<p><span>Angk</span><span>hana Neelaphaijit, chair of the Working Group on Justice for Peace, said that her group was concerned that the 4</span>^{<span>th</span>}<span> Army had brought about 600 suspects allegedly involved in the southern unrest for vocational training for another 4 months in military camps in Ranong, Chumphon, and Surat Thani after exceeding the 30-day detention limit allowed under the Executive Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situations B.E.2548 (2005). </span></p>

<p>While the referendum on the draft 2007 constitution only allowed two choices &quot;accept&quot; or &quot;reject&quot;, it's quite obvious that the rationale behind each person's decision will be very different. These differences can tell us a lot about Thai society today. Prachatai here presents quotes and remarks from various persons that we think provide a variety of perspectives on the current situation.</p>

<p>Predictably, the military junta in Thailand has coerced, threatened, bought and cajoled part of the electorate into passing its 309-article constitution on August 19. From results to date, just over 14 million people out of the country&#39;s 45 million eligible voters crossed the box in favour of the charter. As only 25 million bothered to turn up at the poll booths, despite the saturating propaganda campaign in the weeks beforehand, this number was sufficient to carry the draft. </p>

<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span>The draft 2007 constitution</span><span> will have half the Senate &lsquo;selected' with overwhelming powers. The contents of the draft are self-contradictory and inconsistent in principle, in particular regarding the separation of powers. The increased rights and freedoms are rhetorical, but impractical. The focus is only on addressing the immediate problems, but will lead to new ones, said </span><span>Prasit Pivavatnapanich at the forum</span><span>. </span></p>

<p>7 August 2007 <a href="http://www.media4democracy.com/mmc/index.php">The Campaign for Popular Media Reform (CPMR)</a> and <a href="http://facthai.wordpress.com/">the Freedom Against Censorship Thailand (FACT)</a> issued a joint statement demanding Thai society join to protect their own and others&#39; freedom. </p>

<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm" align="left">13 August 2007, Against the Sept 19, 2006 Coup Network and Thai Say No Group organized a march for against the coup and reject the junta constitution draft from Thammasat University to the Democracy Monument.</p>

<p>The debate featured representatives from the Constitution Drafting Council (CDC) and academics, who were matched into three pairs.</p>

<p>The upcoming 19 August 2007 is the date on which the Thai people have to cast their vote in the referendum for the Draft Constitution B.E. 2550 drafted by the Government and the Council for Democratic Reform (CDR).&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>As this letter reaches you, the six principal leaders of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, an umbrella organization striving for the restoration of Democracy in Thailand in its true and full spirit, are sequestered in a high security prison at Bangkok Remand Custody, Ngam Wong Wan Rd, with lesser privileges than common convicts.</p>

<p>As this letter reaches you, the eight principal leaders of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, an umbrella organization striving for the restoration of Democracy in Thailand in its true and full spirit, are sequestered in a high security prison at Bangkok Remand Custody, Ngam Wong Wan Rd, with lesser privileges than common convicts. </p>

<p>&quot;<span>Prachatai&quot; invited the 19 September Network coordinators to express their opinions - to discuss their motivations, campaign strategies, and their analysis of Thai politics in recent times when information has been restricted before decisive decisions must be made. </span></p>