Gaybutton Posted August 6, 2007 Posted August 6, 2007 The following appears in THE NATION: _____ How the people feel about the charter With fewer than two weeks to go before the referendum on the junta-sponsored draft charter, The Nation asked voters their thoughts. Published on August 6, 2007 lNutthawat Subsin, 26, Chiang Mai Are you seriously asking this question. Absolutely. I will endorse this draft because people's participation is more open. lSirikarn Pongsutham, 25, graduate student. (She will endorse the 2007 draft constitution even if it evolved from a coup.) I want a national election to end the chaos. After that I want to it to be revised again. lJiranan Hanthamrongwit, new-media journalist for prachatai.com. I will reject the draft charter because the Council for National Security, which is not elected, has their hands all over it. They appointed all 35 charter drafters. I also couldn't accept a partially appointed Senate that will have the power to remove members of Parliament elected by the people. lKarin Klinkajorn, urban-planning lecturer, King Mongkut Institute of Technology I'm going to vote against it because it's illegitimate. It's dictatorial to tear down the [1997] charter. And the junta appointed people to write the new charter by themselves, the Constitution Drafting Assembly. lSamak Saensam-arng, a Bangkok taxi driver of Surin It's not convenient for me to go back [home] to vote but I dislike coups because they're like someone with a gun robbing you. lKham Napa, Bangkok domestic worker of Nakhon Ratchasima I'm not going to cast a vote because I must earn money and have no time. I would have endorsed it, though, if I had the opportunity. I would do it because it will then become the people's charter and I want to be a part of that. lSakdina Chatrakul na Ayudhya, labour expert and activist I haven't decided whether to endorse it or reject it but it's pretty much meaningless to me. This draft charter is not good enough. I wish there was a third box on ballot paper for people who wish to vote against the process. Right now the referendum is becoming a political tool - to accept it is to accept the junta and to reject it is to support Thaksin Shinawatra. lPavadee Dhramanuwong, 29, officer(She will not make a decision until she has read the draft.) I've read two pages so I cannot make my decision right now. Sorry, I have a lot of things to do. Pravit Rojanaphruk, Pongphon Sarnsamak Quote
PattayaMale Posted August 6, 2007 Posted August 6, 2007 My Thai friend thinks that Thaskin should come back to power because the current government is not "good". He did not like Thaskin before the coup, but now thinks he was doing good things for the poor and this government has not. He said he will not cast his vote because "it doesn't matter" Quote
Guest wowpow Posted August 6, 2007 Posted August 6, 2007 I find the Charter Constitution a very strange affair. It has been designed by the chosen ones of a Military Junta. What self respecting Democracy could live with such? Thais are invited to vote for it - an undesirable thing. If they vote against it they don't know what they will get. This is a ludicrous situation. I think that most Thais are thinking lets vote for it and get the election sorted out then we have a chance to move on from the current Government. --------------------------- Thinking selfishly I note reports that the referendum is on Sunday 19th August and the Cabinet are thinking of making the Monday a Public Holiday. What days will the bars open? Quote
PattayaMale Posted August 6, 2007 Posted August 6, 2007 Thinking selfishly I note reports that the referendum is on Sunday 19th August and the Cabinet are thinking of making the Monday a Public Holiday. What days will the bars open?.....wowpow Must be British Quote
