Wording of referendum motion is crucial
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The charter-referendum question should be worded so that it gives a clear idea as to what the people want from our constitution.
If, for example, a “no” vote to the current draft will mean the charter writers must start from zero and give us a new draft, voters will have no idea where we will end up – and we might have to go through countless referendums until we get a draft we accept.
But if a “no” vote means the drafters will take one of our 19 previous constitutions and review/update it, then the junta will know what the electorate prefers.
But if a “no” vote means the drafters will take one of our 19 previous constitutions and review/update it, then the junta will know what the electorate prefers.
Since the 1997 edition was drafted after unprecedented input from people throughout the country, and earned the nickname the “People’s Constitution”, it has the most legitimacy and should be used as the alternative to the current draft for voters to choose from.
Burin Kantabutra
