Ex-premier Abhisit turns on Thai junta’s draft charter

AFP, BANGKOK: A former prime minister whose party supported Thailand’s last coup lambasted the junta’s new constitution on Wednesday before a referendum on it, a rare blow to the army from within its own political camp.
Abhisit Vejjajiva, who was appointed prime minister from 2008-2011, leads the Democrats, Thailand’s second biggest party.
They have failed for two decades to win an election but carry major clout within the Bangkok establishment that rallied behind the May 2014 overthrow of Yingluck Shinawatra’s elected government.
The army has held the country in lockdown since its coup, banning protests, muzzling dissent and even outlawing campaigning against the charter before the August 7 vote.
The junta says the new document is crucial to ending a decade of political turmoil that has frequently spilt into violence.
But critics say it will straitjacket democracy with clauses calling for a fully-appointed senate and unelected premier—both of which could help the military keep its allies in power.
“I do not approve of the draft constitution,” Abhisit told AFP in a rare attack on the junta from within the powerful establishment.

 

Ex-premier Abhisit turns on Thai juntas draft charter

AFP, BANGKOK: A former prime minister whose party supported Thailands last coup lambasted the juntas new constitution on Wednesday before a referendum on it, a rare blow to the army from within its own political camp. Abhisit Vejjajiva, who was appointed prime minister from 2008-2011, leads the Democrats, Thailands second biggest party. They have failed for two decades to win an election but carry major clout within the Bangkok establishment that rallied behind the May 2014 overthrow of Yingluck Shinawatras elected government. The army has held the country in lockdown since its coup, banning protests, muzzling dissent and even outlawing campaigning against the charter before the August 7 vote. The junta says the new document is crucial to ending a decade of political turmoil that has frequently spilt into violence. But critics say it will straitjacket democracy with clauses calling for a fully-appointed senate and unelected premierboth of which could help the military keep its allies in power. I do not approve of the draft constitution, Abhisit told AFP in a rare attack on the junta from within the powerful establishment.