CDC insists constitution respects citizens’ rights

[webfact]

CDC insists constitution respects citizens’ rights



BANGKOK, 27 June 2016 (NNT) - The Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC) has assured the public that citizens’ rights will be upheld under the new constitution.

Meechai Ruchupan, the Chairman of the CDC, said the countrywide public referendum will not be effective should people fail to understand the constitution. He believes the public won't be able to study every detail of the constitution which is comprised of 279 Sections, but hopes that people will spend as much time as they can studying important matters written in the draft before casting their votes on August 7th.

He reiterated that the draft charter seeks to protect citizens’ rights, enhance Thailand’s democracy, prevent and suppress corruption, overhaul the education system, and restructure the justice system.

The chairman also voiced his confidence that all the trained volunteers will be able to offer genuine clarification to the public regarding aspects of the public referendum, the draft constitution, and the additional question which asks whether or not all members of both the lower house and the upper house should be allowed to join elected senators in the selection of the prime minister.


-- NNT 2016-06-27

[heybruce]

In view of the junta's disregard for human rights https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/05/11/thailand-un-review-highlights-juntas-hypocrisy, many people will be skeptical about the constitution it produced.

[jerojero]

Forgot to mention Constitution puts no constraints on military intervention within the Country, any manner at any time in the future.

[SABloke]

Has anybody seen a copy of the constitution yet?

[NongKhaiKid]

In view of the junta's disregard for human rights https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/05/11/thailand-un-review-highlights-juntas-hypocrisy, many people will be skeptical about the constitution it produced.

Exactly, words on pieces of paper mean nothing when interpreted as suits if not completely ignored. Look how existing legislation is ' applied ' in the most flexible of manners.

[The stuttering parrot]

13 people arrested 6 out on bail 7 jailed on Friday for protesting about the draft facing 10 years.

This latest action has brought the ire of human rights groups and amnesty intl who are calling for an immediate end to the military crack down.

Both sides of politics have now come out and said the draft s unconstitutional will enshrine military power and hobble civilian politics.

Geez even the yellows have had enough .

Talk about backing the wrong horse!

[yellowboat]

Without debate, the charter and its intent are questionable if not worrisome. For the sake of reconciliation, you would think this where debate would be encouraged.

[klauskunkel]

the countrywide public referendum will not be effective should people fail to understand the constitution

How does the government determine whether the people understood the constitution, or not?

The same way they determined that the U.N fully understood the situation in Thailand: By making a public statement to the effect, on behalf of....

[smedly]

In view of the junta's disregard for human rights https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/05/11/thailand-un-review-highlights-juntas-hypocrisy, many people will be skeptical about the constitution it produced.

you know the solution right...........go read it

[SOUTHERNSTAR]

I think it is a great constitution, any citizen of North Korea will be proud and thankful for such a progressive constitution.

[SOUTHERNSTAR]

Without debate, the charter and its intent are questionable if not worrisome. For the sake of reconciliation, you would think this where debate would be encouraged.

It was done in 2007, why not again? Same same you vote for this constitution or we stay in power. Easy easy if you have the guns on your side. Reconciliation rings hollow in a country that have not been able to reconcile with the muslims in the south for decades. Ask any non-muslim Thai what does it mean to be Thai and I promise you being a muslim doesn't fit into the picture. If you ever travel up to Ban Rak Thai you will enter a village where there are 5 different types of Thai's living, normal Thai's, Chinese descendants from the lost division and 3 types of hill tribes. When we were there in January a Bangkok women (by the registration number of her vehicle) entered a restaurant we were drinking tea in. When the owner of the tea shop spoke the Bangkok women asked if she was a foreigner because she wasn't speaking proper Thai. The shop owner replied that she is Thai but from a hill tribe. the Bangkok woman however insisted that she must be a foreigner/Burmese because Thai's don't speak like her. So on top of the inability to reconcile with muslims many Bangkok/hi-so Thai's view people outside their social circle or anyone that does speak, look or think the same as them as of a lower status. This reminds me of a leader that recently asked/said " what does gardeners and farmers know of politics ?". Look at the injustice/justice system, how can you have reconciliation if there are a two tier legal system, 1 for the rich and 1 for the poor. The Thai saying is "jails are build for the poor".

[Rayk]

How can he honestly say that with a straight face. Oh I know, because he's not being honest.

[heybruce]

In view of the junta's disregard for human rights https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/05/11/thailand-un-review-highlights-juntas-hypocrisy, many people will be skeptical about the constitution it produced.

you know the solution right...........go read it

I know the solution, it doesn't involve reading a 279 section constitution written in Thai legalese. Why bother? The Thai military treats constitutions, including the ones written at their direction, like toilet paper.

The solution is a military under civilian control that respects human rights and stays out of politics.