The first draft of the
charter contains some worrying provisions.
On April 17, Thailand
completed the first draft of its new constitution – the country’s 20th since
1932 – as expected.
The new charter, written by the 36-member Constitution Drafting
Committee (CDC) appointed by the junta which took power in a coup last May, has
been framed by the coup-makers as a critical step to moving Thailand out of
political paralysis.
“We have
drafted this constitution as it is a reform one, in hopes of leading the
country out of cycles of conflicts, disunity and undemocratic fights,” CDC
spokesman Gen. Lertrat Ratanavich told The
Associated Press. “I’m confident this constitution will provide justice to
every side (of the conflict), more than the previous charters.”
Many are
not so sure. Critics and activists have been warning for months that the
constitution includes anti-democratic provisions designed primarily to prevent
any group loyal to Thaksin Shinawatra and his sister Yingluck from assuming
power. The current completed draft reportedly confirms
these fears. Unelected individuals can become prime minister with parliamentary
support, while most lawmakers would be appointed rather than elected. And
parliament will also be elected via proportional representation, a system that
would dilute the power of any large party and favor small parties and
coalitions.
Of
course, this is only a first draft. Feedback would have to be sought from
various sides before returning to the CDC, and possible amendments can be made
before it would be finally approved.
Meanwhile,
it is still unclear whether the junta will hold a referendum on the new
constitution – a key way to secure public approval. The Bangkok Post reported April 17
that deputy government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd struck a cautionary note
in his own assessment, suggesting that the government would not want to see a
repeat of political violence given the current polarized environment. National
Reform Council chairman Thienchay Kiranandana suggested that even if a
referendum is to be held, it might be on only certain sections of the document
rather than the entire draft charter.
An
election is expected to be held in 2016, though polls have been delayed before
as The Diplomat has reported previously.
Junta
leader and prime minister Prayuth Chan-o-Cha, for his part, has insisted that
the constitution is “most suitable for Thailand” and will “effectively resolve”
the country’s problems. According to The Bangkok Post, in his weekly “Returning
Happiness to the People” program Friday evening, Prayuth also took aim at
several groups of people, including those who speak without thinking and
politicians who adopt populist policies, insisting that he thinks about what is
best for the majority.
“These
people will seek to exploit the poor and control the media. I cannot do that. I
only think about what’s best for the majority, Prayuth said. The Diplomat By
Prashanth Parameswaran
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