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Thailand votes to approve junta-backed constitution
BANGKOK: Thai voters on Sunday overwhelmingly approved a new junta-backed constitution that lays the foundation for a civilian government influenced by the military
BANGKOK: Thai voters on Sunday overwhelmingly approved a new junta-backed constitution that lays the foundation for a civilian government influenced by the military and controlled by appointed — rather than elected — officials.
With 91 percent of the ballots counted, 62 percent of voters in the referendum said they approved of the new constitution, while 38 percent rejected it, Election Commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn told reporters.
The referendum was seen as a test of the popularity of the military government of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, a retired army general who has severely curtailed dissent since coming to power in a 2014 coup. But his rule has also brought a measure of stability and ended the frequent street violence and divisive politics that had frayed Thailand’s social fabric for years.
That veneer of stability could help explain the “yes” vote for the new constitution.
In addition to asking for an opinion on the constitution, the referendum also asked a supplementary question on whether voters wanted an appointed Senate to choose a prime minister. That question elicited a less enthusiastic approval — 58 percent “yes” and 42 percent “no,” Somchai said.
Although no irregularities were reported in the voting process, critics are likely to point out that the “no” camp was denied the opportunity to present its case.
The junta imposed severe restrictions in the run-up to the referendum, banning political rallies, independent campaigns and open discussion about the draft constitution. Criticism of the draft was made punishable by 10 years in jail. Critics say the restrictions ensured that most people were unaware of the pitfalls of the charter, and were probably anxious to get the long-drawn process over with so that they could move on.
There was also the allure of new elections that Prayuth has promised to hold in 2017, after the approval of the new constitution, although he’s said he would call the vote even if the referendum was defeated.
Some 50 million voters were registered for Sunday’s referendum, but only about 55 percent of them voted, Somchai said.
Analysts had said that a “yes” vote would be a setback for democracy in Thailand.
“If you say ‘yes’ to the constitution, it means you agree with the content of the constitution ... what makes matters worse is you also give legitimacy to the coup, to the coup makers,” Pavin Chachavalpongpun, an associate professor at the Center for Southeast Asian Studies of Kyoto University in Japan, said on Friday.
Pavin, a Thai and a vocal critic of the junta, told The Associated Press that a victory in the referendum would give the junta the reason to tell the world “don’t you dare criticise us anymore because we have the legitimacy.”
Thailand has endured 13 successful military coups and 11 attempted takeovers since it replaced an absolute monarchy with a constitutional one in 1932. This would be Thailand’s 20th constitution.
