Red-shirts back quick third reading

News > Local News

Red-shirts back quick third reading

Published: 20 Jul 2012 at 16.19
Online news: Local News

The United front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) stands firms on its position that the government call a parliamentary meeting to vote on the third reading of the charter amendment bill, UDD chair Thida Thavornsat said on Friday.

Mrs Thida said even though the government leader, the Pheu Thai Party, and many other groups agreed that all sides should wait for the full text of the ruling of the Constitution Court, the red-shirts thought the legislative branch should make it clear that the court has no authority to intervene in charter change procedures.

The Constitution Court is scheduled to release its official opinion on the legality of the amendment bill next Thursday, July 26.

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

Forum

Your comments

jgriff
Post : 402
Send message

Discussion 11 : 21 Jul 2012 at 10.4911
Post this to my Facebook
Dolphin 10
Lets let the people vote in an honest public referendum. If either side can not get people out to vote then that shows what the people of this country think. Is it all about what they are paid or do they care about what happens in Thailand?
Like dislike 2 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment
dolphin
Post : 58
Send message

Discussion 10 : 21 Jul 2012 at 06.3510
Post this to my Facebook
Hello anti constitution posters, do you agree the 2007 constitution referendum is a sham? If so why are u guys against throwing it out? Isn't this hypocrisy?
Like dislike 2 people liked / 9 people disliked this comment
SteveCM
Post : 638
Send message

Discussion 9 : 21 Jul 2012 at 02.019
Post this to my Facebook
Thida: "“Particularly Article 165, which stipulates that the more than half of the total number of eligible voters, or about 24 million, must approve the changes in a referendum."

Hard to see where she gets this from. The relevant section of Article 165 states: "A referendum under (1) or (2) may be conducted in order to achieve a final determination, by a majority of votes cast by persons having the right to vote at a referendum..."

[www.senate.go.th/th_senate/English/constitution2007.pdf]
Like dislike 17 people liked / 2 people disliked this comment
lazar
Post : 1,511
Send message

Discussion 8 : 20 Jul 2012 at 23.558
Post this to my Facebook
What's the next building to get burnt down if Thida and her commies don't get their way?
Like dislike 20 people liked / 8 people disliked this comment
englishbob
Post : 2,322
Send message

Discussion 7 : 20 Jul 2012 at 22.597
Post this to my Facebook
Disc5 If fewer than 24 million people bother to vote, that would indicate how important the issue is to the country.
Having lived under the past 2 constitutions, I can tell you there has been no adverse effect on my life at all. And I am quite sure that the 'new' constitution won't have any impact on ordinary people's lives either... However, I am confident Thaksin will LOVE IT!
Like dislike 21 people liked / 8 people disliked this comment
brilliant
Post : 1,432
Send message

Discussion 6 : 20 Jul 2012 at 20.556
Post this to my Facebook
"The United front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) stands firms on its position that the government call a parliamentary meeting to vote on the third reading of the charter amendment bill"
"....the red-shirts thought the legislative branch should make it clear that the court has no authority to intervene in charter change procedures."

So, Thida thinks the court has no legal say about the charter, but UDD does? Now I guess the UDD usurps the courts in Thailand. And that's the red shirt brand of democracy.
Like dislike 38 people liked / 9 people disliked this comment
johninbkk
Post : 2,930
Send message

Discussion 5 : 20 Jul 2012 at 19.315
Post this to my Facebook
So, we can end up with a situation where 90% of all votes are in favor of change, but low turnout causes it to not pass.
Like dislike 7 people liked / 30 people disliked this comment
browser
Post : 976
Send message

Discussion 4 : 20 Jul 2012 at 17.534
Post this to my Facebook
It seems as if there are at least two vying governments at play. On one side are the statements by Yingluck, whose main function it seems is to simply keep out of the way. And then there's Thida. Thida is getting quite used to dictating terms - as if she's discovered a calling. Thida talks about democracy, but where's the democracy within the UDD, and how does it operate ? Or perhaps whoever happens to be speaking for them at any given moment carries an unlimited license to improvise.
Like dislike 38 people liked / 7 people disliked this comment
super007
Post : 30
Send message

Discussion 3 : 20 Jul 2012 at 16.433
Post this to my Facebook
Ms. Thida pointed out "the forthcoming public referendum of charter change would be decided by the majority votes of the people who turn out, there is no guarantee that the condition stated in the 165 Article would not be cited" and I totally agree with her. It is not clear enough. However, changing whole charter should be discussed carefully and spend enough time for general public to understand correctly. If general public really understand the new charter and support it strongly, then I have no doubt even Constitution Court can not disturb its passage.
Like dislike 15 people liked / 38 people disliked this comment
soltair
Post : 795
Send message

Discussion 2 : 20 Jul 2012 at 16.382
Post this to my Facebook
“It is not easy to encourage all eligible voters to turn out because they have to earn their daily livings."

Yeaaaa, Looks like another clear victory for the reds. They have all the time in the world.
Like dislike 59 people liked / 13 people disliked this comment