'Neutrality' is in the eye of power holders

'Neutrality' is in the eye of power holders

The referendum mascot is singing and dancing but at the moment, it appears the vote is going against the government. (Bangkok Post file photo)
The referendum mascot is singing and dancing but at the moment, it appears the vote is going against the government. (Bangkok Post file photo)

With just 15 days to go before the referendum on the draft constitution, questions and anticipation remain about the possible outcome of the plebiscite and how all this is going to pan out for the future of our country.

Those in their ivory towers are hopeful that their hard work to bring back peace and "harmony" to the country will pay off with the charter being approved. But the reality looks a little different because for the first time in decades we are witnessing two major rivals, the Pheu Thai and Democrat parties, in agreement to vote down the draft charter penned by the Meechai Ruchupan-led Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC).

Without support from the two major political parties, the probability of the draft charter passing seems remote. But various polls conducted by the two parties have shown a marginal win for the "yes" camp, with some caution: Those who are undecided formed a larger portion of the survey outcome.

The so-called undecided are the people who either know which way they want to vote but are not willing to reveal it or really have no clue what they are going to vote for.

The fact could be that these people really do not know what they are voting for because I, as a voter, have yet to receive an official copy of the draft charter even though the Election Commission (EC) promised that the draft would be at my door two weeks ahead of the Aug 7 referendum.

But I am not a legal expert and I am expecting the wording in the copy I get to be difficult for a layman like myself to understand the complications of the entire constitution and it is here where would I seek the advice of experts and their opinions.

But as well known, those in the "no" camp are banned from voicing their views. The only debates that hopefully will be allowed, if we are to believe what Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon said yesterday, will be those organised by the EC and on the stages set up by provincial governors. The planned debates on television are to start next Monday at 1pm -- a time when most of us are busy eating lunch or yawning after our lunch breaks. Few people will watch television at that time of the day. Most farmers will be busy on their farms, while construction, office and all kinds of salary men will be working trying to make ends meet.

Yet the EC has had the great idea of holding the debates at that time rather than during the prime-time slots that it used to promote the draft charter not too long ago. When it was time to promote the draft charter prime-time slots were used and all television channels were forced to carry the promotion campaign but when it comes to debating the issues in the constitution it is not just the worst time slot but only one television station will carry the debates.

The question is: Why there is so much resistance by the EC in following the basic rules of equality? If the EC wants to promote the charter it should also promote criticism of the charter. Where in the world does one see one-sided propaganda by a body that is supposed to be "neutral"?.

But then we are talking about the unspoken things in our country. Look at the other so-called "neutral" body -- the National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission (NBTC). This body has opted to use the "super power" it had been granted by the regime under Section 44 to shut Peace TV, a television station that was allowed to remain on-air by the courts just a few days ago.

Sometimes I am perplexed by the way this country works. Here we have a court that has taken the case of Peace TV and allowed it to remain on air, but the NBTC that had initially ordered the closure of the TV channel on July 10, has now got the power of Section 44 and has ordered it to be closed again. Effective midnight, the NBTC has used its "super power" to close it, in effect, overruling the ruling the judiciary.

I am not a fan of the station being shut down, because I am a firm believer in equality and allowing voices from every side to be heard because a wise decision by a citizen only comes from knowing all facets of the issue being discussed.

I also wonder at times why, if Section 44 can be misused by the government, if there is any point having the judiciary in place.

Umesh Pandey

Bangkok Post Editor

Umesh Pandey is Editor, Bangkok Post.

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