The People's Assembly for Political Reform (PAPR) announces its endorsement of the draft charter.

  

On 15 July 2007, the People's Assembly for Political Reform (PAPR) announced its endorsement of the draft charter.

 

Statement by

People's Assembly for Political Reform (PAPR)

Major Reasons for the Endorsement of the Draft 2007 Constitution

 

Over the past six months, the People's Assembly for Political Reform (PAPR), with its member organizations listed below, has organized parallel sessions with the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) to receive opinions and inputs from various networks throughout the country.

 

The first ever referendum in Thailand will serve as an important learning process for the Thai people. Therefore, this statement by PAPR is intended to provide essential information for the process of deciding whether or not to accept or reject the draft constitution.

 

PAPR's Stand on the Current Situation

 

PAPR holds that Thai society is facing multidimensional crises including political problems, economic injustice, social disintegration, problems in the restive South, and other results from the wrong policies with hidden agendas of the Thaksin government, including the deeply entrenched corruption, gross human rights violations, interference with independent constitutional organizations, and the unprecedented social divisions in Thailand. The country was ruled under an absolute parliamentary dictatorial which was overthrown only by the Council for Democratic Reform under the Constitutional Monarchy (CDR), later known as Council for National Security (CNS). Even though the 19 September 2006 coup was not well received by public, at the least it helped people to come to terms with the social and political deadlock from which no way out could be seen.

 

The justification for the drafting of the 2007 constitution has been subject to questions from the beginning. Doubts were raised as to whether or not the new constitution would serve simply to maintain the powers of the CNS, or if the provisions in the draft charter would be more progressive than those of the 1997 constitution, which had been misused by the Thaksin government and then revoked by the coup makers. Ultimately, people wonder if the draft 2007 constitution will be able to restore law and order and democracy in Thai society.

 

PAPR believes that expecting the draft 2007 constitution to serve as a panacea for social and political ills is too wishful. The solution to all problems in society is reduced to merely two options - whether to accept or reject the draft constitution, or whether the draft 2007 constitution or the 1997 constitution is more preferable. Essentially, every constitution has been drafted as a tool by various parties to fight for their interests. But the solutions for the country's crises warrant progressive and creative policies, informed thinking and trust in people's participation.

 

Therefore, PAPR does not agree with attempts to make the constitutional referendum a symbol of whether or not people accept or reject the coup. We oppose to attempts by the former powers-that-be, including the Thai Rak Thai faction and its allied networks, which aim to capitalize on rejection of the draft 2007 constitution as a justification for overthrowing the CNS and any orders which have been issued since the coup. These groups simply want to pave the way for the resurrection of the Thaksin regime. The decision to accept or reject the draft 2007 constitution has nothing to do with whether or not people accept the coup.

 

PAPR deems it important for all people's sectors to work together for a third option rather than to stagnate between the pro-CNS or pro-Thaksin camps. From now on, it is essential that people in all sectors mobilize together to provide for a sustainable democracy to engender a new politics with increasing roles for the people.

 

PAPR's Stand on the Draft 2007 Constitution

 

  1. A study of the 309 articles of the draft 2007 constitution has convinced PAPR that the draft charter is capable of paving the way for a second political reform following the first reform (the 1997 constitution). However, even though several provisions promote greater political space among people's sector, there are also several articles which increase the powers of the bureaucracy and bureaucratic polity.

 

  1. Despite its flaws, the draft 2007 constitution provides more space for the people's sector than the 1997 constitution. Examples include Article 55 on the rights to housing, Article 61 on consumers' rights, Article 84 on the establishment of the Farmers Council, Article 87 on the Civic Political Development Fund. The draft constitution is the first to create the opportunity for a constitutional amendment based on a motion with the signatures of 50,000 citizens.

 

As a result, PAPR deems that this draft constitution should be endorsed as is. During the election campaign, PAPR will engage all political parties to mobilize the whole of society toward amendments to the provisions to make possible genuine political reform.

 

  1. PAPR will publish and disseminate a handbook to explain both strengths and weaknesses of the draft 2007 constitution compared with the 1997 constitution, as a way to keep people informed. This will help voters to decide whether or not to accept the draft constitution, and, if the constitution should be endorsed, what points need further amendment.

 

  1. PAPR and its member organizations deem that the draft 2007 constitution should be endorsed under the following conditions:

 

    1. PAPR shall expedite efforts to campaign for further amendments of the draft 2007 constitution, including Article 111 concerning the selection of members of the House of Senate, Article 93 concerning the electoral system of Members of Parliament, Articles 229, 242, 246 and 252 concerning the selection of members of the independent constitutional organizations, and Article 309 concerning the amnesty of CNS.

    2. PAPR shall lead efforts to collect 50,000 signatures as per Article 291(1) to push for constitutional amendments to bring about genuine political reform and to arrange for social contracts with all political parties toward that end.

    3. PAPR shall continue to monitor and work for organic laws that would be concrete guarantees of the people's rights and participation in politics.

    4. PAPR is opposed to the draft Internal Security Act, the 2007 Cyber Crime Act, the State Enterprise Privatization Procedure Act, and all other laws that aim to undermine the rights and liberties enjoyed by the public and the media.

    5. PAPR calls on the CNS, the government, the Constitution Drafting Committee and state agencies to open as great a space as possible for public fora to publicize both the pros and cons of the draft 2007 constitution. The state shall refrain from leading the people and holding the election hostage pending acceptance of the draft constitution.

 

Meanwhile, the reading of the draft Referendum Act shall not impede efforts by the dissenters to the draft 2007 constitution to air their views independently.

 

PAPR's Proposals to Overcome Crises in Thailand

 

  1. PAPR and all member organizations support the holding of general elections within this year.

 

  1. We support the Courts of Justice, the Asset Scrutiny Committee and the Counter Corruption Commission in their efforts to investigate corruption committed by the Thaksin regime and its cronies.

 

  1. We push for the people's agendas and social contracts with all political parties and with all people collectively to solve the nation's crises including the following essential issues;

 

  • Overcoming poverty, farmers' indebtedness and economic injustice

  • Comprehensive educational reform

  • The second political reform and the urgent media reform

  • A halt to state enterprise privatization and the sale of national assets

  • An end to violence in the restive South

  • National reconciliation

 

In solidarity with the people

 

People's Assembly for Political Reform (PAPR)

Campaign for Popular Democracy

Federation of State Enterprise Labour Unions

Business People for Democracy Club

The Four Regions Slum Network

The Cause Artists Network

Thai Labour Solidarity

Council of People's Organizations in Thailand

Northeastern People's Network

Northern Alliance for Political Reform

Southern People's Assembly for Political Reform

Songkhla Alliance for Democracy

Northeastern People's Council

The May 1992 Relatives Committee

Student Coordination Centre

Eastern People's Council

Kongthap Dhamma Foundation

People's Network of Phetchaburi

Alternative Education Network

 

Related News:  

Thailand on Spin Cycle, Asia Sentinel

NGO Coordinating Committee on Development (NGO-COD) announced its rejection of the draft charter

 

My understanding of the draft 2007 constitution

 

Reference:

1997 Thai Constitution

2007 Draft Constitution of Thailand

 

Translated by Pipob Udomittipong

Source: 
<p>http://www.prachatai.com/05web/th/home/page2.php?mod=mod_ptcms&amp;ContentID=8870&amp;SystemModuleKey=HilightNews&amp;System_Session_Language=Thai</p>

Since 2007, Prachatai English has been covering underreported issues in Thailand, especially about democratization and human rights, despite the risk and pressure from the law and the authorities. However, with only 2 full-time reporters and increasing annual operating costs, keeping our work going is a challenge. Your support will ensure we stay a professional media source and be able to expand our team to meet the challenges and deliver timely and in-depth reporting.

• Simple steps to support Prachatai English

1. Bank transfer to account “โครงการหนังสือพิมพ์อินเทอร์เน็ต ประชาไท” or “Prachatai Online Newspaper” 091-0-21689-4, Krungthai Bank

2. Or, Transfer money via Paypal, to e-mail address: [email protected], please leave a comment on the transaction as “For Prachatai English”