Gearing up for a 'yes' vote

Published: 24 Dec 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

Deposed former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has given the government the go-ahead to proceed with the planned referendum to rewrite the 2007 constitution in its entirety, according to Noppadon Pattama, Thaksin's legal adviser and close aide.

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung has won support for his proposal to alter the constitution bit-by-bit, but has failed to understand that what Thaksin Shinawatra wants, he will get from the government when it holds a charter referendum. Mr Chalerm believes a wholesale charter change will not win support from the people. PAWAT LAOPAISARNTAKSIN

So there should not be any lingering doubt in the mind of Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung about why his well-intended advice to the government to drop the referendum plan and to opt for section-by-section charter amendments was coldly shrugged off by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and right on down to Pheu Thai MPs and even the red-shirt leaders (except for a small minority).

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howell
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Discussion 4 : 25 Dec 2012 at 00.124
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'Thaksin...said previously that he was already used to living away from home'.

It is proven that he is a pathological liar.

A megalomaniac that believes his own hype and overestimates his popularity.
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wandee
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Discussion 3 : 24 Dec 2012 at 12.563
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What’s all the fuzz about? When the last constitution was placed in front of the people nobody seemed to mind. Maybe it was the fact that it was written by the military and we didn’t have a government elected by the people? Maybe it was also the fact that they granted themselves immunity from all crimes committed during their stay in power!
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onlyme
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Discussion 2 : 24 Dec 2012 at 09.472
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Nuances. 'The lawyer made an interesting remark pertaining to Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva's call for a public boycott of the referendum.'
I believe what he actually said was to vote No on the referendum. Watch out for the spin.
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whatajoke
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Discussion 1 : 24 Dec 2012 at 08.391
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Yes, it's a gamble by Thaksin at the tax payers expense, emboldened by his stunning election victory he must believe anything is possible. If the referendum gets a 'quorum' he will certainly have the numbers to get a yes vote. If the quorum fails he can still claim that the public isn't specifically against the charter change, and carry on through parliamentary process. It would be good of BP could spell out the different ramifications of the two options. I'm guessing Thaksin will lose this round but he will ignore the set back. Have the referendum all the same to settle the argument.
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Gearing up for a 'yes' vote | Bangkok Post: opinion