Prachatai, 17 July: Yesterday, the 19 Sept Anti-coup Network issued a statement "Stop Distorting the Intent of the Campaign for Rejection of the Junta-Backed Draft Constitution" to vent their disagreement with the People's Assembly for Political Reform (PAPR) which had earlier come out to support the draft 2007 constitution. In order to restore democracy and political reform promptly, PAPR said it supports endorsement of the draft 2007 constitution, provided that attempts are made after the election for further constitutional amendments.

In its statement, the anti-coup group states that several leaders of the PAPR have abetted the coup and acted covertly as a mouthpiece for the coup makers. Ignoring the evil of the coup makers, PAPR has been involved in intimidating and discrediting those who have come out to demand the restoration of democracy by accusing them of being remnants of the former powers. The group repeats that PAPR's recommendation for people to approve the draft constitution is a naked lie and is tantamount to misleading people into endorsing a draft constitution that favours military leaders and dictatorship under the cloak of pseudo-democracy. As with previous interventions by PARP, this will not bring about democratization. Under the brand of political opportunists, they simply behave just like underlings for the coup makers.

The Statement

Stop Distorting the Intent of the Campaign for

Rejection of the Junta Backed Draft Constitution

This is a response to the press statement by the People's Assembly for Political Reform (PAPR) claiming that the endorsement of the draft constitution can be a "third option" and that campaigns will be held after the election for further constitutional amendments. PAPR claim that if the draft constitution is endorsed, the country shall move forward quickly to democracy and political reform. As part of the campaign to reject the draft constitution, the 19 Sept Network would like to declare our stand as follows:

1) Leading members of PAPR are in fact former leaders in the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), including Mr. Somsak Kosaisuk, Mr. Pibhop Dhongchai, Mr. Somkiat Pongpaiboon, and Mr. Suriyasai Katasila who have played major roles in "soliciting" the 19 September 2006 coup. They have even acted as advisors/spokespersons for the coup makers with no regard to the many vicious actions by the coup makers including their corruption, gross human rights violations and the maintenance of their political power.

The PAPR statement is part of the post-coup attempts to discredit people who have come out to demand democracy. They have falsely accused democracy lovers and coup dissenters as being part of the "old powers" clique. Their accusations have appeared on a daily basis through "ghost organizations" they have unilaterally set up as their mouthpieces.

2) The coup version of the constitution teems with flaws. From the beginning, the process lacks justification and public participation in the drafting process has never been sufficiently sought. Apart from various provisions which impede people's rights and liberties, others discreetly provide for the maintenance in power of the coup makers and the military. Therefore, this constitution will never be able to enhance democracy. Instead, it will simply nurture vicious dictators by putting them under a democratic cloak.

The 19 Sept Network holds that the PAPR proposal for people simply to endorse the draft constitution is a deception to lead people to agree to a charter that serves the interests of military leaders and a constitutional dictatorship. As with previous interventions by PARP, this will not bring about democratization. Under the brand of political opportunists, they simply behave just like underlings for the coup makers.

3) The call to reject the charter has been made vehemently by various parties including students, academics, NGOs and people who cherish democracy. Their collective demand is to urge people to show their opposition to the coup by casting their votes against the draft constitution and to pressure for the restoration of the 1997 constitution. The proposal for rejection of draft constitution is therefore not a dead-end solution, but an attempt to pave the way for democratic political reform through popular participation based on the 1997 constitution.

The 19 Sept Network wishes condemn PAPR for accusing the pro-Thaksin crowd as the "old regime" or "being fed (by Thaksin)" which is offensive to their dignity. PAPR simply wants to ensure that only the anti-Thaksin people have political space, but no others.

The 19 Sept Network deems it unnecessary to call on PAPR to stop vilifying democracy lovers and those who are opposed to the draft constitution, since PAPR's role has proven that these individuals can never be of service to democracy and there is no way for them to change their anti-democratic behaviour. Given their collusion with the elites and military to establish a bureaucratic polity and let the military loose to dominate the political arena, the 19 Sept Network wishes to condemn these people and demand that they stop pretending to appear democratic and stop claiming to work in the name of the people's sector.

The 19 Sept Network Against the Coup

16 July 2007

Related News:  

Thailand on Spin Cycle, Asia Sentinel

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

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

My understanding of the draft 2007 constitution

Reference:

1997 Thai Constitution

2007 Draft Constitution of Thailand

Translated by Pipob Udomittipong