Majority favours anti corruption campaign in the draft charter

BANGKOK: Anti corruption campaign focus in the draft constitution that will be put for referendum on August 7 drew majority support, latest poll released by Suan Dusit says today.

Dusit Poll interviewed 1,158 people nationwide from Monday to Thursday, on the draft charter.

As the Bangkok Post reported, it found our that 81.6% liked the charter’s focus on anti corruption campaign among influential people, state officials and politicians.

While it says 66.3% like its focus on people’s interests, justice and inequality.

It says 60.5% viewed the focus suited the current situation and could still be used in the future.

But Dusit Poll says they did not like some points of the draft, such as lack of clarity, some questionable elements, and tendency to benefit certain groups (69.2%)

Other unfavourable points are the sources of the 250 senators who would be appointed by the National Council for Peace and Order (62.4%) and reduced public participation (58.1%).

Dusit Poll asked them if they are ready to vote in the referendum, 55.8% said “Yes” reasoning that it is important and is the right and duty of everyone.

But 44.2% are undecided because they have not yet read the content or did not understand its key elements in the draft charter.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/158010

-- Thai PBS 2016-04-03

As the Bangkok Post reported, it found our that 81.6% liked the charter’s focus on anti corruption campaign among influential people, state officials and politicians.

They didn't mention the 3% of politicians that didn't like the charter because of this very same reason.

What most individuals from developed countries understand as corruption, Thais see it as the typical Thai business model. Education is a business, government is a business, police is a business and the "beat goes on."

"As the Bangkok Post reported, it found our that 81.6% liked the charter’s focus on anti corruption campaign among influential people, state officials and politicians."

That would be great if the Charter actually contains such a focus. Unfortunately, the information released so far on the Charter does not support this conclusion, as there has been no announcement of any systemic changes to be implemented that would actually reduce corruption over the long run.

I suppose the various measures to screen political candidates and prevent them from standing for election could be considered an anti-corruption measure; but it could also be considered an antidemocratic abuse of power, and a thinly veiled attempt to suppress certain political parties.

There has been a persistent PR campaign conducted by the government and abetted by NNT, the mouthpiece of the government, with daily announcements about what the draft Charter supposedly contains or promotes. Now it has been released (in Thai language, of course; and with no English translation yet available) and the next step is for the CDC to prepare a cartoon/summary version. This suggests the Junta is not too eager to communicate the details.

I look forward to the vigorous debate on Charter features that can be expected over the next few months. Afer all, the future of Thailand is at stake.

Oh, I forgot. Vigorous debate is now impossible, as negative opinions of the Charter are now deemed unacceptable, and possibly illegal.

At any rate, I expect more polls with leading questions. Possibly a nice event, like Bike for Charter, will be held.