NRSA believes most people know about referendum

Thammarat Thadaphrom

BANGKOK, 23 July 2016 (NNT) - The National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA) is convinced that the public is well-informed about the August 7 referendum, but only a small number of people really understand it.

NRSA member and spokesperson of the NRSA’s political reform committee, Wanchai Sornsiri, said the reform body, the National Legislative Assembly (NLA), and the Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC) are working around the clock to help the general public understand the draft constitution and what is about to occur in the nation.

He is confident that the public is well aware of the upcoming referendum and is encouraged to go to the polls on August 7th. He admitted however that not a lot of people truly understand the intent of the draft constitution.

He then urged both supporters and dissenters to express themselves in accordance with the rule of law and be rational when criticizing the constitution.

-- NNT 2016-07-23

YEs, because they care so much about their people.

A yes vote means the military retain power.

A no vote means the military retain power.

What's so difficult to understand?

Wanchai urged both supporters and "dissenters" to express themselves in accordance with the rule of law and be rational when criticizing the constitution.

Just how many Thais have bothered to familiarise themselves with the draft document? Incredulously, not one of those I have asked have (including a former Director General, a Mahidol professor, and a THAI International pilot) even though they tell me they will vote.

While the headline of this NNT article tells us "NRSA believes most people know about (the) referendum", it also notes that Wanchai "... admitted however that not a lot of people truly understand the intent of the draft constitution ..."

I would assert that one only needs to read two Sections from it to " truly understand the intent"!

Section 265 The National Council for Peace and Order holding office prior to the promulgation of this Constitution shall continue to perform duties until the Council of Ministers newly appointed following the first general election according to the Constitution takes office.

During the performance of the duties pursuant to Paragraph One, the Head of the National Council for Peace and Order shall continue to have the duties and powers as provided in the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand (Interim) B.E. 2557, amended by the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand (Interim) B.E. 2557, Amendment (No. 1) B.E. 2558 and the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand (Interim) B.E. 2557, Amendment (No. 2) B.E. 2559. The provisions of the aforementioned Constitution specifically in respect of the powers of the Head of the National Council for Peace and Order and the National Council for Peace and Order shall remain in force.

Section 279 All announcements, orders and acts, including the performance of the National Council for Peace and Order or of the Head of the National Council for Peace and Order already in force prior to the date of promulgation of this Constitution or will come into force in accordance with Section 265 Paragraph Two, irrespective of their constitutional, legislative, executive or judicial force, shall be considered constitutional and lawful and shall continue to be in force under this Constitution. Repeal or amendment of such any announcement or order shall be made by an Act, except in case of the announcements or orders of the exercise of executive power in nature, the repeal or amendment shall be made by an order of the Prime Minister or a resolution of the Council of Ministers, as the case may be.

All affairs, including the acts related thereto, as recognized by the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand (Interim) B.E. 2557, amended by the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand (Interim) B.E. 2557, Amendment (No. 1) B.E. 2558 and the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand (Interim) B.E. 2557, Amendment (No. 2) B.E. 2559, to be constitutional and lawful shall be considered constitutional and lawful.

Thai Version: http://www.constitutionnet.org/vl/item/2016-draft-constitution-thailand-thai

English Version: http://www.un.or.th/2016-thailand-draft-constitution-english-translation/

I would imagine that maybe 10%-15% of the voting population are familiar with this draft........and I've exagerated.

I'de also make a guess that many of the ruling junta have not familiarised themselves with the draft either....but it's only a guess:)

Edited July 23, 20169 yr by ChrisY1

More accurate to say most people don't want to know about it

A bit like the Brexit vote. After the referendum the Thai community will start to read the draft constitution to see what they actually voted yes or no on.

It is like voting for senators in Thailand. The people do not actually understand what a senators job entails so any old "popular" criminal muppet gets in.

Looking forward to Thailand's trending google search on 8th of August to be "draft constitution"

The old adage relating to drugs "Just Say NO" never had more meaning in an alternative context -

Hopefully many people will vote -

A yes vote means the military retain power.

A no vote means the military retain power.

What's so difficult to understand?

Indeed. However 'They didn't understand what they were voting for' is always a useful card to keep in the deck. You never know...

People are certainly well enough informed that a referendum is taking place on 7 August, but few in my small part of the Isaan have a clue what it is they are supposed to be voting for. Yes, they know it is a draft constitution, but no-one has informed them of the contents, they have seen little about it in the newspapers or TV and only know that they are not supposed to talk about it (?!) - just go and vote on Sunday 7th. I doubt very much if the authorities will even bother to count the votes before announcing an overwhelming victory for the 'yes' vote. It's a complete farce!

People are certainly well enough informed that a referendum is taking place on 7 August, but few in my small part of the Isaan have a clue what it is they are supposed to be voting for. Yes, they know it is a draft constitution, but no-one has informed them of the contents, they have seen little about it in the newspapers or TV and only know that they are not supposed to talk about it (?!) - just go and vote on Sunday 7th. I doubt very much if the authorities will even bother to count the votes before announcing an overwhelming victory for the 'yes' vote. It's a complete farce!

To the people you are describing, I would be inclined to tell them it is all about a new constitution. A new constitution the army want you to have and don't want you talking about. Think about that...

A bit like the Brexit vote. After the referendum the Thai community will start to read the draft constitution to see what they actually voted yes or no on.

It is like voting for senators in Thailand. The people do not actually understand what a senators job entails so any old "popular" criminal muppet gets in.

Looking forward to Thailand's trending google search on 8th of August to be "draft constitution"

Criminal muppets obtain power in a variety of ways.Those that are chosen democratically can be turfed out.Those that grabbed power illegally do not present that option.

A yes vote means the military retain power.

A no vote means the military retain power.

What's so difficult to understand?

Awww stop it, we are trying not to let the elephant out of the bag....

So now that these blokes admit that most of the people do not understand what is in the draft and it's ramifications in the future due to the preventing of open discussion and debate on the draft, could it be labeled as a failure ? or simply not legitimate?

Yes = military power.

No = Military power.

People are certainly well enough informed that a referendum is taking place on 7 August, but few in my small part of the Isaan have a clue what it is they are supposed to be voting for. Yes, they know it is a draft constitution, but no-one has informed them of the contents, they have seen little about it in the newspapers or TV and only know that they are not supposed to talk about it (?!) - just go and vote on Sunday 7th. I doubt very much if the authorities will even bother to count the votes before announcing an overwhelming victory for the 'yes' vote. It's a complete farce!

Eligible voters are starting to receive referendum notices and where to cast their vote. My household received the notice but as you said, none knows what they suppose to be voting for. The dissemination of the charter draft content has been pathetic and the EC has done a lousy job so far. Time for Prayut to use 44 to sack the whole lt of the EC top officials. Maybe not as they are a tool of the junta.

A yes vote means the military retain power.

A no vote means the military retain power.

What's so difficult to understand?

Awww stop it, we are trying not to let the elephant out of the bag....

So now that these blokes admit that most of the people do not understand what is in the draft and it's ramifications in the future due to the preventing of open discussion and debate on the draft, could it be labeled as a failure ? or simply not legitimate?

Yes = military power.

No = Military power.

No = military power = public frustration = anger = ???????

Probably most people know about the referendum but not the detail.

If, as stated, most people wouldn't understand it then the creators of this thing should hurry up and explain it.

Probably most people know about the referendum but not the detail.

If, as stated, most people wouldn't understand it then the creators of this thing should hurry up and explain it.

Why are they requiring fingerprints ?

Section 279 All announcements, orders and acts, including the performance of the National Council for Peace and Order or of the Head of the National Council for Peace and Order already in force prior to the date of promulgation of this Constitution or will come into force in accordance with Section 265 Paragraph Two, irrespective of their constitutional, legislative, executive or judicial force, shall be considered constitutional and lawful and shall continue to be in force under this Constitution. Repeal or amendment of such any announcement or order shall be made by an Act, except in case of the announcements or orders of the exercise of executive power in nature, the repeal or amendment shall be made by an order of the Prime Minister or a resolution of the Council of Ministers, as the case may be.

All affairs, including the acts related thereto, as recognized by the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand (Interim) B.E. 2557, amended by the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand (Interim) B.E. 2557, Amendment (No. 1) B.E. 2558 and the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand (Interim) B.E. 2557, Amendment (No. 2) B.E. 2559, to be constitutional and lawful shall be considered constitutional and lawful.

So the ultimate law #44 will still be usable by the general, censorship remains on the internet and news, ,as well as the censorship of TV and radio stations, computer laws will still be in place as well as the ban against bad-mouthing the military.

A bit like the Brexit vote. After the referendum the Thai community will start to read the draft constitution to see what they actually voted yes or no on.

It is like voting for senators in Thailand. The people do not actually understand what a senators job entails so any old "popular" criminal muppet gets in.

Looking forward to Thailand's trending google search on 8th of August to be "draft constitution"

"A bit like the Brexit vote. After the referendum the Thai community will start to read the draft constitution to see what they actually voted yes or no on."

Yes, maybe after the referendum they are actually allowed to discuss it

Headline should read "NRSA believes most people know about referendum (have been arrested)" ????

A bit like the Brexit vote. After the referendum the Thai community will start to read the draft constitution to see what they actually voted yes or no on.

It is like voting for senators in Thailand. The people do not actually understand what a senators job entails so any old "popular" criminal muppet gets in.

Looking forward to Thailand's trending google search on 8th of August to be "draft constitution"

oh yea "like the brexit vote" where there was debate, argument and opinions freely given

Most Villagers around us know about it but know nothing of what it is about ! Basically they are not really interested because they feel it makes no difference to what's in their pockets and their priority is earning the next days keep. As one said.. ''They are not even giving us any money to vote ''.

A yes vote means the military retain power.

A no vote means the military retain power.

What's so difficult to understand?

The difference is that a no vote tells the world the junta is not wanted, even if they retain control.

A bit like the Brexit vote. After the referendum the Thai community will start to read the draft constitution to see what they actually voted yes or no on.

It is like voting for senators in Thailand. The people do not actually understand what a senators job entails so any old "popular" criminal muppet gets in.

Looking forward to Thailand's trending google search on 8th of August to be "draft constitution"

oh yea "like the brexit vote" where there was debate, argument and opinions freely given

None of which feature in the parallel universe he inhabits.

Edited July 23, 20169 yr by JAG

A bit like the Brexit vote. After the referendum the Thai community will start to read the draft constitution to see what they actually voted yes or no on.

It is like voting for senators in Thailand. The people do not actually understand what a senators job entails so any old "popular" criminal muppet gets in.

Looking forward to Thailand's trending google search on 8th of August to be "draft constitution"

I think more correct would be, after the referendum 90% of the Thai community will question themselves why they weren't aware of a referendum.

I would imagine that maybe 10%-15% of the voting population are familiar with this draft........and I've exagerated.

I'de also make a guess that many of the ruling junta have not familiarised themselves with the draft either....but it's only a guess:)

Just how many people have actually seen a copy of this draft constitution. Unless it's debated no-one will ever understand it, not even those who penned it, the only thing they do understand is what that disgrace of a PM wnats to achieve... total control.

A bit like the Brexit vote. After the referendum the Thai community will start to read the draft constitution to see what they actually voted yes or no on.

It is like voting for senators in Thailand. The people do not actually understand what a senators job entails so any old "popular" criminal muppet gets in.

Looking forward to Thailand's trending google search on 8th of August to be "draft constitution"

Actually the brexit referendum offered a clear choice, vote remain or leave.

This one doesn't offer a choice, vote yes and they will put this constitution into action, with a few amendments being done after the fact. Vote no and they will put another one into action, and that one will be exactly the same as the current draft + the amendments they are going to put in when it turns out to be a yes vote.....

Who the hell are they trying to fool here. I bet the Thai people know all of this all to well.

Edited July 23, 20169 yr by sjaak327

A bit like the Brexit vote. After the referendum the Thai community will start to read the draft constitution to see what they actually voted yes or no on.

It is like voting for senators in Thailand. The people do not actually understand what a senators job entails so any old "popular" criminal muppet gets in.

Looking forward to Thailand's trending google search on 8th of August to be "draft constitution"

Actually the brexit referendum offered a clear choice, vote remain or leave.

This one doesn't offer a choice, vote yes and they will put this constitution into action, with a few amendments being done after the fact. Vote no and they will put another one into action, and that one will be exactly the same as the current draft + the amendments they are going to put in when it turns out to be a yes vote.....

Who the hell are they trying to fool here. I bet the Thai people know all of this all to well.

Hobson's Choice

A yes vote means the military retain power.

A no vote means the military retain power.

What's so difficult to understand?

It's a draft for a new constitution and might be a stepping-stone towards democratic elections.