Pheu Thai plans fresh charter bid

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Pheu Thai plans fresh charter bid

Reading of bill eyed for next House session

Published: 31 Oct 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

The Pheu Thai Party secretary-general says the new executive board will make a fresh bid to write a new constitution soon, and gather public support to ensure success.

Jarupong: Named as new ruling party boss

Pheu Thai Party secretary-general Phumtham Wechayachai said yesterday the ruling party's leadership was restructured especially to expand membership, a strategy that will support their attempt to change the charter.

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whatajoke
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Discussion 43 : 01 Nov 2012 at 07.4243
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To all those who feel a govt holding 51% of the vote in parliament is entitled to use that to change something as important as the constitution, consider that we would forever be changing the charter back and forth with self-serving articles and amendments every time we had a change of guard at govt house. Supposing PT splinters again, the opposition take power and immediately reverse all the changes. We should be suspicious of a govt initiating a process that gives it an unfair advantage (e.g proposing one representative per province despite the unbalanced per capita representation). 2/3 parliament approval for charter change is standard.
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facts_only
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Discussion 42 : 31 Oct 2012 at 21.4442
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"I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and constitutions, but laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors." - Thomas Jefferson, July 12, 1816
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genii
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Discussion 41 : 31 Oct 2012 at 18.0341
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By requiring the 2/3 majority from the MP's could pose problems that could be in direct conflict with the majority of the public voters wishes. The vote should go directly to the public. The constitution belongs to the people.
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Bangon
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Discussion 40 : 31 Oct 2012 at 17.3440
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The Government wants to make changes to the Constitution, asks the Chamber of Representatives to approve the NEXT Legislature to be 'constituent', if a 3/4 (or 2/3) majority of MPs agrees, the different groups prepare their project of revision... FFW... The Parliament by a same consolidated majority approves the final negotiated project, which is followed by a Referendum requiring a majority in the 4 main regions: North, East, Central, South. That's Democracy!
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genii
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Discussion 39 : 31 Oct 2012 at 17.3239
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Why is it there is never a call for fresh elections from the oppositon to this government. In 2006 there was not a call for new elections before or after the illegal coup. Why is it the 1997 constitution was removed immediately after the coup without question. Why is it there are calls for a judical or military coup now and the only thing the UDD ask for was fresh elections. Why is it the 2006 constitution was the only thing offered other than a continual military rule. Is this all starting to make sense.
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Eric
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Discussion 38 : 31 Oct 2012 at 16.4038
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Bikeme dis#37, the fresh charter review has all the elements that you brought up. The government does not have all luxury even though they have majority in Parliment. First they have to hold a referendum to ask the public to decide if the charter re-write can proceed. Second the government does not dominate the CDA. It consist of 77 members from all provinces including Demo held southern provinces. And they will be 22 appointed member expert in related fields like law, political science, environment etc. you simply can't have forums as its too time consuming and it's the responsibility of the 77 members to collect their opinions from their pr
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bikeme
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Discussion 37 : 31 Oct 2012 at 14.1337
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D31 Eric - it really doesn't matter how the 2007 constitution came about, it exists and we can't change how it was created. The ONLY thing that counts is the future. And that means making sure that ANY changes to the constitution are based on the needs and the voice of the Thai people ... not a party that hold only a 51% majority ... not a fugitive hiding in Dubai ...

Form a constitutional committee with no political appointments (half elected by population based districting, half selected by peers of socio-economic groups), let them hold public forums, let them decide based on the public's feedback what if anything needs changing, then
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wakeup
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Discussion 36 : 31 Oct 2012 at 13.2436
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I think if we re-write the constitution, how about some anti-nepotism clauses? Perhaps term limits (1-2) for ALL members of parliament? What about permanent political bans for anyone convicted in a court of law, effectively retroactively? Surely this is a middle ground all honest people can meet on, if we seek clean governance. Propose this, and make the Thaksinites openly defend nepotism and corruption.
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wakeup
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Discussion 35 : 31 Oct 2012 at 13.1735
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With all the challenges facing Thailand today - all clearly solvable by a competent, honest, government under the current constitution - it is evident that PTP is as incompetent as they are destructively self-serving. They must realize, that in addition to not addressing the nation's challenges, they are creating new ones with this unwarranted attempt to rewrite the constitution.
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bluebottle
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Discussion 34 : 31 Oct 2012 at 13.0434
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The Government is supposed to be for the people it seems here it is for themselves and forget the people.How many times have they had a go at changing the constitution because it did not suit the government's needs and forget the majority of peoples needs.It would appear the main driver to change is to get a certain criminal back.
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Pheu Thai plans fresh charter bid | Bangkok Post: news