Thai prime minister’s party seeks charter change
Feb 9, 2012, 9:45 AM
BANGKOK (AP) – Thailand’s ruling party has proposed a controversial plan to amend the country’s constitution, which was drafted after a 2006 coup that ousted Thaksin Shinawatra from power.
It contains a clause that led to the dissolution of two pro-Thaksin parties.
The Pheu Thai party headed by Thaksin’s sister says the constitution is “undemocratic” because it was drafted by a military-appointed committee.
The plan submitted Thursday to Parliament calls for the creation of a constitution-drafting assembly of 99 people that would have 180 days to rewrite the charter before submitting it to a national referendum.
A similar move by a pro-Thaksin government in 2008 sparked street rallies that culminated with protesters shutting Bangkok’s two airports for a week.
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)