Free Thailand Sept 2014 | Page 18

Con………….stitution King Prayuth On Tuesday, Thailand’s revered 86-year-old King formally endorsed the interim charter in a ceremony with General Prayuth Chan-ocha, the army’s chief. The ceremony, which took place in the coastal city Hua Hin, provides additional royal legitimacy to the coup by endorsing the new laws drawn up by the military. Customized Constitution for the man with the Gun. Sweeping Power for Junta. Granted Amnesty for the Coup. No Shinawatra. Thailand’s military junta has unveiled an interim constitution that allows the army to retain sweeping powers. And the army chief, who currently has total executive and legislative oversight, could become the kingdom’s next prime minister. The new constitution has 17 pages, 48 sections. Some interesting sections. Section 35: Bans those convicted or officially found of corruption and electoral fraud from holding a political position and prohibits populist policies. Simply, no Shinawatra allowed. Section 44: Junta is to handpick a 220-member legislature (replacing the House of Representatives and the Senate) that will later select a prime minister and Cabinet. Anyone who has held a political position in a current party will be excluded from the new group of lawmakers. Section 48: Granted amnesty to Junta for all illegal things they did & will do. But, you already doing whatever you want anyway. But now, it’s written in the constitution. Official Royal Stamp of approval.