Public divided on referendum vote

Health, education concerns top wish list

Politics, health care and basic education and help for the poor will be the deciding factors for some wage-earning and selfemployed voters.

With the draft charter referendum less than a week away, many people are exploring their choices although some have admitted they read only a fraction, if any part at all, of the draft charter’s 200plus sections, according to a recent roving poll conducted by the Bangkok Post.

Nakhon (surname not given), 70, does not hide how he plans to vote at the referendum. He said he will vote No to the draft charter which he finds to be ambiguous in detail and “insincere” to the people.

“Even if the general election is pushed back, that won’t matter to me,” the apartment owner said.

“I can tell you the content we’re being served up won’t cut it, including the second question [on the referendum ballot],” he said, referring to the question on whether the selected Senate should join MPs in choosing a prime minister.

He educated himself about the draft charter mostly from watching and reading the news. In his view, the draft charter comes across as unequivocally worded, which is not helpful for people on the ground. He said he felt it does not allow a lot of accountability for those who will leave office after the general election.

Mr Nakhon said many rural folks own satellite TVs and are keeping up with the news. They and the poor are more politically aware these days.

“Don’t think the poor don’t know any better,” he said.

He thought the stance which politicians have declared on the draft charter can influence voters’ decision at the referendum. Last week, Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva joined a growing number of politicians who announced they have made up their minds about the draft charter.

Mr Abhisit said he will not accept the draft charter, saying it would undermine people’s rights and freedoms and allow bureaucratic power to grow. The Democrat leader also said the significant role enjoyed by appointed senators could end up provoking another round of political and social conflicts.

He added he thought the draft charter was introducing an appeal system where those facing trials in the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office-Holders may be able to find new ways to fight a case even after they have been found guilty.

Other voters insisted the way they vote will hinge on specific issues, such as education and healthcare.

Nittaya Charoen, 32, a construction worker, said she plans to go home to vote in Nakhon Pathom on Sunday. She sometimes follows news about the draft charter on TV and through online media. She agrees with certain issues the draft is introducing and ideally, she said, it must guarantee universal medical care, even in emergency cases, that is free of charge for everyone.

She said she also thought the charter has carried over from the previous constitution free basic education for children although she had “heard” the length of free schooling promised by the draft charter will be shorter than stipulated in the previous constitution.

Under the draft charter, the CDC proposes the government provide a 12-year free education programme, but changed the details so the programme starts at preschool level, instead of Prathom 1 or the first level of primary school as it does now.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha earlier issued an order to extend the free education scheme in his capacity as chief of the National Council for Peace and Order in line with Section 44 of the interim charter. Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Kreangam said even though the draft charter stipulates 12 years of free education, the government can extend it to 15 years.

Ms Nittaya said whether a general election will be held next year as planned is the least of her concerns. “But I’ll accept this draft charter. I want it to be the country’s supreme, permanent law,” she said, adding politicians’ views have no impact on her.

Thawee Lulae, 36, a security guard, said the government and the constitution writers appeared keen to include national issues which need addressing, including help for the poor and the underprivileged, in the draft charter.

The Uttaradit native said the referendum could affect people’s daily lives. Despite admitting he does not know enough about the draft charter and has little access to the information, he said the draft has won his vote. He said people should embrace the draft so there will be an election next year.

Meanwhile, Nimit Thien-udom, director of the Aids Access Foundation, said he will not vote for the draft because it fails to say that citizens have equal rights to basic health care. Although the “equal rights” clause may be written instead in the National Health Insurance Act which is being amended, there is no assurance it will be specified in the law.

Government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said people should study the draft charter carefully through booklets, websites and mobile applications so they are not misled by elements bent on distorting the content.