EC: Charter explanation activities welcome different opinions

[webfact]

EC: Charter explanation activities welcome different opinions

BANGOK, 14 June 2016 (NNT) - The Election Commission has confirmed that the draft charter explanation project has always been open to people with different opinions sharing their ideas.

Election Commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn said on Monday that a TV program to explain the draft Constitution and the referendum question via six main television stations, will start going to air from June 27.

Mr. Somchai said that the program will be broadcast for 13 days, between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays.

He stated that different guests will be invited to join the program each day, including people with opposite political views, such as the leader of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship Jatuporn Prompan, along with Nattawut Saikua and Pheu Thai Party member Chaturon Chaisang, in order for the people to get all the relevant information.

In addition, he said that the EC will work on an explanation related to a clause in the public referendum law, which the Constitutional Court is reviewing to determine if it is in violation of the interim charter, before sending it to the court.


-- NNT 2016-06-14

[tomacht8]

Good idea to discuss the whole thing on TV and to listen to different opinions.
But why invite the old - free - on - bail - arsonists?
Intellectuals people from universities, press, foreign experts, lawyers were as more appropriate.

Edited June 14, 2016 by tomacht8

[Eligius]

A key question to ask is: will these programmes be broadcast live? If they are pre-recorded, a good deal of selective editing takes place. I know from direct experience that the editor of a TV programme can radically transform the look and message of a broadcast.

Secondly, even if these programmes are broadcast live, it is obvious that the controversial guests who have been invited to put forward opposing views might well be so intimidated by the threat of prison sentences hanging over their heads that they will practise a good deal of self-censorship.

The long and the short of it is: it is impossible to have a free and full debate as long as there are punishments in place for viewpoints that annoy those in Power.

[Emster23]

Welcome different opinions? I can see like this:
A: I especially like section 3.4.5. I think it is best

B: I strongly disagree. In my opinion section 6.7.3 is easily superior!

Moderator: Gentlemen, gentlemen. I think we can find common ground. It is all wonderful and I vow it will bring happiness back to Thai people.

[Eligius]

Welcome different opinions? I can see like this:

A: I especially like section 3.4.5. I think it is best

B: I strongly disagree. In my opinion section 6.7.3 is easily superior!

Moderator: Gentlemen, gentlemen. I think we can find common ground. It is all wonderful and I vow it will bring happiness back to Thai people.

Ha ha! Brilliant - and probably true!

[Winniedapu]

"He stated that different guests will be invited to join the program each day, including people with opposite political views, such as the leader of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship Jatuporn Prompan, along with Nattawut Saikua and Pheu Thai Party member Chaturon Chaisang, in order for the people to get all the relevant information."

It seems to me there are only 3 credible reasons for this.

1. Jatupron and Nattawut have been given a length of rope in the hope they will hang themselves.

2. There is a split developing between the EC and the junta (I can't believe the junta agreed to this proposal at face value without an ulterior motive - reason 1 perhaps).

3. To show impartiality and a level playing field - (I think this is unlikely since there are so many indicators showing exactly the opposite).

On balance, I think the former is more likely, and if the 2 said leaders are careful, they are smart enough to bite the EC's bottom very hard. It would be really good to see Somchai the Grimace thrown to the lions. I really don't like him at all.

W

Edited June 14, 2016 by Winniedapu

[JAG]

Good idea to discuss the whole thing on TV and to listen to different opinions.

But why invite the old - free - on - bail - arsonists?

Intellectuals people from universities, press, foreign experts, lawyers were as more appropriate.

If they were to assemble the sort of panel which you refer to, and then exclude the politicians who lead the faction who have won every election since 2001 ( Pheu Thai did rather well in the last one you may recall) you rather make a mockery of "welcoming different opinions", don't you think?