A Move to Push for Amendments to the 2007 Constitution

(10/12/2012)

The 10th of December each year marks Thailand’s Constitution Day. Thailand has been under the rule of democratic government for 80 years now. There are attempts to amend the present Constitution, or even to rewrite it. A public opinion poll shows that although many people agreed to charter amendments, they are concerned that the move to rewrite the Constitution could lead to political violence. The Government has been urged to listen to the opinions of all parties and come up with the solution acceptable to all sides. In addition, it has been suggested that the Government provide a clear explanation of the issue of charter amendments to the general public before making any changes. Some people also called for a delay in the move to allow more time to study charter amendments in detail. The history of Thailand’s constitutions began in 1932 when King Prajadhipok, Rama VII, granted the first permanent constitution to the Thai people on 10 December. The constitution was meant to be the ultimate law, following the change of the country’s absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy. Before the constitution was created, Thailand was ruled by an absolute monarchy until 24 June 1932, when a group of young intellectuals and army officers, educated abroad and imbued with the concept of Western democracy, staged a bloodless coup. Determined to avoid any bloodshed, King Prajadhipok agreed to the abolition of absolute monarchy and the transfer of power to the constitution-based system of government as demanded. Two years later, unhappy with some of the results, he decided to abdicate. In his abdication letter dated 2 March 1934, King Prajadhipok said, “I am fully willing to relinquish the powers which previously belonged to me, to the people in general, but I refuse to hand these powers to any specific person or group to exercise them in an absolute way and without listening to the real voice of the people.” Over the 80 years of democratic administration in Thailand, a number of constitutions were promulgated and amended in accordance with the evolving situation. The present monarch, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, has reigned under the democratic system for 66 years now, faithfully enacting the constitutional role written for him. Over the years of his reign, the political ups and downs of democracy have shown him to be a stabilizing force that the nation can look up to and rely on. The present Constitution of Thailand is the 18th of its kind; it was promulgated on 24 August 2007 after being voted on in a public referendum. The general provisions of the Constitution confirm the Kingdom as a democratic regime with the King as Head of State. The rights and liberties of the Thai people as recognized by the Constitution are divided into ensuring human dignity, equality of individuals, freedom of expression of individuals, and people’s political participation.