News Digest

Democracy blow: Thailand’s army-backed council rejects new constitution

Thailand’s military-backed legislature on Sunday rejected an unpopular draft of a new constitution, delaying a return to democracy following a coup last year. The junta-picked drafters had hoped the proposed charter would move the South-east Asian country past almost a decade of political conflicts, but it was met with strong opposition on almost all sides of political divide. The legislature appointed by the junta, known as the National Reform Council, voted 135 against versus 105 in favour, with seven abstentions. A new 21-member drafting committee will now be appointed with a mandate to write a new charter within 180 days.

We might not be able to say that this is a true democracy as viewed in the Western world; it is transitional democracy.

Kamnoon Sidhisamarn, spokesman for the Constitution Drafting Committee

One of the most contentious provisions in the draft included a 23-member panel, with military members, that would be empowered to take over from the parliament and prime minister in times of “national crisis”. Almost all parties criticised it, and the draft risked being voted down in a referendum that had been planned for early next year. Any new charter under the junta appeared aimed at preventing a political comeback by former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was deposed in 2006 after being accused of corruption and disrespect for the revered king.

In the past 10 years, we had two coups already. And two political parties came to power but they couldn’t solve problems.

Kamnoon Sidhisamarn