International prodding for free debate 'unlikely to help'

International prodding for free debate 'unlikely to help'

analysis: Govt only likely to push harder to get draft passed, writes Nattaya Chetchotiros

International calls for an open dialogue on the referendum on the draft constitution will act as a catalyst spurring the regime to intensify its efforts to get the draft approved at the Aug 7 vote.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, along with his deputies Prawit Wongsuwon and Wissanu Krea-ngam, revealed a "back-up plan" is now on the cards if the draft is shot down.

In the event the draft charter fails to pass, the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) chaired by Meechai Ruchupan will be dissolved and the charter drafting process will go back to square one.

The regime and all parties involved will have to come up with a new constitution quickly enough to ensure next year's planned general election is not affected.

Mr Wissanu earlier said if the draft charter is voted down, the interim charter will have to be amended to cover at least four issues: who will write the new draft; how to write it; how much time the process should take; and what to do after the new draft is finished.

He also said there was no need for another charter referendum as this would only cause further delays.

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva told the Bangkok Post if the draft charter is rejected in the referendum, the government was likely to do all it can to stick to the roadmap to restore democracy.

"If the draft charter doesn't survive the referendum, the government must find out why this draft, and the previous one [by Borwornsak Uwanno, which was voted down by the now-defunct National Reform Council], were not successful," Mr Abhisit said.

In the event of rejection at the referendum, the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) must figure out a new way to draw up the next charter without having to set up a third charter drafting panel, the former prime minister said.

He said all parties should participate in the charter drafting process to come up with a new constitution and work together to help the country move forward.

"The new constitution must gain recognition from all sides and address the country's problems, particularly corruption, and political conflict, without bending the principle of democracy."

While the NCPO and the government are not directly responsible for organising the referendum, a job performed under law by the Election Commission, they have been accused of mobilising resources and personnel to push for the passage of the draft.

It has been noted the CDC and National Legislative Assembly have been allotted more airtime on state-run Channel 11 to publicise the draft than was given to the draft's critics.

The government has also ordered the military-controlled media outlets to help promote the draft charter.

The source also said intelligence reports suggested supporters of the draft charter have outnumbered its opponents and the draft is likely to pass the referendum, though it is likely to be rejected by many voters in the North and the Northeast.

Key Pheu Thai figure Chaturon Chaisaeng said he did not think an open dialogue on the draft charter referendum, as suggested by the international community, is likely to happen.

He said the government is likely to try its best to push for the draft charter and impose restrictions to cripple draft charter opponents' freedom of expression.

"If the draft charter fails to pass, this should teach those in power a lesson that if they still have their own way, the people will not accept it. I don't believe Gen Prayut will dare have a new charter drawn up as he pleases," Mr Chaturon said.

The former education minister also said the government is maximising state mechanisms and personnel to publicise the draft constitution while attempting to curb differing views on the draft.

He disagreed with the government's recent legal threats against those who distributed documents alleged to have distorted the content of the draft constitution in breach of the referendum law.

The government is too heavy-handed in dealing with people who offer different opinions and have reason to question the merits of the draft, he said.

"The more the NCPO and the government restrict and intimidate opponents of the draft, the more the people will understand the problems with the draft, and the more they will realise how illegitimate the referendum is. This will make it even more difficult for the draft charter to pass in the referendum," he said.

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