discuss, disagree or debate it and the new camps are got ready to detain still more

Well, that's democracy Junta and djjamie style. Let's vote on a charter that cements eternal elite rule, but, of course, any public debate is not allowed.

Eternal elite rule! Nooooo...More doom and gloom like tourist numbers will drop and the country will turn to ruin!

Goodness me, that sounds downright awful. Lets hope the majority don't vote for that and if they don't I will respect that majorities voice. However if they do vote for it we all have to respect the majority in that instance too. Which kinda goes back to what I originally said.

" Lets hope the majority don't vote for that and if they don't I will respect that majorities voice."

Why should you and the junta respect the majority vote this time? I mean, the majority voted for the wrong people before and you did not respect that.

Looking forward to the real results and even more so that those results are respected even if it doesn't suit some.

yes we all know you support this while Thais are not allowed to discuss, disagree or debate it and the new camps are got ready to detain still more

Well, that's democracy Junta and djjamie style. Let's vote on a charter that cements eternal elite rule, but, of course, any public debate is not allowed.

Eternal elite rule! Nooooo...More doom and gloom like tourist numbers will drop and the country will turn to ruin!

Goodness me, that sounds downright awful. Lets hope the majority don't vote for that and if they don't I will respect that majorities voice. However if they do vote for it we all have to respect the majority in that instance too. Which kinda goes back to what I originally said.

Yeah pretty much like the elections .. cough , cough

Looking forward to the real results and even more so that those results are respected even if it doesn't suit some.

yes we all know you support this while Thais are not allowed to discuss, disagree or debate it and the new camps are got ready to detain still more

Well, that's democracy Junta and djjamie style. Let's vote on a charter that cements eternal elite rule, but, of course, any public debate is not allowed.

Eternal elite rule! Nooooo...More doom and gloom like tourist numbers will drop and the country will turn to ruin!

Goodness me, that sounds downright awful. Lets hope the majority don't vote for that and if they don't I will respect that majorities voice. However if they do vote for it we all have to respect the majority in that instance too. Which kinda goes back to what I originally said.

hypocrite

Looking forward to the real results and even more so that those results are respected even if it doesn't suit some.

yes we all know you support this while Thais are not allowed to discuss, disagree or debate it and the new camps are got ready to detain still more

Well, that's democracy Junta and djjamie style. Let's vote on a charter that cements eternal elite rule, but, of course, any public debate is not allowed.

Eternal elite rule! Nooooo...More doom and gloom like tourist numbers will drop and the country will turn to ruin!

Goodness me, that sounds downright awful. Lets hope the majority don't vote for that and if they don't I will respect that majorities voice. However if they do vote for it we all have to respect the majority in that instance too. Which kinda goes back to what I originally said.

It's more complex than that.Even a majority would not provide legitimacy given the way the run up to the poll has been organised.

The above point is a general observation for the forum, not a response to your unremitting drivel.

The referendum could easily pass if the voting is rigged by unknown people in known camps around the country. So, will the voting be open and honest? Or will boxes get switched in transit?

Edited April 3, 201610 yr by Hawk

And in related news an article in today's BP reveals that, according to a Dusit poll, (surprise, surprise!) no less than 57.93 % of the population support the new attitude adjustment courses.

Meanwhile, in the real world those that read these astounding poll results see them as a clear expression of the junta's insecurities.

Looking forward to the real results and even more so that those results are respected even if it doesn't suit some.

yes we all know you support this while Thais are not allowed to discuss, disagree or debate it and the new camps are got ready to detain still more

What I find amazing in his post is that he asks for results to be respected. He's never done that.

It is important that the people know WHO their Master is. Saying more than this may be dangerous to my health. End of Story.

MZurf

"Why should you and the junta respect the majority vote this time? I mean, the majority voted for the wrong people before and you did not respect that."

No, the majority didn't vote for the PTP government. The largest minority did. But we've been through the selective use of "majority" and the usual usage in political contexts before.

What is pertinent is that this poll reveals a large number of people who are likely not to vote yes or no. The lack of information given, the stifling or real debate (not just vote yes or no because we say so), the belief that "normal" people can't actually influence things, that the elites, of all sides, will still control things etc etc is what really needs to change.

That change, along with the changes required in the justice system necessary to underpin and allow democracy to really work, and the cultural changes that would bring aren't on the agenda. That is why simply holding an election won't work any better than before. You just get one gang or the other, running things how they want, for their benefit with no regard for the law, the electorate and little accountability. Neither faction has any motivation in changing that as they all do very nicely out of it. Both actually go the opposite way and seek to cement their unchallenged grip for the future.

Nothing is really changing. All just window dressing and dog and pony shows. Same same - only the pockets are different.

Delete

Edited April 3, 201610 yr by Prbkk

Delete

Exactly what I was thinking and would have had to delete also! ??

MZurf

"Why should you and the junta respect the majority vote this time? I mean, the majority voted for the wrong people before and you did not respect that."

No, the majority didn't vote for the PTP government. The largest minority did. But we've been through the selective use of "majority" and the usual usage in political contexts before.

What is pertinent is that this poll reveals a large number of people who are likely not to vote yes or no. The lack of information given, the stifling or real debate (not just vote yes or no because we say so), the belief that "normal" people can't actually influence things, that the elites, of all sides, will still control things etc etc is what really needs to change.

That change, along with the changes required in the justice system necessary to underpin and allow democracy to really work, and the cultural changes that would bring aren't on the agenda. That is why simply holding an election won't work any better than before. You just get one gang or the other, running things how they want, for their benefit with no regard for the law, the electorate and little accountability. Neither faction has any motivation in changing that as they all do very nicely out of it. Both actually go the opposite way and seek to cement their unchallenged grip for the future.

Nothing is really changing. All just window dressing and dog and pony shows. Same same - only the pockets are different.

I will agree with you that the majority did not vote for Yingluck. However they did win a majority of seats under the Thai election laws. You cannot deal with that fact.

I was no fan of Thaksin or Yingluck. When it goes back to democracy I will post about their inability to run a country. However they won the last election. You don't like that fact but they did.

The way to a maturing democracy though is to beat them at the ballot box. You feel that the way to a democracy is through the military overthrowing elected governments.

MZurf

"Why should you and the junta respect the majority vote this time? I mean, the majority voted for the wrong people before and you did not respect that."

No, the majority didn't vote for the PTP government. The largest minority did. But we've been through the selective use of "majority" and the usual usage in political contexts before.

What is pertinent is that this poll reveals a large number of people who are likely not to vote yes or no. The lack of information given, the stifling or real debate (not just vote yes or no because we say so), the belief that "normal" people can't actually influence things, that the elites, of all sides, will still control things etc etc is what really needs to change.

That change, along with the changes required in the justice system necessary to underpin and allow democracy to really work, and the cultural changes that would bring aren't on the agenda. That is why simply holding an election won't work any better than before. You just get one gang or the other, running things how they want, for their benefit with no regard for the law, the electorate and little accountability. Neither faction has any motivation in changing that as they all do very nicely out of it. Both actually go the opposite way and seek to cement their unchallenged grip for the future.

Nothing is really changing. All just window dressing and dog and pony shows. Same same - only the pockets are different.

"Nothing is really changing."

With a junta in charge the Thai political system doesn't have a chance to change. It's just kept in stasis, or is regressing, as is the case today. Elections should be held, the elected snouts granted access to the trough, and hopefully sometime far down the road something like a real and fairly just democracy might evolve. Again; might.

But that's not possible with a military/old elite desperately holding onto power.

Bangkok Poll, says only half of the voters will go to the polling stations to vote.

​I thought voting was mandatory in Thailand? So it should be a high turn out..

Edited April 3, 201610 yr by merlin2002

Looking forward to the real results and even more so that those results are respected even if it doesn't suit some.

yes we all know you support this while Thais are not allowed to discuss, disagree or debate it and the new camps are got ready to detain still more

What I find amazing in his post is that he asks for results to be respected. He's never done that.

I have respected every election result in Thai history. I never disrespected the majority even if I feel it was dubiously acquired.

What I don't like is when the elected party abuse their majority voice to break the law or abuse the system.

Now back to the subject my friend. I hope the majorities voice is respected unlike the last constitutional referendum that went against some peoples agenda so weak excuses where made to disrespect that majority.

Have a lovely evening my friend and I welcome the health (yet friendly) debating.

Edited April 3, 201610 yr by djjamie

The referendum could easily pass if the voting is rigged by unknown people in known camps around the country. So, will the voting be open and honest? Or will boxes get switched in transit?

This constitution is such a, um...since it's illegal to criticize it I'll end there.

However it does appear that they released a draft constitution designed to fail Article 54 would shift the current twelve years of free public education so it starts three years earlier, which would require that parents who want their children to finish secondary school to pay for the final three years. http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1459496361&section=11

I think that alone is enough to ensure the charter will be rejected in the referendum. This makes me wonder if:

1. The junta wants the draft rejected to prolong its time in power.

2. The referendum will be fixed.

3. The junta is that thoroughly out of touch with the Thai people.

I'm sure we'll learn which it is in the coming months.

And in related news an article in today's BP reveals that, according to a Dusit poll, (surprise, surprise!) no less than 57.93 % of the population support the new attitude adjustment courses.

Meanwhile, in the real world those that read these astounding poll results see them as a clear expression of the junta's insecurities.

Put yourself in the position of the people being called:

You live in a country under military rule. Critics of the junta are hauled off for "attitude adjustment", which is already bad and about to get worse. You receive a phone call from someone who knows who you are. They ask you if you support the latest actions by the junta. What's the safe answer?

If there were such a thing as a professionally conducted poll in Thailand in which the people polled were confidant their identity would be kept secret, then I might believe the results. I don't expect to see such a poll.

Looking forward to the real results and even more so that those results are respected even if it doesn't suit some.

yes we all know you support this while Thais are not allowed to discuss, disagree or debate it and the new camps are got ready to detain still more

What I find amazing in his post is that he asks for results to be respected. He's never done that.

I have respected every election result in Thai history. I never disrespected the majority even if I feel it was dubiously acquired.

What I don't like is when the elected party abuse their majority voice to break the law or abuse the system.

Now back to the subject my friend. I hope the majorities voice is respected unlike the last constitutional referendum that went against some peoples agenda so weak excuses where made to disrespect that majority.

Have a lovely evening my friend and I welcome the health (yet friendly) debating.

You mean the referendum in which the government lobbied extensively, using public funds, for a 'Yes' vote, campaigning for a 'No' vote was illegal, and the military said it would impose any constitution it wanted if the one presented were rejected. I'm not surprised that meets your standards for a fair vote.

So the poll is saying most Thai people don't know or care about a new charter. Is it because of who wrote it?

Its the same people that conducted the poll. Its called chumming the waters prior to the vote. Get on the yes bandwagon.

Asked which should be an option if the draft constitution is rejected in the referendum...

As if the Thai people will have any choice in the matter...