Thailand delays decision to amend constitution, as protest held outside parliament
- Thai lawmakers voted to set up a committee to study the process of the constitutional amendment first, angering over 1,000 demonstrators outside
- Anti-government protesters have been calling for the removal of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and less power for the monarchy
The parliament, dominated by supporters of the government, opted instead to set up a committee to study the process of the constitutional amendment first.
“The vote to accept a motion for constitutional changes is effectively delayed to November,” said pro-government lawmaker Chinnaworn Boonyakiat.
The decision angered opposition parliamentarians and protesters, more than 1,000 of whom had gathered outside the parliament to press their demands for constitutional change and for the removal of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, a former junta leader.
Protesters say the current constitution was drafted to ensure he kept power after elections last year, while Prayuth says the vote was fair.
Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn, an MP from the opposition Move Forward Party, said the parliament’s decision to delay voting on the motion was intended to “deceive the people”.
“If the process is delayed by a month to set up this committee, and if the motion is rejected then, it will mean members of parliament cannot propose another such motion again until next year,” he said in a tweet.
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Weekend of anti-government protests in Thai capital Bangkok continue to challenge monarchy
Siraphop Attohi, one of the protesters, said: “This is a game to buy more time … We cannot stand by this.”
The protests are the biggest challenge to the Thai military and palace-dominated establishment since Prayuth took power in a 2014 coup. The biggest protest drew tens of thousands of people at the weekend.
Some protesters say the constitution also gives too much power to King Maha Vajiralongkorn and have called for his influence to be reduced, challenging a long-standing taboo of not criticising the monarchy.
The 2017 constitution was written by a military-appointed committee and passed a nationwide referendum in 2016 at which opposition campaigning was banned.
The assembly combines an elected lower House of Representatives and a military-appointed Senate.
A two-day special session of parliament was convened on Wednesday to debate whether to accept a motion for constitutional changes. But a lawmaker aligned with the government proposed that the vote be postponed to November and that a new committee be set up to study details around the process.
The proposal was met with resistance from opposition parties and protesters.
“Do you hear the people? Or is the building so thick?” said Anon Nampa, one of the protest leaders.
On Wednesday, hundreds of royalist from the Thai Pakdee group marched to the parliament to submit a petition opposing constitutional change.
The assembly combines an elected lower House of Representatives and a military-appointed Senate.
