Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC)

21 Jul 2016
After the deputy junta head promised to organise nationwide debates on the controversial draft charter, a well-known anti-junta activist group challenged the junta-appointed constitution drafters to a debate. At 12:30 pm on Thursday, 21 July 2016, Chanoknan Ruamsap, key member of the New Democracy Movement (NDM), an anti-junta activist group, and other NDM members submitted an invitation letter to Amorn Wanichwiwatana, spokesperson of the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC).
15 Jul 2016
After a stand-off with anti-junta activists over leaflets criticising the junta-sponsored draft charter, the Thai authorities say that the leaflets cannot be distributed as they distort facts about the draft. Somchai Srisuthiyakorn, of the Election Commission of Thailand (ECT), on Thursday afternoon, 14 July 2016, told the media after a meeting with the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) that leaflets entitled ‘7 Reasons Not to Accept the Draft Constitution’ are not allowed to be distributed.
23 Jun 2016
A flyer battle began when authorities attempted to prohibit pro-democracy activists from handing out flyers campaigning to ‘vote no’ in the August referendum while junta volunteers ‘explaining’ the draft constitution faced resistance from local people. Pro-democracy activists allowed to distribute flyers for only 30 minutes   On Wednesday, 22 June 2016, Rangsiman Rome, a leader of the New Democracy Movement (NDM), a pro-democracy activist group, together with another two members of the movement, handed out ‘vote no’ flyers to local people in Samrong D
14 Jun 2016
A group of people dressed in yellow shirts have filed an accusation with the Administrative Court against agencies allied to the junta -- the PM, cabinet, charter drafters, lawmakers, and Election Commission -- for risking Thailand’s territory under the draft constitution, adding that the referendum should be postponed until the problematic articles are fixed.
30 May 2016
A public university has notified its lecturers not to criticise the junta-sponsored draft constitution, saying public institutions have to support the government. Arjinjonathan Arjinkit, lecturer of the Faculties of Humanities and Social Science of Rajabhat Rajanagarindra University in the central province of Chachoengsao posted a status on his Facebook account on 25 May titled ‘When the university monitors your Facebook’.
11 May 2016
Former senators, human rights and election commissioners have pointed out that the laws regulating campaigns before the referendum to pass the junta-sponsored draft constitution ironically go against the junta’s Interim Charter. Jon Ungpakorn, a former senator and current director of iLaw, a human rights advocacy group, Kraisak Choonhavan, former senator, and Niran Pitakwatchara, former member of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), on Tuesday, 10 May 2016, submitted a letter to Raksagecha Chaechai, Secretary-General of the Office of the Ombudsman.
19 Apr 2016
The deputy head of the ruling junta has warned the public not to discuss the content of the latest draft constitution, saying that it might lead to misunderstanding and conflict.   On Tuesday, 19 April 2016, Matichon Online reported that Gen Prawit Wongsuwan, the deputy NCPO head and Minister of Defence, told the media that people should not stage any campaign relating to the referendum on the draft constitution, which will be held on 7 August,.   According to Matichon Online, Prawit said
12 Apr 2016
Academics and a female Buddhist monk conclude that the draft constitution is a step backward on freedom of religion.
11 Apr 2016
The Thai junta leader scolded politicians for disagreeing with a plan to add an additional question to the public referendum on the draft constitution.     Matichon Online reported that Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, the junta leader and Prime Minister, on Monday, 11 April 2016, said that politicians have no right to disagree with him over the proposal to include another question in the public referendum to pass the draft constitution. The referendum is scheduled for 7 August 2016.
4 Apr 2016
The Thai military has prohibited a seminar on the controversial draft constitution in the northern province of Chiang Mai as the public referendum on the draft is drawing near.    Matichon Online reported on Saturday, 2 April 2016, that Sunai Phasuk, a coordinator of Human Rights Watch (HRW), tweeted on his Twitter account that military officers from Kawila Military Camp in Chiang Mai ordered the cancellation of a seminar on ‘Reading the Constitution as Literature and Art’.
29 Mar 2016
Pressured by Buddhist groups to enshrine Buddhism as a national religion, the constitution drafters have met the demands halfway by providing mechanisms in the new draft constitution to protect Buddhism. On Tuesday afternoon, 29 March 2016, the junta-appointed Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) headed by Meechai Ruchuphan unveiled the finalised draft constitution. The fate of the draft will be decided by public referendum in August.
25 Mar 2016
UN’s human rights office has stated that people must be able to participate in the drafting process of the new constitution and that the new constitution should not provide impunity for the military government.

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