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                Thai Political Parties Oppose Draft Constitution

   by Ron Corben

   The leadership of Thailand's oldest political party, the Democrats, has
   joined other political groups in opposing a military-backed draft
   constitution.

   The Democrat Party's opposition leaves in doubt an August referendum on
   the new charter, as it lines up with other political parties in calling
   for the document to be rejected.

   The party leadership, led by former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva,
   openly criticized the new draft charter, calling the document
   "democracy in retreat."

   Abhisit, at a press conference late Sunday, said the draft distorted
   the democratic will and weakened the people's power compared with the
   authority of the state.

   He also criticized the draft for depriving people of their right to
   participate in the political process.

   The military government, which came to power in 2014, has called for
   amendments to a recently completed second draft charter that would
   include a military appointed 250-member Senate.

   This varied from the drafting committee's version that called for a
   200-member Senate comprised of members elected from organizations and
   social groups within the country.

   Attitude adjustments

   Thailand's other major political party, the Pheu Thai Party, ousted
   from power in 2014, has already opposed the draft charter and called
   for voters to reject it at the August referendum.

   Several Pheu Thai Party members have been detained by the military for
   short periods for so-called "attitude-adjustment" talks, with the
   government planning to set up additional camps for further detentions.

   Smarn Lertwongrath, a senior Pheu Thai Party member, said he welcomed
   the Democrat Party's stance on the charter despite the delay in their
   response.

   "If you are thinking as Thailand needs democracy to run the country,
   you have to oppose the draft constitution. The problem is that the
   Democrats were very slow to oppose it, but anyhow it's slow but it's
   better to do that way. They have to do it," Smarn said.

   "What Khun [honorific] Abhisit says yesterday is good for our country.
   I think an election with the rule that is not democratic look is not
   good," he said.

   Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha is reported to have attacked
   politicians who criticize the draft charter.

   Prayuth said the military would press ahead with reforms and if
   successful, he said the political parties may lose popular support.

   Next steps unclear

   On Monday, the prime minister called for clarification on what will
   happen if the charter is rejected at the referendum.

   Recent public opinion polls have indicated most respondents support the
   military-backed national legislative assembly's move to add the
   question of a wider role for the Senate to the August 7 referendum.

   Until now, the referendum was simply slated to be a question of support
   for the new charter alone, with a simple majority determining the
   outcome.

   But Democrat Party member and rights advocate Kraisak Choonhavan said
   with the major political parties likely to oppose the referendum, the
   next step in the charter process is unclear.

   "Why should we get to a referendum when the two biggest parties - in
   fact, three parties - in all that disagree with this? It's not going
   forward," Kraisak said. "In fact, it is because of that, because it's
   moving backward if you like in the highest law of the land, for that
   reason we're not moving forward at all."

   Analysts say in the event of the draft charter being rejected in August
   the military government may select a previous charter with amendments
   and without public participation to take the country into the next
   elections, expected in 2017.

   Potential protests ahead

   Thai analysts and politicians say concerns are that the military is
   seeking to extend its period in power amid fears of the military taking
   a tougher stance towards any criticism of its government.

   Already analysts fear a repeat of past crackdowns, such as in 1992,
   when the military moved to appoint an army general, Suchinda
   Krayprayoon, to the post of prime minister. The military had seized
   power in February 1991.

   ''Deadly pro-democracy protests in May 1992 left dozens killed and
   scores injured and led to Suchinda stepping down under an amnesty after
   just 47 days in office.

   Rights activists warn of potential protests in the months ahead,
   especially in provincial regions most affected by the military
   government's determination to move ahead with mega-project
   developments.

   But analysts say the Thai middle class, a driving force in past
   political protests, remains largely dormant at present, wary after
   years of political conflict and uncertainties surrounding a slowing
   economy.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/thai-political-parties-oppose-draft-c
   onstitution/3279334.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/thai-political-parties-oppose-draft-constitution/3279334.html