Redshirts Alarmed by Vague Restrictions on Charter Campaigns
By Teeranai Charuvastra
Staff Reporter


A soldier listens to Jatuporn Prompan’s speech on Sunday at Imperial World Lat Phrao shopping mall in Bangkok.

BANGKOK — An opposition leader called upon the junta yesterday to clarify its newly enacted restrictions on campaigning for the upcoming charter referendum, which prescribes 10 years in jail for the use of “rude” or “aggressive” words.

At a time the junta is already cracking down on criticism of the draft charter, Redshirt leader Jatuporn Prompan said the legislation, which came into effect Friday, will increase the “climate of fear” in the months leading up to the Aug. 7 vote.

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1461564781


-- Khaosod English 2016-04-25

Most reasonable people would be alarmed by Jatuporn, Nattawut and the rest of the merry band.

To me the word Jatuporn is rude and aggressive.

To me the word Jatuporn is rude and aggressive.

Is Juntaporn any better ?

as for the charter campaigns its easy to understand the restrictions if you are for then all ok if you are against then AA camp !

To me the word Jatuporn is rude and aggressive.

American culture has its problems, but one thing we hate is when fascists try to take away our right to peacefully assemble and speak our minds

Obvously you r against the junta right?

Edited April 25, 201610 yr by Moonmoon

The Junta should reply by stating, the clarification is that, any group associated with The Shinawatra's will be considered enemy's of the state, the Thai people and will be sentenced to 20years hard labor.

Then see how alarmed they are to that.

Edited April 25, 201610 yr by FourAces

To me the word Jatuporn is rude and aggressive.

American culture has its problems, but one thing we hate is when fascists try to take away our right to peacefully assemble and speak our minds

Obvously you r against the junta right?

I think that the Junta is awesome, I am disappointed that they aren't more heavy handed, you know burning down the world trade center, killing people that are against them, having their strings pulled by a wanna be dictator in Dubai, are you picking up what im laying down here.

Come on Junta pull your socks up you are not living up to expectations.

To me the word Jatuporn is rude and aggressive.

American culture has its problems, but one thing we hate is when fascists try to take away our right to peacefully assemble and speak our minds

Obvously you r against the junta right?

I don't particularly like some of their rulings and I like some of their rulings.

Edited April 25, 201610 yr by Pimay1

Handing out 10 year prison sentences for discussing the charter is outrageous . What a bunch of buffoons. They fear debate and the

written word. The pen is mightier than the Thai army.

Handing out 10 year prison sentences for discussing the charter is outrageous . What a bunch of buffoons. They fear debate and the

written word. The pen is mightier than the Thai army.

Fear debate - like PTP did? Yingluck keeping away from parliament, opposition MP's deceived into going home then a vote without them taken in the wee hours, refusing to make rice scheme financial accounts or contract details available to parliament to "protect national security"? Is that the sort of thing you mean?

Or PTP/UDD sending the goons round to intimidate judges, murder protesters or the odd innocent child?

Yes, the non elected UDD leadership worried about democracy - now as they're non elected, only instruct the membership, to whom are they accountable I wonder?

Jatuporn alarmed by "restrictions" ? I,m alarmed by Jatuporn ! Maybe the restrictions are on the amount of money that can be eased out of the coffers

To me the word Jatuporn is rude and aggressive.

American culture has its problems, but one thing we hate is when fascists try to take away our right to peacefully assemble and speak our minds

Obvously you r against the junta right?

I think that the Junta is awesome, I am disappointed that they aren't more heavy handed, you know burning down the world trade center, killing people that are against them, having their strings pulled by a wanna be dictator in Dubai, are you picking up what im laying down here.

Come on Junta pull your socks up you are not living up to expectations.

Burning down of world trade center is wrong, corruption is wrong, failed rice scheme is also wrong. Vote them out pls. Not a coup n junta in place. To have your statement against facism n human rights n yet supporting the junta is contradicting.

Jatuporn alarmed by "restrictions" ? I,m alarmed by Jatuporn ! Maybe the restrictions are on the amount of money that can be eased out of the coffers

Jutaporn, Jutaporn, Jutaporn. Attack, attack attack. Another thread goes down the crapper.

Edited April 25, 201610 yr by baboon

The Junta should reply by stating, the clarification is that, any group associated with The Shinawatra's will be considered enemy's of the state, the Thai people and will be sentenced to 20years hard labor.

Then see how alarmed they are to that.

Human rights are violated and democracy is endangered by this method , Thailand understands the Un charter on Human rights, it's the interpretation that needs clarification

Like the present government or not.

Like the charter or not.

Really it is irrelevant.

The fact is, the Thai citizens on all sides, from any of the 77 political parties, are facing 10 years in prison for making a Facebook post deemed to be rude.

It could be your wife, your son, your father in law. 1 click of the button, in a moment of anger.

Your entire families life changed forever. Just think about living with that fear for a moment.

How many of you people have taken the time to read the full article and consider what it says?

I think very few, most of you just went straight to attacking the messenger.

Consider these two paragraphs near the end:

"The leadership of the Redshirt movement has called upon supporters to reject the charter on the grounds it contains too many undemocratic elements, such as an unelected Senate and pathway for an unelected prime minister to be appointed.

The opposition enjoys rare agreement across the political divide. Abhisit Vejjajiva, leader of the Democrat Party often at odds with Redshirts on many issues, has slammed the charter for the same reasons but has yet to take a position on the referendum."

It seems both sides of the political divide agree this is a bad constitution. The junta has finally brought unity to the country. However, by not allowing debate and rejecting calls for an international monitoring of the referendum, it seems the junta has decided it will ram this constitution down the country's throat whether the people want it or not.

Jatuporn alarmed by "restrictions" ? I,m alarmed by Jatuporn ! Maybe the restrictions are on the amount of money that can be eased out of the coffers

Jutaporn, Jutaporn, Jutaporn. Attack, attack attack. Another thread goes down the crapper.

Juntaporn, Juntaporn, Juntaporn, Juntaporn. Attack, attack, attack. Predicting the future?

I would have thought that the junta could organise a 'closed' debate on TV that would simply explain to people what is in the draft constitution but not to debate whether it's good or bad as per the junta's rules. That is, if they really want people to make up their own mind. Reading a complex document is one thing but a verbal explanation or example is always a good idea. Yes I know, call me naive but I keep hoping for this to come out democratic.

The vagueness of the "legislation" was done for two reasons:

1.) It protects pro-charter activity.

2.) It can be used to restrict anti-charter activity.

A bit like most laws here.

To me the word Jatuporn is rude and aggressive.

He well may be rude and aggressive, But wait a second, doesn't the Junta leader come on TV every Friday evening and uses rude and aggressive words?

Ahhh ok I get it the ten year gaol term isn't for the like of him, that's reserved for other people as he had placed himself and cohorts above the law.

In the BP there is an article about the EC announcing it will define "independently" ( ) what will be allowed or not.

For example, people would be allowed to put a small signboard on their house but a giant expensive signboard will be prohibited!

There will be no limit to absurdity.....

Handing out 10 year prison sentences for discussing the charter is outrageous . What a bunch of buffoons. They fear debate and the

written word. The pen is mightier than the Thai army.

Fear debate - like PTP did? Yingluck keeping away from parliament, opposition MP's deceived into going home then a vote without them taken in the wee hours, refusing to make rice scheme financial accounts or contract details available to parliament to "protect national security"? Is that the sort of thing you mean?

Or PTP/UDD sending the goons round to intimidate judges, murder protesters or the odd innocent child?

Yes, the non elected UDD leadership worried about democracy - now as they're non elected, only instruct the membership, to whom are they accountable I wonder?

Ying Luck was elected. If her party was guilty of what you say, then those people should have been brought to trial. You are suggesting what the unelected junta is doing is okay. So in your mind, coups and military courts are okay instead of a trial and universal suffrage ? A 10 year sentence for debating and criticizing the charter is outrageous. The junta took power to change things. From what you are saying, they have done nothing.

Handing out 10 year prison sentences for discussing the charter is outrageous . What a bunch of buffoons. They fear debate and the

written word. The pen is mightier than the Thai army.

Fear debate - like PTP did? Yingluck keeping away from parliament, opposition MP's deceived into going home then a vote without them taken in the wee hours, refusing to make rice scheme financial accounts or contract details available to parliament to "protect national security"? Is that the sort of thing you mean?

Or PTP/UDD sending the goons round to intimidate judges, murder protesters or the odd innocent child?

Yes, the non elected UDD leadership worried about democracy - now as they're non elected, only instruct the membership, to whom are they accountable I wonder?

Ying Luck was elected. If her party was guilty of what you say, then those people should have been brought to trial. You are suggesting what the unelected junta is doing is okay. So in your mind, coups and military courts are okay instead of a trial and universal suffrage ? A 10 year sentence for debating and criticizing the charter is outrageous. The junta took power to change things. From what you are saying, they have done nothing.

Yingluck was elected and removed by a court for an illegal act. Her lack of attendance, think she attended a couple of times, is a matter of record. She was removed by a court from office for abusing her power in the interests of nepotism. The fact PTP told the opposition to go home the vote would be tomorrow, lied and held a vote when they'd gone is also a matter of record. PTP have steadfastly refused to issue the rice scheme accounts but preferred to issue a series of conflicting selected figures.

There were plenty of reports about the PTP/UDD burning coffins and slinging blood and excrement for you to read to.

All are a matter of record - so perhaps you should do some research and checking before hinting another poster is lying?

I make the point that PTP also do not like debate, transparency or criticism. I have not said anything about the Junta nor do I suggest it is o k. You have added that.

How many of you people have taken the time to read the full article and consider what it says?

I think very few, most of you just went straight to attacking the messenger.

Consider these two paragraphs near the end:

"The leadership of the Redshirt movement has called upon supporters to reject the charter on the grounds it contains too many undemocratic elements, such as an unelected Senate and pathway for an unelected prime minister to be appointed.

The opposition enjoys rare agreement across the political divide. Abhisit Vejjajiva, leader of the Democrat Party often at odds with Redshirts on many issues, has slammed the charter for the same reasons but has yet to take a position on the referendum."

It seems both sides of the political divide agree this is a bad constitution. The junta has finally brought unity to the country. However, by not allowing debate and rejecting calls for an international monitoring of the referendum, it seems the junta has decided it will ram this constitution down the country's throat whether the people want it or not.

The UDD leadership in non elected. The UDD are not a political party. No one votes for them or their leadership. It is not publicly reported how their appointed leaders were appointed or by whom.

Politicians who don't like the charter should be prepared, and given the opportunity, to state which provisions they have a problem with, why they have that problem and what alternatives they suggest.

But, they prefer to use vague references, hyperbole and in PTP's case keep trying to get outside help from other countries.

I've read nothing from any politician that indicates a change in mentality or thinking. And that includes the current Junta.

Fear debate - like PTP did? Yingluck keeping away from parliament, opposition MP's deceived into going home then a vote without them taken in the wee hours, refusing to make rice scheme financial accounts or contract details available to parliament to "protect national security"? Is that the sort of thing you mean?

Or PTP/UDD sending the goons round to intimidate judges, murder protesters or the odd innocent child?

Yes, the non elected UDD leadership worried about democracy - now as they're non elected, only instruct the membership, to whom are they accountable I wonder?

Ying Luck was elected. If her party was guilty of what you say, then those people should have been brought to trial. You are suggesting what the unelected junta is doing is okay. So in your mind, coups and military courts are okay instead of a trial and universal suffrage ? A 10 year sentence for debating and criticizing the charter is outrageous. The junta took power to change things. From what you are saying, they have done nothing.

Yingluck was elected and removed by a court for an illegal act. Her lack of attendance, think she attended a couple of times, is a matter of record. She was removed by a court from office for abusing her power in the interests of nepotism. The fact PTP told the opposition to go home the vote would be tomorrow, lied and held a vote when they'd gone is also a matter of record. PTP have steadfastly refused to issue the rice scheme accounts but preferred to issue a series of conflicting selected figures.

There were plenty of reports about the PTP/UDD burning coffins and slinging blood and excrement for you to read to.

All are a matter of record - so perhaps you should do some research and checking before hinting another poster is lying?

I make the point that PTP also do not like debate, transparency or criticism. I have not said anything about the Junta nor do I suggest it is o k. You have added that.

An illegal act? you mean she was busted for an abuse of power, the same thing the Permanent secretary of the ministry of defence, and brother of the PM has just done, and many other members of the Junta by appointing family members to be secretaries and lackies and lobbyists?

You need to change the record with regards to that amnesty Bill that was killed off by the senate, and start taking a closer look at the amnesty this clown show has given itself for past, present and future criminal acts, but you just can't bring yourself to do this can you, as Thaksin Thaksin Thaksin, the Shins The Shins The Shins, you sound like a little kid of 5 years old, you have in the past shown contempt for people who lack education, and yet I'm willing to bet the illiteracy rate of your home country isn't something you're willing to brag about.

You're a typical Thai hater, one wonders why you chose to live in the country in the first place seeing as you appear to despise the people less fortunate than yourself, you constantly bash and ridicule the uneducated, and yet they actually have more of a say in how the country is run than you do.!!

How many of you people have taken the time to read the full article and consider what it says?

I think very few, most of you just went straight to attacking the messenger.

Consider these two paragraphs near the end:

"The leadership of the Redshirt movement has called upon supporters to reject the charter on the grounds it contains too many undemocratic elements, such as an unelected Senate and pathway for an unelected prime minister to be appointed.

The opposition enjoys rare agreement across the political divide. Abhisit Vejjajiva, leader of the Democrat Party often at odds with Redshirts on many issues, has slammed the charter for the same reasons but has yet to take a position on the referendum."

It seems both sides of the political divide agree this is a bad constitution. The junta has finally brought unity to the country. However, by not allowing debate and rejecting calls for an international monitoring of the referendum, it seems the junta has decided it will ram this constitution down the country's throat whether the people want it or not.

The UDD leadership in non elected. The UDD are not a political party. No one votes for them or their leadership. It is not publicly reported how their appointed leaders were appointed or by whom.

Politicians who don't like the charter should be prepared, and given the opportunity, to state which provisions they have a problem with, why they have that problem and what alternatives they suggest.

But, they prefer to use vague references, hyperbole and in PTP's case keep trying to get outside help from other countries.

I've read nothing from any politician that indicates a change in mentality or thinking. And that includes the current Junta.

"The UDD leadership in non elected. The UDD are not a political party. No one votes for them or their leadership. It is not publicly reported how their appointed leaders were appointed or by whom."

It seems you are saying the UDD and junta are equivalent. I'm not sure how that is pertinent to my post.

In a free society with a fair referendum politicians wouldn't have to wait for an opportunity to explain in detail why they object to the draft constitution, they would just speak or publish their opinions. These politicians are complaining that this isn't a free society and a fair referendum, and they have legitimate reasons to fear making specific criticisms of the draft.

Also, in a free society, politicians aren't required to change their mentality, but voters are allowed to change their leaders in an election. From what I've read from those who have read this incredibly long and detailed constitution, if passed there will be elections, but the real leaders in Thai government won't be subject to elections.

Edit: My apologies, I should have thanked you up front for proving my point that people were attacking the messenger without reading the full article.

Edited April 26, 201610 yr by heybruce