Abhisit urges 'No' vote on charter change

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Abhisit urges 'No' vote on charter change

Published: 17 Dec 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

Opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva has urged voters to reject changes to the charter during the government's anticipated referendum on a constitutional amendment bill.

Opposition and Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva post this explanation on his Facebook page of why voters should mark "no" on the referendum.

In an open letter posted on his Facebook page Sunday, the Democrat 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 Shinawatra, by writing a new constitution.

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bikeme
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Discussion 36 : 17 Dec 2012 at 15.5436
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D20 Tu-whit - Abhisit was for "amending" the constitution and many of us here would also support that, but the PTP want to rewrite their own totally new one party version, not simply improve what we have.

Abbub - You mentioned you have turned your back on the PTP, yet you support their attempt to rewrite the constitution, do you honestly think they will write one that is fair for all Thais?
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Rab.Madar
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Discussion 35 : 17 Dec 2012 at 15.5035
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Mr Abhisit this is your comment :- "It's a people's revolution which sheds 'no blood' to confirm that people and laws are above money and power."
This is the headlines from the Guardian :- "Former Thailand PM charged with 'murder' over protest crackdown". There are many more from around the world.
Notice the words 'no blood' and 'murder' have been highlighted. Do you really expect the Thai people to support a double standard, possible felon. I wouldn't.
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abbub
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Discussion 34 : 17 Dec 2012 at 14.2934
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JOKE D32: Certainly at least partially right. I have no great expectations for Thai politics now the Pheu Thai has tucked its tail between its legs for the sake of bringing home Taksin.

That is why I support the UDD/red shirts POTENTIAL. They need to break away from mainstream politics and work at grass roots level more, like unions and cooperatives and expand into other areas of influence.

But the 2007 constitution was a joke written under the yoke of generals that covered their guilt.

SUPER D27: yes Thai politics is worthless. But democracy is never allowed to evolve. generals have made sure of that.
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Eric
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Discussion 33 : 17 Dec 2012 at 14.0433
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Ahbisit should start to take stock of his damages and try to reinvent himself if he wants to stay in politics. He latest 'No' statement has no backing from his party leadership which has only recently declared that they will agreed with changes of the constitution by sections. Citing his refusal to change the military amnesty in the constitution makes him undemocractic. He has alienated the PAD and he reneged on his promise to change the constitution which anger his coalition parties especially Banharn. He can't succeed politically alone.
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whatajoke
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Discussion 32 : 17 Dec 2012 at 13.3432
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D1 - D24 getting back on topic: Abhisit is urging no because he well knows that this agenda led exercise is directed from Dubai mostly and won't solve a thing in terms of democracy. Every time you mention charter someone comes up with 'coup' , there's no more than half a dozen things in this charter that are truly undemocratic, they could be amended in parliament like the Dems did 2 years ago. The previous (apparently wonderful) 97 charter had some serious loopholes in it too, leading to the rise and fall of Thaksin. If we follow this process to its logical conclusion the 2013 Charter will also be critically flawed too.
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bkk-farang
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Discussion 31 : 17 Dec 2012 at 13.0431
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@hyponeros #29: And do you also think it is amazing that a group which calls itself “United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship” worships a dictatorial criminal? And why would such a group use war weapons in a peaceful demonstration for democracy?
Real democracy can only work with voters who understand what is going on and who can think a little more ahead than just the next payday. Unfortunately there are too many voters in Thailand who don’t understand that they are manipulated and robbed by one elite or the other.
Democracy in Thailand is like having a democratic vote in preschool about a complex problem. It just does not work
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christhai
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Discussion 30 : 17 Dec 2012 at 12.4730
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Sure order from he's cronys. They are so afraid to know the opinion form the majority of Thai people's This constitution is not written to gain Thai people's.Have just read the last constitution statement translation to English. it's written to gain Abhisit and he's cronys.
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hyponeros
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Discussion 29 : 17 Dec 2012 at 12.3829
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It is really amazing that people posting here, who probably come from democratic countries, support such undemocratic actions as those implemented by the military junta and their best buddies the politicians from the "democrat party"!
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lek
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Discussion 28 : 17 Dec 2012 at 11.4128
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I am all for a fair and just Constitution for Thailand, and if the 2007 one needs to be amended, so be it. But why does it need to affect judgments handed down by the justice courts - aren't they supposed to be independent of the executive administration? I haven't seen any evidence presented to prove that Parliament interfered with judicial proceedings during the period of the Coup.
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supermax
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Discussion 27 : 17 Dec 2012 at 11.3227
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to#24 abbub
I don't support any military, but when happened we have to manage with.
DEM or PTP, which one is better ? The both parties has corrupted politicians. But if referring to their leader, I prefer a clean and courageous Abhisit than a cheat and coward Taksin. Don't waste time in saying Abhisit is a killer, because during the 2010 spring he has to protect the Bangkok population from the ferocity of the armed thug Red/UDD. He did what he could, don't blame him.

I mention Shinawatra dictature (not dictator) as Marcos did in Philippine, not as Pinochet in Chile...
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