THAILAND: Polls open for Thais to vote on military-drafted charter

Thais go to the polls to vote on a new post-coup constitution which the army government says will lead to elections by year-end. Polling stations opened at 0800 local time (0100GMT) across Thailand on Sunday (August 19), as voters queued to cast their ballots on a new constitution designed to replace the 1997 "People's Charter" which was torn up during last year's coup. The new draft charter limits the power of politicians and gives judges and bureaucrats more influence. It is widely seen as an attempt to prevent the rise of another Thaksin Shinawatra -- the charismatic tycoon who the generals who ousted him from office last year say used the previous charter to manipulate and abuse power. "In this charter, we have more rights," said Yuen Yooyen, who cast the first vote at Ban Kai, a low-cost housing community polling station in central Bangkok. Thailand's voters are likely to approve the new charter despite reservations that it is more elitist than its predecessor and was drafted by the military which ousted Thaksin by force last September. "From the reports so far there is nothing to be concerned about," said Thailand's Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont after casting his ballot. Many hope that a "yes" vote will spur preparations for elections -- timetabled for the end of the year -- and end more than 18 months of political turmoil that has stifled economic growth. The referendum requires a 50 percent majority to pass the new constitution, which Thaksin has dubbed "fruit of the poisonous tree" from exile in London. The army-backed government has gone all-out to persuade people to vote, as a decent turnout would giving the generals who led the coup a stamp of legitimacy and a low turnout would be seen as an endorsement of Thaksin. "I think if there's acceptance this time, then we can look forward to the election. Democracy can then be handed back to the people," said coup leader General Sonthi Boonyaratglin after casting his ballot in Lopburi. An unofficial result is expected by 2100 local time (1400GMT) on Sunday and the official result will be announced on Monday (August 20).

ITN Source | August 19, 2007