MFA confirms referendum act allows public opinion

[rooster59]

MFA confirms referendum act allows public opinion

Thammarat Thadaphrom

BANGKOK, 23 July 2016 (NNT) - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs advised today that the Public Referendum Act, B.E. 2559, does not prevent anyone from having their say on the draft constitution.

Responding to foreign diplomats’ concerns about freedom of expression in Thailand, Foreign Ministry spokesman and Director-General of the Department of Information, Sek Wannamethee said the referendum act both supports and welcomes opinions about the draft constitution from all sides.

He said the government as well as the Foreign Ministry had always been open to different viewpoints and have continually collected opinions on the draft, the referendum, the reform process, and anything related to these issues.

He went on to say that the drafting of the permanent constitution and the nationwide referendum are part of the country’s reform roadmap which seeks to bring democracy back to the kingdom and its people.

-- NNT 2016-07-23

[waldroj]

Mixed messages?

So, here we are told the Foreign Ministry advises that the Public Referendum Act both supports and welcomes opinions about the draft Constitution from all sides!

Sounds great, but what this NNT article fails to note (according to the Spokesperson of the NRSA’s political reform committee) is that both supporters and dissenters express themselves in accordance with the rule of law and be rational when criticizing the Constitution (Refer http://news.thaivisa.com/thailand/nrsa-believes-most-people-know-about-referendum/149433/).

Does this mean that supporters can be irrational when praising the Constitution?

Sort of like Henry Ford saying "You can have any color as long as it's black"!

Somehow, I don't think foreign diplomats will be convinced.

[aussieinthailand]

What's this? Not again, so we have another government body telling the public that the referendum allows public opinion.

In response to foreign diplomat's expressing concern over freedom of expression in Thailand.

Didn't this gov't body get the memo last week that the UN and International community have no problems with freedom of expression in Thailand.

The problem is as stated in above post that the Laws regarding those limits of freedom of expression are not quite erh, ummm,, freedom of expression but rather laws to prevent those wishing to express their opinion if it is on the negative side.

Vote Yes = military stay's in power.

Vote No + military stay's in power.

And then they will again be stating the UN and the International communities understand the situation in the country and have no problems...

[Hawk]

"Sek Wannamethee said the referendum act both supports and welcomes opinions about the draft constitution from all sides."

NO it does not! The law has been purposely made so flexible as to prevent all differing opinions from the single official one.

The only thing this mob has collected is all those people with opposing views and locked them up.

[Hawk]

So why is this military mob using draconian laws from another century?

News: "two eight-year-old girls have been charged for tearing up a registration document in Kamphaeng Phet".

Will this madness never end, the dynamic duos quest for mastery of the universe knows no bounds!

[Thechook]

So opinions are allowed, why are people being arrested for expressing an opinion? Is there a government office where I can get a copy of authorised opinions?

[The stuttering parrot]

Maybe the question from the foreign diplomats should now be if the people are to free to express their opinion then why are you arresting them if 5 or more want to get together to discuss it?