Thailand Constitutional Referendum

[malcolminthemiddle]

Could the Yes vote be as simple as the Thais do not trust the politicians to act in the peoples best interest?

[europtimiste]

StevePiraq: Election is one condition of democracy, yes, but not the only one. First democracy is a luxury for rich countries. Second in an election or referendum you have the pro and cons. Both have to give their point of view and explain to people. Here it was not the case as not allowed.
This was like some countries where you only have one candidate and people had to vote for him or nothing else.

[buksida]

Why Thais backed a military-backed constitution
The result of the referendum on Thailand's new constitution has left many observers around the world baffled.

Why would an electorate, denied any say over who governs them since a coup two years ago, vote to approve a charter which offers them only a semi-democracy?

A charter which was condemned by human rights groups and by the two largest political parties as a means to entrench military rule for many years to come?

Unofficial results of the referendum showed more than 61% of those who voted approved the charter.

More than 58% also approved a controversial second proposal to give the now unelected Senate to right to help choose a potentially unelected prime minister. Turnout was low at around 54%.

But it was enough to give the military government, which has been losing popularity because of its erratic performance, a green light to implement its controlled return to a democratic form of governance.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-37013950

[STEVE G]

Here is an interesting comment on Thai constitutions, it's only from Wickipedeia but it seems pretty accurate:

"The great number of charters and constitutions since 1932 is indicative of the degree of political instability in Thailand. The majority of charters and constitutions were the direct or indirect result of military coups. Charters and constitutions for much of Thai history can be thought of not as instruments of the people to control the government, but as instruments by which a government controls its people."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Thailand

[caller]

Anyway, roll on constitution 21, which will kick-off when the politicians start trying to flex their muscles after the next election!

[europtimiste]

Next election will be a joke. Elected party will be a puppet under military regime. Hope that soon or later a real leader will emerge in Thailand. As Robespierre in France, Lenin in Russia, Mao in China and Fidel Castro in Cuba.

[Felipesed1]

I think you would be happier living in North Korea!
It would also save us from your silly posts.

[StevePIraq]

There are democracies all around but they are not equal and Thailand is not the same as in some western countries.
Just because it is not the same as the UK or USA does not make them wrong, just different.

The Thai people voted and accepted the constitution, just accept it as that

[HHTel]

I'm a little confused. A friend of mine is a lawyer (Thai) and her and her daughter spent a half a day on the internet researching the constitution. They voted YES as they couldn't find any flaws in the constitution.
I have pointed out some of the basic points picked up by the world press etc They disagreed with almost every point and very articulately. They did all their research in Thai and I wonder, is the translations completely wrong or are the Thai websites so very different in their presentations than the English speaking community have done.

[handdrummer]

HHTel, I got the same argument from my wife and her thai friends. maybe it's because of their societal upbringing and the ongoing class system that dictates what one should think. then again maybe the western press doesn't understand what's being said. who knows? in the short and probably the long term none of it affects us. as long as we satisfy the visa requirements we can continue to live here peaceably.

[caller]

There are democracies all around but they are not equal and Thailand is not the same as in some western countries.
Just because it is not the same as the UK or USA does not make them wrong, just different.

The Thai people voted and accepted the constitution, just accept it as that

Sorry can't do that. Oh I accept the vote went the generals way but nothing will convince me it was fair or democratic in any way, shape or form. You seem to be the only one comparing it to the West, I haven't seen anyone else doing that.

Why is it so important to you to call the vote democratic?

[STEVE G]

There is also the small point that a rejection of the draft constitution would have prolonged the delay to an election by at least a year whilst another draft was prepared so some voters might have considered it better to move forwards towards an election in any form rather than stand still.

[aragon]

The Thai people voted and accepted the constitution, just accept it as that

And why can't you just accept that the vast majority of posters on here disagree with you and leave it at that, after all wouldn't that be democracy

[HHTel]

At the end of the day, why are we at all bothered how the referendum was conducted. It's not going to change our lives one iota!

[StevePIraq]

At the end of the day, why are we at all bothered how the referendum was conducted. It's not going to change our lives one iota!

Couldn't agree with you more