THAILAND: Opposition to tough security act growing
Updated
There is mounting opposition in Thailand to a new security law being proposed by the military government. Cabinet approved the Internal Security Act last month but it has yet to be sent to Parliament. The Act would give the army almost unlimited powers of arrest and detention, and the right to declare emergency rule without consulting the prime minister. With the debate hotting up, it's possible the bill might be revised, or even delayed until after general elections due to be held by January next year.
Presenter: Karon Snowdon
Speakers: Dr Pasuk Phonpaichit, Professor of Economics at Chulalongkorn University
SNOWDON: The internal security act being proposed by the interim military government is under fire for being dictatorial and anti-democratic. At least the government is allowing it to be debated and that's proving to be quite vigorous. Supporters claim the power it gives the head of the army to unilaterally call emergency rule is necessary for Thailand's security. Critics say it overrides the power of the government and the Prime Minister, and could give rise to a state of semi-permanent martial law. They add it could have the effect of the military riding shot-gun over an elected government and that Thailand already has adequate provisions to deal with a crisis. Professor Pasuk Pongpaichit from Chulalongkorn University believes it would not be possible to get the security bill passed without amendments.
PASUK: Because opposition is very strong - not only among the middle class and intellectuals, but also among the media, so they will have modify it. They will have to change it in such a way that they will have to consult the Cabinet or go through the political process more.
SNOWDON: The army's chief of Staff General Monthi Sangkasap indicated that with opposition to the bill mounting the government won't be rushing it through. Thais are also debating the recently drafted new constitution and will vote yes or no for it in a referendum in August, before elections can be called. It will be the first referendum in Thailand but the country's 17th constitution. Again it favours the military government and it's doing all it can to get a yes vote. It weakens the role of the Prime Minister, strengthens the judiciary and allows for half the Senate to be appointed. Professor Pasuk thinks there will be a yes vote in the referendum, because voters want to move on from the coup.
PASUK: If this constitution went through, they will have half of their Senate being appointed, and you can be sure that it would be packed with ex-generals and bureaucrats and they will influence the political process and the parliamentary system that way.
SNOWDON: The next choice for Thai people will be the election itself. Only then will the uncertainty of the past year lift for locals and foreign investors alike. Crucially, coup leader General Sonthi Boonyaratglin will retire from the military in October and he hasn't ruled out standing for election himself. However he risks being accused of having a personal political agenda when orchestrating the September coup, and of further politicising the military.
PASUK: Personally I think he may have grown into this idea of "absolute power corrupts absolutely". He was reluctantly brought in to do this coup, and as time goes on it seems as though he quite likes it, and this is his last opportunity to be on top of the country, so I think he has toyed with being attracted by this sort of idea.
