Thailand: Charter draft to take one year

Thailand: Charter draft to take one year
Bangkok Post, January 3, 2012

Parliament president Somsak Kiatsuranont expects a new charter draft will be completed within a year and a referendum will decide if it should take effect.

"Of course, after the New Year the first political issue will be charter amendments. People must be open-minded. Do not stick with any single thing or any individual. That will be pointless," Mr Somsak said.

"The final answer will rest with the people. Please help things progress in a democratic fashion. If this cannot happen, I must say frankly that I can't see any other way."

Mr Somsak stressed that amendments to the constitution were inevitable because his Pheu Thai Party had raised the matter during the election campaign and 15 million people had voted for the party.

The government said it would seek amendments within a year of coming into power.

Mr Somsak said the Pheu Thai Party will this month propose that parliament amend Section 291 of the constitution to allow the establishment of a Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA). It will consist of 77 members who will be elected from Thailand's 77 provinces as well as 22 academics. Once formed, it should take a few months to draft a new constitution.

Asked if the 15 million votes Pheu Thai received in the July 3 election gave the government a strong enough mandate to replace the constitution, Mr Somsak said the new charter draft would be put to a referendum and the public would decide its fate.

"We do not cite the 15 million votes to justify the new constitution. Those votes tell us to seek to change the charter and whether the change will be accepted or not will depend on 64 million people," the parliament president said.

The nationwide election of charter drafters, and a referendum was the best way to introduce a new constitution as the public could take part in both processes.

A new constitution which resulted from democratic processes should be acceptable to most people. "Democracy means people's elections ... and the majority rules. Rejecting this is tantamount to rejecting democracy," he said.