| You can't say Thailand's newest constitution (there have been 17 in the past 75 years) won a ringing endorsement, but that probably reflects what most people thought of it. Very few people were enthusiastic about the draft constitution. Indeed very few people had read it. For those who had, there were reasons to support it, but also reasons to oppose it, so the 58-42 margin seems fair enough. Most importantly, the country can now move forward to a general election and a democratic government. That is clearly a big reason why many people voted "yes".
One thing was clear from yesterday's vote. There were huge regional differences in the way people voted. Indeed, there were even significant differences within regions, particularly in the North. The upper North went heavily against the charter, while the lower North generally supported it. Obviously, the differences had a lot to do with people's feelings towards former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
The story below will give you an overview of yesterday's results, some comments from key charter supporters and an analysis from a political analyst.
landslide
a very large election victory
draft charter (or draft constitution)
a constitution that has not yet been finally approved
silhouetted
the dark outline or shape or an object that you see against a light background
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referendum
an occasion when all the people of a country can vote on an important issue
ringing endorsement
very strong support
reflect
to show
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margin
the number or percentage of votes that an election is won by
key
most important
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The Democracy Monument is silhouetted against the evening sky after voters gave the military-installed government's draft charter the green light via the referendum . — PATTARACHAI PREECHAPANICH |
Charter approved
Strong resistance in North, Northeast. General election now expected in December. Sonthi surprised by low win, blames poor PR
POST REPORTERS
Despite the close vote in the referendum on the draft charter, which met surprisingly fierce resistance from northern and northeastern voters, yesterday's result still cleared the way for a general election in December.
It was a victory for supporters of the draft charter, which was fully backed by the government and the Council for National Security (CNS).
With the Election Commission (EC) reporting counting complete at 95 percent of all polling booths, the contest turned out to be a close call with 58.23 percent of voters supporting the draft constitution and 41.77 percent rejecting it.
EC chairman Apichart Sukhakhanont estimated less than 60 percent of the 45 million eligible voters turned out to cast their ballots.
Northern and northeastern provinces, which were political strongholds of the banned Thai Rak Thai party founded by ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, emerged in strong opposition to the new constitution.
The outcome in the North was in favour of the draft charter, but the voters in the Northeast rejected it, according to the EC's unofficial count.
Northern provinces resisting the draft charter included Chiang Mai, hometown of Mr Thaksin, Lamphun, Lampang, Phrae, Nan and Phayao.
In the Northeast, opposition was strongest in Surin, Nong Bua Lamphu, Khon Kaen, Udon Thani, Nong Khai, Roi Et, Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom and Maha Sarakham.
Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said the outcome reflected support for draft charter and the desire of voters to see an end to the political problems that started with street rallies against Mr Thaksin and led to the military coup on September 19 last year.
Gen Surayud promised new elections before the year's end, with the possible dates Dec 16 or 23, after the country celebrates His Majesty the King's birthday on Dec 5.
He also said he would leave politics for good with the end of the interim government, formed after the military coup. He urged those trying to block the referendum to accept the results.
rescue
involved with saving people from dangerous or harmful situations
evacuate
to move people from a place of danger to a safer place
ultra-Orthodox
extremely strict in following the teachings and beliefs of a particular religion
ambulance
a vehicle with special equipment, used for taking sick or injured people to a hospital
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press charges
to formally accuse someone of wrongdoing
errant
doing something that is wrong
concentration
the amount of a substance in a liquid or another substance
presence
the fact of being in a particular place
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corrosive
tending to destroy something slowly by chemical action
dehydrated
having lost too much water from the body
ordeal
a difficult or unpleasant experience
volunteer
of someone who does a job without being paid for it
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Last modified: August 17, 2007
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