Chuan Leekpai indicates the Sep 19 coup occurs because the constitutional objectives were violated

Former Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai believes that flaws in the defunct Constitution 1997, as well as its diverted applications and violated objectives, have led to the September 19, 2006 coup.

Mr. Chuan made his point on the last day of the 8th technical meeting entitled “Constitutional Reforms: Comparative Perspective”, organized by the King Rama VII Institute yesterday.

Despite negative outcome of the previous Constitution, Mr. Chuan, also chief adviser of the Democrat Party, termed it as one of the two best constitutions of Thailand. During the past 74 years under the democratic system, Thailand had 17 constitutions. The other termed by Mr.Chuan as the best charter is the 1976 constitution, issued a year after the October 14 uprising.

According to him, the constitution that lasted the longest was the first one issued in 1932 when Thailand changed its administrative system from the Absolute Monarchy to the Constitutional Monarchy. The first charter lasted 14 years due to World War II, followed by the 1978 Constitution lasting 13 years and the 1959 Interim Constitution lasting 9 years.

Mr. Chuan also attributed the Sep 19 coup to the Government’s intervention in independent organizations created by the 1997 Constitution, leading to the latter's failure to check government performances.

He also expressed his opposition to a proposal that calls for non-partisan MPs. Instead, he said, the constitution must find ways to balance the power between the administrative sector and the legislative sector. He lauded some of the senators in the previous regime who were able to be their own masters while the senate majority were considered a failure and worse than those made senators by appointments. Mr. Chuan remarked however that only the judicial sector was able to maintain stability and public trust.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 06 November 2006

Chuan Leekpai indicates the Sep 19 coup occurs because the constitutional objectives were violated

Former Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai believes that flaws in the defunct Constitution 1997, as well as its diverted applications and violated objectives, have led to the September 19, 2006 coup.

Mr. Chuan made his point on the last day of the 8th technical meeting entitled “Constitutional Reforms: Comparative Perspective”, organized by the King Rama VII Institute yesterday.

Despite negative outcome of the previous Constitution, Mr. Chuan, also chief adviser of the Democrat Party, termed it as one of the two best constitutions of Thailand. During the past 74 years under the democratic system, Thailand had 17 constitutions. The other termed by Mr.Chuan as the best charter is the 1976 constitution, issued a year after the October 14 uprising.

According to him, the constitution that lasted the longest was the first one issued in 1932 when Thailand changed its administrative system from the Absolute Monarchy to the Constitutional Monarchy. The first charter lasted 14 years due to World War II, followed by the 1978 Constitution lasting 13 years and the 1959 Interim Constitution lasting 9 years.

Mr. Chuan also attributed the Sep 19 coup to the Government’s intervention in independent organizations created by the 1997 Constitution, leading to the latter's failure to check government performances.

He also expressed his opposition to a proposal that calls for non-partisan MPs. Instead, he said, the constitution must find ways to balance the power between the administrative sector and the legislative sector. He lauded some of the senators in the previous regime who were able to be their own masters while the senate majority were considered a failure and worse than those made senators by appointments. Mr. Chuan remarked however that only the judicial sector was able to maintain stability and public trust.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 06 November 2006

The last part is up for debate - Thaksin's 'honest mistake' - 14 years for setting a minor fire, allegedly - No time for beating wife to death with golfing umbrella - etc.