Thaksin 'firm' on referendum

News > Local News

Published: 21 Dec 2012 at 17.43
Online news: Local News

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra still believes firmly that a public referendum should be held before the government attempts to amend the constitution, says his lawyer and close aide Noppadon Pattama.

Mr Noppadon said he personally believed that with a strong campaign, more than half of eligible voters would take part in the referendum, which would consequently reduce conflict in society.

He said the Pheu Thai government also believed, as did Thaksin, that a public referendum and amending the charter in its entirety were the best solution.

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nui
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Discussion 13 : 23 Dec 2012 at 05.1313
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If the referendum and amending the charter in its entirety fails, PT will change section by section. It is only a test, which cost the taxpayers 2 Billion Baht. But it is dangerous for PT because the opposition will claim that the public does not want a charter change at all. And the Constitution Court is watching.
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whatajoke
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Discussion 12 : 22 Dec 2012 at 10.4712
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I agree, let the referendum go ahead, then everyone, Thaksin included, can shut up and know the people's choice. I'm guessing he's pretty confident since the last election, though referendums and elections are two different things, question is; how much money is he willing to commit to this.
Khun Noppodom: I'm so sick and tired of this 'will of the 51% must prevail'. Not all PT election promises are realistic to implement since they serve only the PT half, so drop that silly 'election promises' line will you. A charter re-write approved by anything less than 70% isn't going to solve the country's divisions, sorry but you're dreaming.
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pquinlan
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Discussion 11 : 22 Dec 2012 at 09.3411
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Well, Pheu Thaksin government, you have received your orders, so why not just get on with it? Don't you understand how disconcerting it is for the boss to have his orders ignored?
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franklin
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Discussion 10 : 22 Dec 2012 at 04.1210
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The current Thai government needs to "get a life" and start focusing on real-problem issues. Unlike Thaksin, the problem in the south won't go away. The rice-pledge has hurt Thailand, opium production is back in Thailand, crime is on the rise and the Thai schools are far from improved but the governments #1 focus still remains white-washing Thaksin. When is this Shinawatra government going to show some Thai improvement results? The Yingluck has mastered flying elsewhere, pointing and smiling, making promises, the photo-opportunities and the new Phuea Thai way of handling complaints about Phuea Thai created problems by denying it and "shruggi
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ringmaster
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Discussion 9 : 22 Dec 2012 at 01.539
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So Thaksin believes a charter rewrite referendum is winnable. I wouldn't bet against him - the political party associated with him has won the past 5 general elections despite the obstacles his opponents have set up.
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DONHUAN
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Discussion 8 : 21 Dec 2012 at 23.508
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One wonders why TS is so obsess with rewriting the Constitution when his PT parties are winning elections under this new Charter. It would be ironic for him if his PT parties somehow succeeded in making Thailand a better place to live under this coup written Constitution. I, therefore, surmised that this existing Constitution is an affront to his face, given his penchant for self indulgence. Should the Thai people humor him or simply ignore his persistent overtures? Should the referendum goes through, a low turnout of less than 25% would be an obvious answer to the mother of all question; will this end the Constitution rewrite?
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mogy71
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Discussion 7 : 21 Dec 2012 at 22.117
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He's short of attention once more. I'll say it again, any articles referencing this mans actions and words very rarely have any of the usual crimson-brigade suspects commenting afterwards. If there was a comment about AV thrown in they're all over it like tinsel on my tree. It's like they support what TS does but not what he says.
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meme
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Discussion 6 : 21 Dec 2012 at 20.286
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He bought several elections, surely he can buy a referendum too.
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sanam-bin
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Discussion 5 : 21 Dec 2012 at 19.515
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Here we have an entire society totally fixated on one man. Uh... Amazing, Thailand.
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GerBo
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Discussion 4 : 21 Dec 2012 at 18.274
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pffff, again got tired, now again a public referendum. At once our "beloved" politicians need the public again. Normally they don't care at all what you as Thai public think, but now... we may decide in this "fake" democracy. Normally they are busy how to get their bank account filled or "slime" by giving a tax refund for a first-car scheme, which eventually bring many people in the coming 5 years in big financial problems and ... gives the Bangkok traffic a "heart-attack", not to speak about the extra pollution, but ok... they need us again. Well please skip my house, I really prefer that.
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