DPM Wissanu comments on possibility of adjusting interim charter for long term use

BANGKOK, 14 July 2016 (NNT) – The Deputy Prime Minister has affirmed that if the draft charter does not pass public referendum the current interim constitution will not be adjusted so that a new charter can be drafted sooner.

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Kreau-ngam has let on that the government has yet to discuss adapting the interim constitution but admitted to the idea coming up. He said he could not yet comment on the idea as he did not want to obfuscate from the upcoming referendum on the draft charter. He asked instead that the public focus the current situation and decide whether or not the proposed draft is in their interest.

The deputy premier admitted however, that if the draft does not pass public referendum, the interim charter will have to be amended to allow for another draft to be compiled.


-- NNT 2016-07-13

If the draft charter doesnt pass it should be taken as the people's vote of no confidence in the self appointed junta. As the country belongs to the people, it should be back to the barracks for the boys in green and brown with a big "failure, again" sign on their backs.

Edited July 12, 20169 yr by Reigntax

I think it was Napoleon who said: "Il n'y a que le provisoire qui dure."

(Only provisional things last).

So is it me before having my morning coffee or what?

First he's saying No the interim constitution will not be adjusted, and latter he's saying it will be adjusted.

Sounds like the junta, No I promise there will not be a coup.

There will be elections in 2015/ 2016/ 2017/ I don't know if there will be elections................................liar liar pants on fire.

Going into the referendum in less than a month, and the inmates are talking about changing the charter.....there's really not too much hope for Thailand !

If the draft charter doesnt pass it should be taken as the people's vote of no confidence in the self appointed junta. As the country belongs to the people, it should be back to the barracks for the boys in green and brown with a big "failure, again" sign on their backs.

For the 19th time?

A smart guy once said if you keep doing the same thing over and over again etc!

If the referendum fail, it represent a strong endorsement from the people that the coup was wrong and the PM should have the moral courage to admit its shortcoming and resign.

he did not want to obfuscate from the upcoming referendum on the draft charter.

Thank you DPM!

You've already done enough obfuscation:

7 April 2016 - Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said if the people vote against the draft charter in the referendum, the government will consider drafting another one based on past constitutions. Dr. Wissanu hinted that a new constitution could be drafted from the 1997, 2007 or draft constitutions. According to the Deputy Premier, this new constitution would be adopted without a public vote.

15 April 2016 - Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said he could not go into detail regarding the government's contingency plan for if the public votes against the draft charter. The Deputy Prime Minister said the government would eventually be forced to produce a new charter. He said it could resemble previous constitutions or draft constitutions created by charter drafters assembled during the Prayut Chan-o-cha administration.

19 April 2016 - Dr. Wissanu denied that there hasn't been any preparation of a back-up plan to cope with a situation in which the draft charter does not pass the public referendum.

20 April 2016 – Dr. Wissanu played down the possibility of recycling a previous constitution in part or full should the public reject the junta-backed charter. It would not make sense to revive or cobble together old charters for adoption if the public rejects the current proposal championed by the junta. Instead, he said it would make more sense to begin the whole process anew for a third time.

Interesting article in the asian correspondent :-

https://asiancorrespondent.com/2016/07/thailand-constitution-referendum/

What’s next?

No instant change. If the draft is accepted, it will take another six months to draft legislation to go with the new constitution before an election can be scheduled. A ‘yes’ result will allow the junta to wield more legitimacy.

If the draft falls through, the junta will still remain in power, but the result will imply a rejection of its authority. It remains unknown what the junta would do in that case, but a new draft is very unlikely. Whatever the result may be, junta leader and Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has made it clear that he won’t step down.

As much as the Generals would like to stay long term, I get the feeling their time in charge is nearing its end.