UDD: 2007 charter the next target

News > Local News

UDD: 2007 charter the next target

Published: 30/11/2011 at 06:14 PM
Online news: Local News

The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship's next target is the revocation of the 2007 constitution and all unjust laws which came after the 2006 coup, UDD chair Thida Thavornseth announced on Wednesday.

Ms Thida said it was necessary to push for a new constitution and new laws which were just, to put in place a democratic system in which the people were the true holders of power.

She and other UDD leaders would pay a visit UDD supporters detained at the Bangkok Remand Prison on various charges on Dec 2 and would continue to push for their release on bail.

This article is older than 60 days, which we reserve for our premium members only.You can subscribe to our premium member subscription, here.

About the author

: Writer: Online Reporters; Position: Online Reporters

Keep this article in your social bookmark:

Latest stories in this category:

Forum

Your comments

ricefield
Post : 1,714
Send message

Discussion 29 : 03/12/2011 at 02:08 AM29
Post this to my Facebook
Disc 28 - You were preaching a good sermon until you said, "Any Constitution that becomes identified as "belonging" to one part of society and not others, which is not inclusive, such as "the peoples' Constitution"

The 97 constitution was the first constitution to be drafted by a "Constitution Drafting Assembly directly elected from each province" with 23 specialists, elected in the parliament and Senate, as advisers. It was written with input from every sector of society, rich and poor, and the CDA went to every area of the country, urban and rural, to gain input.
Like dislike 0 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment
pquinlan
Post : 291
Send message

Discussion 28 : 02/12/2011 at 01:57 PM28
Post this to my Facebook
Any Constitution that becomes identified as "belonging" to one part of society and not others, which is not inclusive, such as "the peoples' Constitution" or "the Army's Constitution" is doomed to fail. It cannot do anything else as it will always have opponents.

Thailand will never undo this governance Gordian knot until it has a Constitutional Convention with all parties, groups, regions and interest groups represented and who is charged with creating a completely new constitution, not a redraft or a reversion, which gets endorsed by public vote after genuinely wide-ranging public education and discourse.
Like dislike 0 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment
pquinlan
Post : 291
Send message

Discussion 27 : 02/12/2011 at 01:45 PM27
Post this to my Facebook
One glaring fault in both 1997 and 2007 Constitutions is that the incumbent government can make certain changes without going to the voting public. This is a major flaw. Any nation's Constitution should belong to the people of that nation, not the people put in place as a result of the Constitution and, supposedly, there to serve the public.

No change should be permitted without a referendum. Provided the Constitution you have is robust and created out of wide-ranging consultation and public buy-in, then the fact that a referendum is required to change it provides the political stability that Thailand craves and does not have. All else is window dressing, or dog and pony show for the plebs.
Like dislike 0 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment
howell
Post : 1,130
Send message

Discussion 26 : 02/12/2011 at 11:29 AM26
Post this to my Facebook
@johninbkk. My opinion was not about the Constitution but Thaksin's behavior.

Coincidence he sold the shares the day after it was changed? Coincidence the red mob headed for BKK 2 weeks after some of his money was confiscated ?

Unfortunately I am not paid to comment and so do not have the time to read legislation.
Like dislike 0 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment
whatajoke
Post : 676
Send message

Discussion 25 : 02/12/2011 at 06:48 AM25
Post this to my Facebook
Look, there's an endless argument for and against both the 1997 and 2007 charters, depending what your priorities are; for example some people realise the importance of strengthening independent agencies in the wake of the Thaksin governing era, whilst since the coup, people see an entirely elected senate as the holy grail (though it can be said the first senate had been turned into a rubber stamp by Thaksin). Some find the electoral laws draconian, but given how dodgy our politics can be, others might agree it's necessary.
None of this of course hides the fact that a) the Thaksin camp argues for a return to the 1997 charter mainly as a way to whitewash themselves b) tearing up a present charter (and returning to one more beneficial to your own group) is going to cause much dissatisfaction, but there again it's exactly what was done with the coup.

As I said before, best solution is for the 'people' to write a new or amended charter, with as little political fiddling as possible. We want a constitution that holds crooks, coup leaders and protest criminals accountable.
Like dislike 0 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment
johninbkk
Post : 2,476
Send message

Discussion 24 : 01/12/2011 at 12:09 PM24
Post this to my Facebook
howell D18 - I recommend actually reading the law before forming an opinion on it. A majority of the business sector, including direct competitors to TS's businesses, had demanded the change.

bikeme D19 - "what matters is if the authors' goals are to improve Thailand's future for ALL citizens."
I agree. Unfortunately, only PAD members were allowed to participate in the drafting of the 2007 Constitution. A democratic drafting would have allowed representatives from all sides/colors to work together. whatajoke D17 is generally right, although the 2007 version added new loopholes and made 1/3rd the government appointed instead of elected.
Like dislike 0 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment
johninbkk
Post : 2,476
Send message

Discussion 23 : 01/12/2011 at 11:25 AM23
Post this to my Facebook
Why is it ok for an unelected coup government to impose any law they want but not ok for an elected government to change those laws? How many of you have read the 1997 and 2007 Constitutions, or even know which sections might be modified?
Like dislike 0 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment
ricefield
Post : 1,714
Send message

Discussion 22 : 01/12/2011 at 11:07 AM22
Post this to my Facebook
Disc 19 - FYI the 97 constitution was the first constitution to be drafted by the Constitution Drafting Assembly directly elected from each province with 23 specialists as advisers. It was written with input from every sector of society and the CDA went to every area of the country to gain input.

It matters greatly who writes a document because if any one group writes it it will always be biased.
Like dislike 0 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment
ricefield
Post : 1,714
Send message

Discussion 21 : 01/12/2011 at 10:25 AM21
Post this to my Facebook
Disc 17 - "I very much doubt any of these posters have actually read the 1997 nor the 2007 charters in fill". Well I have both of them in FULL. You are correct the basics are quite similar but that's were it ends. While you were reading the 97 charter did you notice the qualifications for PM was "Thai Born" in the 07 one it's just "Thai". What's your view on the amnesty written into the appendix for overthrowing the government in the 07 wasn't in the 97. Lots of little changes - that make a very big difference.

As for the referendum. You had a choice of the 2007 constitution or nothing. If the referendum failed the Junta could impose any constitution they wanted including the one that would have just failed. That's not a referendum it's a guise.
Like dislike 0 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment
farang1973
Post : 46
Send message

Discussion 20 : 01/12/2011 at 10:13 AM20
Post this to my Facebook
:) More great ideas from the people who brought you the burning of Bangkok. I can't imagine the legality of cancelling a constitution when it was approved in a referendum. What will you say? Try again, you got it wrong? Some sensible comments on here, and then the usual nonsense from the usual suspects.
Like dislike 0 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment