‘Undemocratic charter’ to be opposed

NUTTAWUT SAIKUAR, secretary-general of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, stated yesterday that the red shirts would not endorse an undemocratic constitution in a referendum, even if it delayed an election. 

Meanwhile, Constitution Draft-ing Commission (CDC) spokesman Udom Rathamarit said opponents had the right to express their sentiments.

Nuttawut claimed that the current draft was far worse than the previous unsuccessful one, saying it would not be very hard to make a decision about it. 

“This is not a difficult decision to make because it’s about a democratic principle and the dictator’s continuous time in power,” said Nuttawut. “I can choose right away, although UDD doesn’t have an official resolution on this, it is clear that we would not accept it [the draft].”

The red-shirt leader expressed no concerns about the postponement of an election should the charter be rejected in a referendum. Rather, he wanted to make sure democracy was restored properly.

“General Prayut Chan-o-cha, the prime minister and chief of the National Council for Peace and Order, has said he has another solution [if the draft failed a referendum]. So we’ll just wait and see on that. The delay in an election is not as problematic as the absence of democracy. So I’m not worried about having the draft rejected and the election put on hold,” Nuttawut remarked. He went on to express confidence that the Pheu Thai Party would win an election if one took place. But he pointed out that winning an election under undemocratic rules would only defeat the people who are the true holders of power, like it has been over the past 10 years. 

“Democracy is what matters, not just the election,” said Nuttawut.

He urged all opponents of the charter draft to show their stance. If they waited any longer, they would not be able to explain it to the public, he said. Also, he called on the authorities to provide stages for both supporters and opponents to speak their minds and campaign for or against the charter draft.

Meanwhile, CDC spokesman Udom said everyone had the right to voice their opinion, reacting to the opposition to the charter from some politicians.

However, the drafters would proceed with creating understanding among the public about the new charter, he said. After the initial draft was finished, the drafters would hold a non-formal meeting on February 3 with the National Legislative Assembly and the National Reform steering Assembly to explain to them about the draft.

A similar meeting would not be held with the NCPO and the Cabinet, two other power streams, because they did not have as many members as the two assemblies, Udom said. 

However, he believed his chief Meechai Ruchupan, as an NCPO member, would have a chance to discuss it with other junta members.

In another development, the CDC yesterday resolved to extend the vote-casting time for two more hours under the new charter to make sure that all eligible voters could exercise their right, Udom said yesterday.

The polls will be open from 8am-5pm instead of from 8am-3pm as previously. Aside from that, drafters have also agreed to abolish the “advance voting” because it has a loophole that made electoral fraud possible. Voters, instead, would be encouraged to register for ‘absentee voting’ in which they could exercise their rights at a polling station near their actual residence. 

The development came as the CDC was reviewing its complete draft, article by article.

As for the date of the election day, the CDC decided to give the power to the Election Commission to schedule and reschedule by-election dates, said Udom.

The election date and its setting should be determined by the EC to avoid unnecessary difficulties, he said. In the past, election dates were enforced through a Royal Decree, which made rescheduling difficult. The new stipulation would make it easier for the EC to arrange elections, Udom said.