Referendum approves new Thai constitution clearing way to democracy

Bangkok, Aug 20 (UNI) A new national constitution was approved by voters in Thailand to replace the one torn up by the leaders of last year's coup d'etat, clearing the way for the restoration of an elected government later this year.

However, the thin majority of the yes-vote in yesterday's referendum on the constitution drafted by a non-elected panel, has underlined concerns that the country remained sharply polarised between opponents and supporters of ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The results of the countrywide referendum announced this afternoon by the national election commission show that about 58 per cent of the total votes cast were in favour of the draft charter.

Slightly more than half of the country's 45 million eligible voters took part in the referendum.

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont has declared that parliament elections can now be held as scheduled in December.

Most no-votes in the referendum were expectedly registered in areas where Mr Thaksin and his Thai Rak Thai party, dissolved in May, enjoyed wide support.

However, the campaign against the draft constitution was also backed by pro-democracy groups and sections of academics and students who were staunch critics of Mr Thaksin but slammed the referendum as an attempt to legitimise the military takeover.

Critics noted that voters did not really have a choice as Thailand's interim constitution promulgated after the coup makers scrapped the landmark 1997 Constitution, allowed the military rulers to select and modify any of the country's previous constitutions in the event of a no-vote in the referendum.

The new constitution has been criticized for deliberately weakening the legislative and executive wings of the government and strengthening the role of the judiciary, bureaucracy and military which traditionally controlled Thai politics.

UNI