Thailand votes on Sunday in a referendum on a new junta-backed constitution that would pave the way for a general election in 2017 but require future governments to rule on the military’s terms.
Advertisement
Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, the junta leader, said late Sunday that the vote was aimed at including the Thai people in reforms “which are necessary for a bona fide democracy and thus for Thailand not to remain as a kleptocratic state”.
The Pheu Thai party made several criticisms on the draft constitution, such as too much curtailment of administrative officials and too much power bestowed upon the Constitutional Court and any independent organizations, the possible generation of a multiparty government which is not stable enough to run the country, and a almost impossible amendment of the constitution, adding that it is also unfair that the draft exempts the NCPO from any punishments. Prayuth said he would make a televised statement on his government’s next steps after full referendum results are released on Wednesday.
“With more than 90 percent of the vote counted, the Thai election commission says roughly 60 percent of those who cast ballots voted for the new constitution while roughly 37 percent voted against it”, he says.
Some Thais had voiced fears of vote-rigging or ballot-stuffing after a number of electoral monitors dropped out before the vote.
Civilian parties, including the Shinawatras’ and their opponents who initially backed the 2014 coup, had lined up against the constitution despite strict anti-campaigning laws.
The proposed constitution was created to shift the balance of power away from major political parties and give a greater voice to medium-size parties under a new formula for awarding seats in the parliament. A companion ballot measure that would give the military junta the authority to fill the Senate with its appointees was also easily winning voter approval.
A telling sign is that since the end of the monarchy’s absolute rule in 1932, Thailand has had 20 constitutions and 13 coups.
The 105-page draft constitution consists of 16 charters and the Transitory Provisions, or 279 sections.
“Another part merely came from those fed up with the political situation, having no trust in the military government”, he said.
His sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, became prime minister in 2011 but was ousted by a court order, also on corruption charges, days before the military took power.
The Shinawatra clan have won all general elections since 2001, harvesting votes by promising greater wealth and opportunity to the nation’s rural poor.
Adding to Thailand’s precarious political situation has been the lingering illness of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, 88, who has been hospitalised for more than a year.
“What is more important is Thailand must move forward”.
The military has said the new Constitution would stem endemic political corruption and bring stability, but critics have said it will entrench military control.
The results show Thailand remains divided, said Sunai at Human Rights Watch. The second question is whether they would approve a junta-appointed upper house, joining parliament’s lower house to elect a prime minister to serve a five-year transitional period from military rule.
Yingluck’s pro-democracy Peau Thai party had been widely assumed to still enjoy mass support and maintain the power to mobilise their voters.
Advertisement
“This is a reflection of the mistrust of politicians”, she said. “My decision is based on the performance so far of the military government”, said Thanyapan Chantaneeyamanont.
