PM urges people to decide on draft constitution in nationwide referendum

[webfact]

Premier urges people to decide on draft constitution in nationwide referendum

BANGKOK, 7 April 2016 (NNT) - Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has called on the people to go to the polls in a public referendum later this year to decide whether they will approve a draft constitution.

The nationwide referendum, the second of its kind in Thai political history, is scheduled for August 7.

Meanwhile, the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has summoned critics of the draft constitution for the adjusting of their attitudes.

The draft constitution has been widely criticized by academics, politicians and political activists, especially regarding the provisional clauses amended in accordance with the NCPO proposals.


-- NNT 2016-04-07

[jabis]

"No let's let the good people, not invited to the camps, do the deciding "

[smedly]

I do not agree with people not being allowed to contructively disagree with certain aspects of the charter, that is fundamentally wrong, but if people are running around with a poster that just says no without explaing why then I have issue

good honest open debate with relative arguments is healthy and should be encouraged although I have one exception - politicians should keep their mouths shut, they have contributed nothing and have only their self interest, with that said - the problem as always is who is writting the script for some of these supposed none political activists, it is very easy to buy a supporter and a voice in thailand unfortunately, there is always someone with an agenda pulling the strings and always money involved and that is the sad truth

[chainarong]

One cannot understand how anyone could vote for a charter that appoints its own leader , automatic military appointments along with nominated Senators , the truth be known most will just vote on whether they support or hate the Junta , you may call it if you like , a vote of confidence in the Junta, let the referendum begin............................

[Scotwight]

In the meantime, voting on the constitution on August 7 will not change our circumstances. Voting yes on the constitution will institutionalize electoral authoritarianism, and voting no will allow the military to continue wielding power under Article 44. Not voting at all may send a bigger message to our country’s politicians, and to the international community at large: that we recognize that our political system is now dislodged from the power of the people.

https://asiancorrespondent.com/2016/04/the-true-danger-to-democracy-in-thailand/

[gk10002000]

How can the people decide when they aren't even allowed to discuss the darn thing, or government, or constitutions in general?

[JAG]

I do not agree with people not being allowed to contructively disagree with certain aspects of the charter, that is fundamentally wrong, but if people are running around with a poster that just says no without explaing why then I have issue

good honest open debate with relative arguments is healthy and should be encouraged although I have one exception - politicians should keep their mouths shut, they have contributed nothing and have only their self interest, with that said - the problem as always is who is writting the script for some of these supposed none political activists, it is very easy to buy a supporter and a voice in thailand unfortunately, there is always someone with an agenda pulling the strings and always money involved and that is the sad truth

Smedley, you have been effectively running around with a poster which says "yes please", irrespective of whatever repressive undemocratic act the Junta proposes or enacts, for the last two years.

How do you define "politicians" and those who should not be allowed to air a view? Inevitably I suppose it will be all those whose views do not coincide with yours, which rather mirror those of the junta anyway.

[ChrisY1]

This referendum is going to be a complete fiasco......only the second time that one's been held.....and whichever way the people vote, the outcome will still be what the military want......the people be damned!

[tigermoth]

I couldn't agree more that not having constructive criticism of the constitution or if there is, being giving a re-education course so you vote the way the military wants is totally against all the concepts of democracy. Why vote?? On another point, where can the full constitution be obtained?? It should be available somewhere, either online or in a publication and I don't mean a summary of it which can hide too many contenscious issues, and probably will.

[Krataiboy]

What a farce. The junta has launched a massive campaign to "sell" the new Constitution to the electorate (including sending in the military to brainwash the rural poor) yet refuses to allow the opposition - political or otherwise - a platform.

Could there be a more ominous indication of where the much-vaunted road-map towards "Thai-style" democracy is leading the Kingdom?

Unfortunately, most Thais appear to be either unaware or unconcerned at the threats to personal and political freedom posed by the new Constitution - which amounts to a watered-down version of democracy in a straitjacket.

My gut feeling is that few members of the electorate will actually bother wading through the voluminous document before nodding it through to give a privileged elite dominance over their lives for the next couple of decades.

I hope fervently to be proved wrong.

[Bob12345]

Your post makes me sad, especially when I imagine you grew up in a developed country and have enjoyed an education.

I do not agree with people not being allowed to contructively disagree with certain aspects of the charter, that is fundamentally wrong, but if people are running around with a poster that just says no without explaing why then I have issue

good honest open debate with relative arguments is healthy and should be encouraged although I have one exception - politicians should keep their mouths shut, they have contributed nothing and have only their self interest, with that said - the problem as always is who is writting the script for some of these supposed none political activists, it is very easy to buy a supporter and a voice in thailand unfortunately, there is always someone with an agenda pulling the strings and always money involved and that is the sad truth

but if people are running around with a poster that just says no without explaing why then I have issue

The problem is that explaining why is a crime in Thailand. The army will come by and arrest you for "attitude adjustment".

And the same should then go for people who run around with a poster that just says yes without explaining, but you conveniently forget to mention that side of the same coin.

politicians should keep their mouths shut

So you think groups of people who have chosen a certain profession (politician) should be excluded from having a voice? What happened to freedom of speech, or you don't support that?

they have contributed nothing and have only their self interest

And all other people disregard their own self interest? Isn't the nice thing that people's self interest can be aligned with the interest of the country?

the problem as always is who is writting the script for some of these supposed none political activists, it is very easy to buy a supporter and a voice in thailand unfortunately, there is always someone with an agenda pulling the strings and always money involved and that is the sad truth

And again, this goes both ways. Who was pulling the strings behind the protests in Bangkok you think? And who pulled the strings behind the coup? Who is pulling the strings now and what is their agenda? And how much money is involved in that string pulling? Again, you are forgetting the other side of the same coin.

[Denim]

Hope he's not expecting a high voter turnout. Apart from the usual stooges can't see many people bothering with a farce that prolongs military rule regardless of any voting result.

[MZurf]

I do not agree with people not being allowed to contructively disagree with certain aspects of the charter, that is fundamentally wrong, but if people are running around with a poster that just says no without explaing why then I have issue

good honest open debate with relative arguments is healthy and should be encouraged although I have one exception - politicians should keep their mouths shut, they have contributed nothing and have only their self interest, with that said - the problem as always is who is writting the script for some of these supposed none political activists, it is very easy to buy a supporter and a voice in thailand unfortunately, there is always someone with an agenda pulling the strings and always money involved and that is the sad truth

"I do not agree with people not being allowed to contructively disagree with certain aspects of the charter, that is fundamentally wrong, but if people are running around with a poster that just says no without explaing why then I have issue"

So back where you come from you would make it illegal for anyone to disagree with something and expressing this with a single "no'??

Or is this just something that should apply to Thailand?

[Langsuan Man]

In typical military dictatorship fashion the junta can send out cadres of military cadets to urge people to vote for the new charter but will not allow one dissenting peep from anyone who happens to disagree with it

In August we will really find out if the people are really so happy with the dictatorship as all the government backed polls say they are

But I have my doubts if the charter vote will be free and fair considering who is in charge

Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely -- Lord Ashton

[yellowboat]

The special "circumstances" that the junta keeps going on about seems only understood by them, the inbred elites they serve and a handful of farang supporters who have almost gone silent. When the entire world does not understand your position on something, your position either has not be explained properly or it cannot be defended. The statements in the article defy logic and cannot be defended. Voting on something without debate, how irrational.

[Srikcir]

I do not agree with people not being allowed to contructively disagree with certain aspects of the charter, that is fundamentally wrong, but if people are running around with a poster that just says no without explaing why then I have issue

good honest open debate with relative arguments is healthy and should be encouraged although I have one exception - politicians should keep their mouths shut, they have contributed nothing and have only their self interest, with that said - the problem as always is who is writting the script for some of these supposed none political activists, it is very easy to buy a supporter and a voice in thailand unfortunately, there is always someone with an agenda pulling the strings and always money involved and that is the sad truth

good honest open debate with relative arguments is healthy and should be encouraged

Prime Minister Prayut has said that although he may disapprove, criticism over the draft constitution is a basic rights of the people. Meanwhile, NCPO Chief Prayut has summoned critics of the draft constitution for the adjusting of their attitudes. Actions speak LOUDER than words.

It is not for anyone to decide for others what is good, honest or healthy in an election debate. If an open and free debate is allowed with an unrestrained investigative journalism, the verasity and appropriatness of people's criticisms will be self-evident. The Thai electorate should decide for themselves by their own personal standards of morality and ethics.

[Thailand]

If somebody had written a book based on what is going on here it would have been written off as beyond fiction,sadly it is not the case.

[LannaGuy]

How can people decide when there is NO debate, challenge or disagreement permitted???

[JAG]

What a farce. The junta has launched a massive campaign to "sell" the new Constitution to the electorate (including sending in the military to brainwash the rural poor) yet refuses to allow the opposition - political or otherwise - a platform.

Could there be a more ominous indication of where the much-vaunted road-map towards "Thai-style" democracy is leading the Kingdom?

Unfortunately, most Thais appear to be either unaware or unconcerned at the threats to personal and political freedom posed by the new Constitution - which amounts to a watered-down version of democracy in a straitjacket.

My gut feeling is that few members of the electorate will actually bother wading through the voluminous document before nodding it through to give a privileged elite dominance over their lives for the next couple of decades.

I hope fervently to be proved wrong.

I suspect that most Thais are well aware of the implications of this charter, and that if not approved it will probably be imposed. Approved or rejected Military rule will remain.

Cynically/realistically they probably see little point in bothering.

[Eric Loh]

If you take the 2007 referendum as a reference, this upcoming referendum will not even get 60% voters. Even with the same sort of intimidation and harrassment in the '07 referendum like making criticism of the draft a criminal act and busing villagers to voting station, it only got 57.81% for and 42.19% against.

That number was able to be achieved with Dem Party coming out and declaring support for the draft and the economy was relatively much better. The Dem support resulted in a 90% support from the southern provinces while the North had almost 75% rejection.

The situation this time is much different with all the major political parties, academics and even prominent yellow shirts activists speaking negatively. I think the junta is worry and the next few months before the referendum will see the junta imposing more intimidating methods to influence voters. The Article 62 in its 2nd NLA reading with a vague definition of the law with a 10 years jail time is just the tip of the iceberg.

[CharlieH]

Discuss/debate the the topic NOT the poster, any posts like this will be removed as "off topic"