Opposition bloc to hold countrywide forums

Opposition bloc to hold countrywide forums

Weekend gatherings to survey local needs

Pheu Thai Party chief strategist Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan visits residents of Khon Kaen province on July 14, 2019. There will be more visits by the opposition parties next month. (Photo from @sudaratofficial Twitter account)
Pheu Thai Party chief strategist Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan visits residents of Khon Kaen province on July 14, 2019. There will be more visits by the opposition parties next month. (Photo from @sudaratofficial Twitter account)

The seven-party opposition bloc will begin a road tour of the four regions next month to survey the problems and needs of local people - the latest move in its charter amendment campaign.

Pheu Thai Party spokesman Anusorn Iamsa-ard said on Friday the opposition will hold weekend public forums throughout September, except for Sept 7-8, to gather first-hand information on economic and livelihood issues such as drought, declining crop prices, household debt, fisheries and the income gap.

The tour will kick off in the northern province of Chiang Mai next weekend, move to the northeastern province of Maha Sarakham on Sept 14-15, then focus on the central and eastern provinces with a meeting in Chachoengsao on Sept 21-22, and conclude with a forum in the southern province of Yala on Sept 28-29.

Mr Anusorn said the road tour will provide opportunities to communicate directly with local people, which will provide valuable insight for its campaign to rewrite the charter. 

"The process to amend the constitution needs people's active involvement from the beginning," he said.

He said leaders and key figures from the seven opposition parties will turn up in force to share their visions for the future. 

The opposition bloc earlier announced it would begin holding public forums in August. It would focus on two elements: campaigning for support to rewrite the charter, and raising awareness to improve the public's understanding of the charter.

It plans to push for a constitutional amendment to set up an assembly to draft a new charter modelled on the previous 1997 constitution. However, the coup-sponsored constitution is difficult to amend, with the 250 senators appointed by the previous military government posing a major obstacle.

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