Law and judiciary
Constitution and rights
Majority in NE understand ‘less than 20%’ of draft charter
Most residents of the Northeast understand only a small part of the draft constitution, a public opinion poll found. As many as 54.3 per cent of respondents said they understood less than 20 per cent of the draft’s content, according to survey results released on 9 May by ...
In Arakan State, resource control fuels conflict
In a new report, Arakan Oil Watch has urged Myanmar’s incoming government to amend the Constitution in an effort to quell tensions between the military and the country’s ethnic armed groups. “Breaking the Curse,” released on 22 March by the environmental non-government organization, describes the “decentralization of ...
Call to boycott charter referendum will be illegal: EC
Campaigning to vote for or against the charter draft is legal but any efforts to call for a boycott of the referendum would be illegal, Election Commission (EC) member Somchai Srisuthiyakorn said on 25 February. Keep reading ...
Foreign diplomats question Thai draft charter
Foreign diplomats queried the merits of the Thai draft charter on 9 February, raising questions as to how the draft could prevent the country from plunging back into political conflict. The Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) and the Foreign Ministry held a briefing on 9 February on the draft constitution ...
Sok Bun strikes a bargain with ‘Ms Sasa'
The trial of real estate tycoon Sok Bun opened with a bombshell on 26 January as it was revealed that former TV presenter Ek Socheata had dropped her complaint against the man who was seen viciously beating her on security camera footage that went viral in ...
New idea floated to allow NLD leader to assume presidency
A new idea has been presented that would allow Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to get around a constitutional provision that bars her from the presidency. The proposal appears to be gaining ground and has now received the backing of a former senior military officer serving ...
Laos National Assembly approves second amendment to constitution
National Assembly (NA) members on 8 December approved a second amendment to the constitution in response to changing needs in the current era of development. The constitution serves as the foundation for the enactment of the country’s laws and the changes aim to better manage state and ...
Media calls on drafting panel to ensure freedom from interference
Four media organisations have called for the media to be free from political interference, in an open letter to the Constitution Drafting Commission. In the letter submitted on 19 October, the organisations called for an assurance of limitless freedom of expression for the media including speech, ...
Thai junta picks panel to write constitution after draft rejected
Thailand’s military government, which took power in May last year, appointed a committee to draft the country’s 20th constitution on 5 October after a previous draft was rejected, delaying promised elections until at least 2017. The junta-appointed legislature dismissed the military-backed constitution last month after it was ...
Charter, reform picks ready for Thai PM
The National Council for Peace and Order could meet as early as 2 October to pick prospective members of the new Constitution Drafting Committee and the National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA), Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said on 1 October. Keep reading ...
