Charter Court rules Section 61’s second paragraph constitutional



BANGKOK: -- The Constitutional Court ruled by a unanimous vote today (Wednesday) that the second paragraph of Section 61 of the Referendum Act does not contravene with Section 4 of the interim constitution.

The Constitutional Court’s ruling is in response to a petition from the ombudsman to make it clear once and for all whether second paragraph in question is against the interim charter or not so that there won’t be any legal problem that may undermine the referendum scheduled on August 7.

Paragraph Two of Section 61states as follows: Anyone who disseminates statement, image, voice in newspaper, radio, television, electronic media or other channels which is untrue or in a way which is violent, aggressive, rude, inciting unrest or intimidating with an intention to convince the voters not exercise their voting rights, vote or not to vote, he/she is regarded as making trouble to disrupt the voting.”

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/charter-court-rules-section-61s-second-paragraph-constitutional/


-- Thai PBS 2016-06-30

Referendum law upheld as Prayut unveils 'Plan B'
Drafting Do-Over Could See Elections Delayed Years
By Teeranai Charuvastra, Staff Reporter


Mocking the referendum law under which any campaigning is punishable by 10 years in jail, activists expressed their opposition to the charter draft Wednesday using toys to hold up placards for them at Thammasat University.

BANGKOK — The Constitutional Court today affirmed the legality of a draconian law barring campaigning before the charter draft is put to an August vote on a day which also saw the junta finally answer what will happen if it goes down in defeat.

In a brief statement to the media, the court said the law passed in late April is consistent with the provisions on civil rights and expression written in the interim constitution put in place by the junta following its 2014 coup d’etat.

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/politics/2016/06/29/referendum-law-upheld-prayuth-unveils-plan-b/


-- Khaosod English 2016-06-30

No wonder they have such a dubious reputation then. Embarrassing

Hardly a surprise...

Winnie

Not that there was any doubt.

So sad to see the cream of Thai youth left with no voice and reduced to this form of protest.

The deck is stacked and free and fair elections now a pipe dream.

Put that on your pride of Thailand project.

Edited June 30, 201610 yr by The stuttering parrot

The Constitutional Courts ruling is in response to a petition from the ombudsman

I suppose that the only positive to be taken from this decision is that it came as a result of someone listening to the ombudsman. The previous government held the office in such regard that he was ignored, his staff levels cut and his budget slashed.

Students hold up toys and a glove puppet backs the junta.

Just as expected....