Charter backed by Thai junta is rejected, elections likely delayed

[hhfarang]

A council appointed by Thailand's junta Sunday rejected a draft constitution, a move expected to delay a return to democracy following last year's military coup.

Critics had pilloried the document as divisive, anti-democratic and aimed at prolonging military rule.

But its rejection in a vote by the National Reform Council (NRC) means the painstaking process of drafting a charter will have to start again, potentially pushing back the timetable for elections to 2017.

Of the 240 NRC members who voted, 135 were against the document and 105 in favour.

"Those in favour were less than half of NRC members, it means this NRC meeting has voted against" the charter, NRC chairman Tienchai Kiranan said in a televised count.

The army seized power from an elected government in May last year, promising to calm the country after years of street protests and acrimony by political rivals.

The junta has said a new charter -- Thailand's 20th since it abandoned absolute monarchy in 1932 -- holds the key to bridging those divides before democratic elections can be restored, provisionally in mid-late 2016.

http://news.yahoo.com/thai-junta-backed ... 42272.html

[STEVE G]

Yes, they rejected their own charter, anything to delay having an election which they know they can't win.

[HHTel]

Just the result the PM hoped for but can't say publicly. A charter that has been rejected but somehow he's still able to invoke 'article 44'

Maybe they should try running the country without a constitution. The UK manage quite successfully without one.

[Spitfire]

....So they will be in power for another 6 months. Just what the junta wanted and I'm sure everyone voted just as they were directed to.