Draft charter agreed for Thais

A military-appointed panel passed the final draft of a new constitution for Thailand yesterday, the chairman of the committee said, setting the stage for a national referendum on the charter and elections later this year.

The draft comes 10 months after the military ousted an elected government.

Under the draft, the Parliament system will remain in place - with the party winning the most seats forming a government. However, the number of seats in the house of representatives was decreased from 500 to 480.

The Senate has been reduced from 200 members to 150, with one elected from each of Thailand's 76 provinces and the other 74 appointed by judges and independent government bodies.

The Constitution Drafting Assembly also agreed that a national referendum for the Thai public to decide whether to adopt the proposed constitution - the country's 18th in 75 years - will take place August 19, the CDA chairman Noranit Setabutr said.

The draft was approved unanimously, Noranit said, adding 19 million copies will be ready for the public on July 31.

The leaders of the September coup, called the Council for National Security and led by army chief Gen. Sonthi Boonyaratglin, annulled the last constitution - introduced in 1997 - and appointed the assembly to create a new one to eliminate the loopholes that they said had allowed former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to garner excessive personal power and erode democratic institutions.

The new charter requires just one-fifth of the lower house members to seek a no-confidence debate against the prime minister - instead of two fifths as stated in the 1997 constitution.

A general election has tentatively been scheduled for December, although interim Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont has hinted that the poll could take place in November if the public passes the draft constitution in the national referendum.

"If the referendum fails, it will create continuing problems and a chaotic situation," Defense Minister Boonrod Somtad told reporters. "I think people want to see general elections, an elected government and a return to democracy."

If the people do not approve the draft in the referendum, the CNS and Surayud's Cabinet will have 30 days to choose and revise an earlier constitution, according to the interim constitution. Elections will still be held, but at a later date.

The new constitution would be Thailand's 18th since the absolute monarchy was abolished in 1932. The earlier charters were overturned in the numerous coups that have punctuated Thailand's modern history.

Thaksin, exiled abroad, is under investigation at home accused of corruption and abuse of power.

Courts dissolved Thai Rak Thai earlier this year after ruling it had violated electoral law, and barring its 111 executive officers from public office for five years.

Also Friday, around 500 protesters opposed to the military-installed government marched through the streets of the capital, Bangkok, calling on the public to reject the draft charter. They said the document was undemocratic because it was crafted by a military-appointed assembly.

The protesters torched a mock representation of the charter while others chanted, "Coup leaders, get out!"

Police prevented the protesters from getting too close to Parliament where the assembly was voting on the draft.

Some 400 policemen were deployed to control the protest, Bangkok police chief Lt. Gen. Adisorn Nontree said. The protesters dispersed peacefully after three hours.

The demonstration was organized by former members of Thaksin's now-dissolved Thai Rak Thai Party. The military ousted Thaksin following protests accusing him of corruption and abuse of power.

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