The 2006 Interim Charter of Thailand was drafted by the Council for Democratic Reform (CDR) after it seized power from the government of Thaksin Shinawatra in the 2006 Thailand coup. Released on 27 September 2006 and promulgated on 1 October 2006, the Constitution allowed the junta to retain significant control over the appointed civilian government and the drafting of a permanent constitution. The CDR would be transformed into a permanent Council for National Security (CNS) and would appoint the head of the executive branch, the entire legislature, and the drafters of a permanent constitution. The draft came under strong public criticism as being a step backwards from the 1997 "People's Constitution". The charter did not repeal junta bans restricting freedom of speech, assembly, and political activity.^[1] Although it was originally called a "charter", it was officially named a "constitution." This article focuses on the military junta that overthrew the elected civilian government of Thailand in the 2006 Thailand coup. ... Wikinews has news related to: Thai PM Shinawatra ousted by coup Thaksin Shinawatra (Thai: , IPA: [ ; born July 26, 1949), Thai politician, is the ousted prime minister of Thailand and the leader of the populist Thai Rak Thai party. ... September 27 is the 270th day of the year (271st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... October 1 is the 274th day of the year (275th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Democracy Monument: a representation of the 1932 Constitution sits on top of two golden offering bowls above a turret, in a traffic circle in the center of Bangkok. ...

Drafting process

The junta appointed a legal panel to draft an interim charter. The team was led by led by former Senate speaker Meechai Ruchuphan, and originally included jurists Borwornsak Uwanno and Wissanu Krea-ngam. Both had played key roles in drafting the 1997 Constitution and had served under the deposed government, although they had resigned several months before the coup. Both resigned from the panel after public criticism that they were members of the ancien regime. Thammasat vice-rector Prinya Thewanaruemitkul harshly criticized the two, saying that they were "not honourable enough to look after the democratic system." Both refused to play any further role with the military junta.^[2][3] After the draft charter was promulgated, Meechai resigned as chief drafter; the junta appointed Jaran Pakdithanakul, former secretary to the Supreme Court president, as his replacement.^[4]

Key features

The draft interim charter had 39 articles. Structurally, the draft interim charter was similar to the 1991 Constitution, the 1976 Constitution, and the 1959 Charter, in that it stipulated an extremely powerful executive branch which would appoint the entire legislature. The charter:

• prescribes for the constitutional monarchy and the Kingdom of Thailand as the singular state (Art. 1)
• guarantees basic rights, human dignity and equality under the law in accordance with the democratic rule under the king as head of state and international obligations (Art. 3)
• outlines the formation and duties of the National Legislative Assembly, which will comprise 250 members appointed from professional groups, geographical areas and various sectors of society (Art. 5)
• allows the National Legislative Assembly to request the Cabinet to give statements of fact or explain problems, but explicitely states that it may not make a vote of confidence or no confidence against the Cabinet (Art. 11)
• grants immunity for remarks made on the floor (Art.13)
• allows the Chairman of the Council for National Security (the junta) to remove the Prime Minister (Art. 14)
• guarantees the independence of the judiciary (Art. 18)
• prohibits the 100 members of the Constitution Drafting Council from being current members of a political party or being members of a political party for the previous 2 years (Art. 19)
• empowers the Legislative Assembly speaker to chair the National Assembly (Art. 20)
• spells out the peer-vote of a 2,000 member National Assembly to elect 200 candidates for the Constitutional Drafting Council. Each member can vote fore no more than three members, those nominated with the most votes will win. In the case of tied votes, which result in more than 200 winners, the winners will be decided by drawing lots. The peer-vote must complete in seven days (Art. 22).
• empowers the Council of National Security to pick 100 of 200 CDC candidates for royal approval (Art. 22).
• empowers the Council of National Security to appoint a 100 member CDC if the National Assembly fails to complete its selection within 7 days (Art. 23)
• empowers the 100 CDC members to appoint 25 members of a Drafting Committee who may not be CDC members. The CNS will appoint another 10 members. (Art. 25)
• forces the Drafting Committee to explain the differences between its draft and the 1997 Constitution. Forces the Committee to present drafts to major state agencies and universities. Forces the Committee to promote and hold public hearings (Art. 26).
• allows half the members of the National Assembly to submit amendments to the constitution (Art. 27)
• gives the Drafting Committee 30 days to compile feedback and amendments and compile a report stating why such amendments were accepted or rejected. The report will be presented to the CDC for review along with the constitution for approval. Further amendments require a vote of 3/5's the membership of the CDC (Art. 28)
• sets the 180-day deadline to complete the charter drafting before organising the referendum on the new charter within 30 days. The referendum will be managed by the CDC (Art. 29)
• sets the 45-day deadline for the drafting of organic laws and bans the chairman of the Council of National Security, members of the National Legislative Assembly and those involved in charter writing from contesting the general election and the senatorial race for two years (Art. 30)
• allows the National Assembly and Cabinet, chaired by the CNS Chairman, to select any previous constitution revise it for use if the Drafting Committee's draft is not approved by public referendum or the CDC does not approve the constitution (Art. 32)
• endorses CDR announcement no. 24 creating the 16 member Council for National Security with an identical leadership to the CDR (Art. 34)
• transfers the authority and jurisdiction of the Constitutional Court (under the 1997 Constitution) to a Constitutional Tribunal, chaired by the Supreme Court President, with the Supreme Administrative Court President as deputy chairman, as well as five Supreme Court judges to be selected by a general assembly of the Supreme Court through a secret ballot. All cases pending of the Constitutional Court are transferred to the Constitutional Tribunal (Art. 35)
• endorses all previous announcements and orders of the CDR (Art. 36)
• grants complete immunity for all actions to seize power committed by the CDRM (Art.37).
• empowers the chairman of the Council of National Security to administer the country pending the appointment of a prime minister (Art. 39)^[5][6]

The Constitutional Court of Thailand (Thai: ศาลรัฐธรรมนูญ) is an independent Thai court established under the 1997 Constitution with jurisdiction over the constitutionality of parliamentary acts, royal decrees, draft legislation, as well as the appointment and removal of public officials and issues regarding political parties. ...

Criticism

The draft interim charter met with harsh criticism. Key concerns included:

• The overwhelming power of the executive branch, particularly the Cabinet (appointed by a Premier who is in turn appointed by the junta) and the CNS. The CNS would also be allowed to take part in Cabinet meetings.
• The lack of democratic elections for seats in the legislature. Under charter article 5, a 250-member National Legislative Assembly would be directly selected by the junta. This effectively meant that there would be no checks and balances to the junta's legislative and executive powers.
• The lack of controls for the drafting of a permanent constitution. Under charter articles 19 and 21, the CNS would appoint a 2000-member National Assembly which would in 7 days have to select 200 of its members to be candidates for the Constitution Drafting Assembly. Under charter articles 22 and 24, the CNS would select 100 of those candidates for royal appointment to the Assembly; it would also select the Assembly head. The Assembly would then appoint 25 of its members as constitution writers, with the CNS directly appointing 10 writers. This process effectively gave the junta complete control over the permanent constitution.
• The lack of controls to prevent members of the CNS, its panels, or its committees from running in elections. Under charter article 30, only the head of the CNS is banned.
• The use of an old charter if the permanent constitution not completed by a CNS-set deadline. The specific charter to revert to was not specified - the CNS and the Cabinet would choose which of Thailand's 16 previous charters to use. Many critics called for the use of the 1997 Constitution.
• The inability of the public to file written comments on the bills.^[7]
• Junta bans against political activities, political gatherings of more than five people, and limits on press freedom remained in place.^[8]

Banjerd Singkhaneti, of Thammasat University, noted of the process for drafting a permanent constitution, "I think it will be a mess and the next constitution will be just that." Charoen Khumpeeraparp, of Silpakorn University, criticized the charter for protecting human rights according to commitments made under international treaties, claiming that it would not allow persecution of figures in the deposed government. Charoen claimed that no other countries let international commitments influence their local laws.^[9] The doctrine and practice of dispersing political power and creating mutual accountability between political entities such as the courts, the president or prime minister, the legislature, and the citizens. ... Thammasat University (Thai: มหาวิทยาลัยธรรมศาสตร์), formerly known as the University of Moral and Political Science (มหาวิทยาลัยวิชาธรรมศาสตร์และการเมือง), is the second oldest university in Thailand and is often considered to be one of the most prestigious universities in the country. ... Silpakorn University (Thai: มหาวิทยาลัยศิลปากร) is a university located in Thailand. ...

However, the draft interim charter did call for one democratic innovation: it required that a permanent constitution would have to be ratified by public referendum. This innovation was suggested in the draft 1974 Constitution, but was rejected by the royally-appointed Constitutional Convention. Nonetheless, the referendum proposal too has been condemned, as if the draft is rejected then under section 32 of the interim charter it is returned to the junta, which will write a constitution of its own in consultation with the Council of Ministers.^[10]

The interim charter was also criticized for being drafted without considering the views of the public. Meechai Ruchuphan, chief legal advisor for the junta, had earlier promised to heed opposing legal opinions. Komsan Phokong (Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University), Charoen Kampheeraphap (Silapakorn University), and Sasatra Toon (Rangsit University) had then sought and received the permission from the junta to present an alternative draft charter comprising 72 articles. "Meechai had promised to heed opposing legal opinions but failed to honour his word," Komsan said. Sasatra said Meechai acted as if he was trying to perpetuate the power of the junta.^[11]

On 28 September, 6 scholars from Chiang Mai University and Midnight University protested the draft interim charter by dressing in black and tearing a mock-up of the draft in a press conference. The 6 included historian Nidhi Eawseewong, Worawit Charoenlert, Somchai Preecha-silpakul, Chatchawan Boonpan, Kriengsak Chetwattanawanich and Somkiat Tangnamo. The website of Midnight University was later shut down in response.^[12] Chiang Mai University (Thai: มหาวิทยาลัยเชียงใหม่) was the first provincial university in Thailand and the first university in Thailand that is named after the city it is located in. ...

Thitinan Pongsudhirak of Chulalongkorn University noted that the charter was "alarming" and that "The problem for the military is that they are in deep now. They haven't done what they set out to do, which was to get rid of Thaksin, hand over power to a civilian government and step aside. They have not stepped aside."^[8] Chulalongkorn University is the oldest university in Thailand and has long been considered to be the countrys most prestigious university. ...

Suriyasai Katasila, a key member of the anti-Thaksin People's Alliance for Democracy, criticized the charter for not containing restrictions which would bar seats in the National Legislative Assembly from former members and affiliates of Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai party.^[13] The Peoples Alliance for Democracy is a coalition of protesters against the government of Thaksin Shinawatra, Prime Minister of Thailand. ... Thai Rak Thai (ไทยรักไทย, lit. ...

Khomsan Phokhong, of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, demanded greater public participation in the charter-drafting process as well as restrictions against participation by members and affiliates of the Thai Rak Thai party. Somkhid Lertphaithoon, Deputy Rector of Thammasat University, demanded that the junta directly appoint 100 members to the Constitution Drafting Assembly rather than rely on a 2000-member National Assembly. He also called the interim constitution the best of its kind although he was disappointed it did not include a mission statement.^[13] Thai Rak Thai (ไทยรักไทย, lit. ... Thammasat University (Thai: มหาวิทยาลัยธรรมศาสตร์), formerly known as the University of Moral and Political Science (มหาวิทยาลัยวิชาธรรมศาสตร์และการเมือง), is the second oldest university in Thailand and is often considered to be one of the most prestigious universities in the country. ...

Somchai Siripreechakul, Dean of Law at Chiang Mai University, urged Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont to call a general election as soon as possible and hand the task of drafting a charter to the elected parliament.^[14] Chiang Mai University (Thai: มหาวิทยาลัยเชียงใหม่) was the first provincial university in Thailand and the first university in Thailand that is named after the city it is located in. ... General Surayud Chulanont (Thai: ) is the current Prime Minister of Thailand. ...

The International Herald Tribune noted that the interim charter "appears to buttress the military's role in Thai politics."^[8] The International Herald Tribune (www. ...

Among human rights groups, the Hong Kong-based regional body the Asian Human Rights Commission has issued a series of statements condemning the interim charter as a work of "constitutional fiction". ^[15] The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) was founded in 1986 by a prominent group of jurists and human rights activists in Asia. ...

References

1. ^ Forbes, Main points of Thailand's military-backed interim constitution, 1 October 2006
2. ^ The Nation, Wissanu, Borwornsak withdraw from team, 27 September 2006
3. ^ The Nation, Restore basic civil rights, NGOs urge, 24 September 2006
4. ^ The Nation, Meechai exits constitution panel after drawing flak, 2 October 2006
5. ^ the Nation, Interim charter draft, 27 September 2006
6. ^ The Nation, Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand (Interim Edition) of B.E. 2549, 2 October 2006
7. ^ The Nation, Interim charter draft, 27 September 2006
8. ^ ^a b c IHT, Thai junta shores up role in politics, 1 October 2006
9. ^ The Bangkok Post, Draft charter loopholes can 'resurrect Thaksin regime', 28 September 2006
10. ^ Asian Human Rights Commission, THAILAND: MILITARY COUP - Constitutional fictions, 9 October 2006
11. ^ The Nation, Law lecturers attack interim charter, 30 September 2006
12. ^ The Nation, Midnight University website shut down after protest, 1 October 2006
13. ^ ^a b The Nation, Academics: no consensus, 2 October 2006
14. ^ The Nation, Poll should precede new charter: law experts, 2 October 2006
15. ^ Asian Human Rights Commission, THAILAND: MILITARY COUP - Constitutional fictions, 9 October 2006; see also THAILAND: MILITARY COUP - How to make courts independent?, 6 October 2006; THAILAND: MILITARY COUP - The right man for what job?, 4 October 2006