Abhisit attacks charter change

News > Politics

Published: 16 Dec 2012 at 20.00
Online news: Politics

Opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva urged voters on Sunday to reject charter change in a referendum, in one of his strongest attacks to date on the government and former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

In an open letter on his Facebook page, the Democrat Party leader called on the public to block what he called an attempt by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to "whitewash" all cases involving her brother, Thaksin, by writing a new constitution.

Ms Yingluyck's intention, he said, was to amend Section 309 of the 2007 charter, which legalised the actions and orders of the military coup-makers in 2006. Doing so would clear Thaksin of all the charges brought against him after the coup that toppled his government, said Mr Abhisit.

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stan_ice
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Discussion 39 : 18 Dec 2012 at 10.5039
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Disc 38. Yes, and that's why I propose that Thailand should have two constitutions, each activated after either Dems or PTP come to power. That would be a lot easier than doing complete rewrites every couple of years.

This is what happens anyway - every new government puts its own set of rules for the country to live by regardless of what it says in the constitution.

It's also unfair to harass the government for not following laws it never agreed on in the first place.

It would spare the country a lot of trouble if every government was allowed to legally enforce constitution of its own chosing during its time in office.
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antitahaan
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Discussion 38 : 17 Dec 2012 at 22.5938
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I think that a formal Constitution under the democracy is a Constitution being established by peoples who being elected throu the General Election. So, the Constitution -which being rewrited by tank's force- is not a formal and legal constitution. Thailand was changed from old world to new world in 1932. If you are a person who graduated a higher education in the past, you can understand it. Look at this society through the neutral, calm honest eyes without"likes"and"dislikes".
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john49
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Discussion 37 : 17 Dec 2012 at 17.0537
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D36-Please answer the last question, has your hero Thaksin left politics like he has claimed on many many occasions or is he just lying, please answer the question.
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ricefield
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Discussion 36 : 17 Dec 2012 at 13.2636
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Disc 34 - "do you really think what PTP says is true?" Sometimes yes sometimes no, but what makes you think any other side is any more truthful. Or did they just tell you so?
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stan_ice
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Discussion 35 : 17 Dec 2012 at 11.3435
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Disc 24, we are not talking about amending constitution, we are talking about writing an entirely new chapter.

I think it's not the time yet - the country is still too divided and both sides think in terms of victory for themselves and not the entire country. Now we have constitution for yellows, replacing it with constitution for reds won't make anything better.

Re Thaksin - new chapter might not have the equivalent of article 309 anymore thus totally wiping out all Thaksin's convictions and outstanding charges. The govt knows it can't propose this specific amendment on itself and try to sneak it in under the guise of a new chapter.
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john49
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Discussion 34 : 17 Dec 2012 at 11.1234
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D32-'The PTP have said' - do you really think what PTP says is true? They have been caught out shamelessly lying so many times, why should they be believed now? The fugitive PM has stated many times he is no longer involved in politics. Is this statement true?
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abbub
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Discussion 33 : 17 Dec 2012 at 11.0233
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The military tore up the previous constitution. That constitution was recognized internationally as the "first ever Thai people's constitution".

Just bring it back.

And take away the immunity from prosecution for the illegal coup form the generals which they had written into the current constitution.
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ricefield
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Discussion 32 : 17 Dec 2012 at 07.3832
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Disc 31 - "likely skewed by vote buying" Well yes and no. as all parties buy votes it tends to even out, although the process should be eliminated it really doesn't really swing anyone anymore.

The PTP have said they want to adopt the exact same criteria to rewrite the charter as the Democrats did for the 97 one. They have even gone as far as to state they will use the exact Democrat model in it's entirety.
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whatajoke
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Discussion 31 : 17 Dec 2012 at 06.3131
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According to wikipedia 32 million people voted in the last election (which was compulsory and likely skewed by vote buying), the govt coalition collectively gained 18 million votes. Turnout for a non compulsory referendum will be less, & there will probably be far less 'money involved'. If the country is lead to believe that a Peua Thai sponsored charter re-write will return Thaksin & the country will be plunged into further trouble as a result, I'm guessing that the 23 million mark is going to be a bridge too far. But let the people decide, let both sides campaign freely with equal budget, then the matter of the '07 referendum can be settled
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whatajoke
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Discussion 30 : 17 Dec 2012 at 06.2330
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A bi-partisan rewrite of the charter is the only way forward to produce a better charter, Peua Thai aren't interested in that, their stated method of setting up a CDA is already stacked in their favour and their ill-disguised intentions are clear. Abhisit it right in that sense, but he offers no alternative and needs to take a stand on whether the 2007 needs improving and how to do it. Still Peua Thai regained power through a vote, under the present charter, so that's tantamount to an endorsement, and since Abhisit has already come out stating his side's no position it's likely that the govt will struggle to get the 23 million votes needed.
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Abhisit attacks charter change | Bangkok Post: news