泰国新宪法引冲突

AS IT IS 2016-03-22 Conflict in Thailand Over New Constitution 泰国新宪法引冲突

In Thailand, a commission writing a new constitution is set to consider proposals by the military government.

The proposals include a non-elected senate and an appointed prime minister over a five-year period until the new constitution takes effect.

The proposals have led to sharp criticism from major political parties.

The commission’s draft version of the constitution calls for a 500-member House of Representatives. Those seats would be filled through elections in Thailand. A 200-member senate would be chosen by interest groups and other organizations.

However, the government’s proposal calls for a 250-member appointed Senate. It would include seats for the permanent secretary of defense¹, supreme² commander, and commanders of the army, navy and air force and the chief of police.

Thai Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon said the military’s proposal was aimed at preventing a military overthrow³ of the government.

But Thailand observers and politicians from major parties say the proposal will weaken parties and harm democracy.

Siripan Nogsuan Sawasdee is a political scientist at Chulalongkorn University. She said such proposals will take power away from the elected government. She spoke⁴ at a conference on constitutional reform.

“What Thailand will have is elections without democracy,” she said. “When we create institutions that violate basic constitutional principles, like allowing a non-elected prime minister, we lay the groundwork for tyrannical decisions. That is a very sensitive point for me.”

The military has said the proposals are needed to avoid political unrest. Thailand has had years of conflict between supporters and opponents of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. He was ousted⁵ from power in 2006 and now lives in self-declared exile to avoid a jail sentence.

Ake Tangsupvattana is dean of political science at Chulalongkorn University. He said the commission’s proposals may provide a way for moving Thailand beyond past political conflicts.

Ake says Thailand’s Cabinet and the commission will attempt to negotiate a compromise before March 29. That is when the constitution is to be sent to the Cabinet.

Thailand’s attempt to write a new constitution comes at a time when the 88-year-old king, Bhumipol Adulyadej, is in poor health. He has ruled for more than 60 years and is the world’s longest serving monarch⁶. His son and likely replacement⁷ has yet to reach the level of respect given to his father.

Thailand’s current draft constitution, if approved, would be the 20th charter adopted since the country became a constitutional monarchy⁸ in 1932.

A vote on the new charter is set for August 7.

Words in This Story

charter – n. a document that describes basic laws and principles of a group

tyrannical – adj. using power over people that is unfair or cruel

adopt – v. to accept or approve something

1 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

2 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

3 overthrow   

v.推翻，打倒，颠覆；n.推翻，瓦解，颠覆

参考例句：

• After the overthrow of the government,the country was in chaos.政府被推翻后，这个国家处于混乱中。
• The overthrow of his plans left him much discouraged.他的计划的失败使得他很气馁。

4 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

5 ousted   

驱逐( oust的过去式和过去分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺

参考例句：

• He was ousted as chairman. 他的主席职务被革除了。
• He may be ousted by a military takeover. 他可能在一场军事接管中被赶下台。

6 monarch   

n.帝王，君主，最高统治者

参考例句：

• The monarch's role is purely ceremonial.君主纯粹是个礼仪职位。
• I think myself happier now than the greatest monarch upon earth.我觉得这个时候比世界上什么帝王都快乐。

7 replacement   

n.取代，替换，交换；替代品，代用品

参考例句：

• We are hard put to find a replacement for our assistant.我们很难找到一个人来代替我们的助手。
• They put all the students through the replacement examination.他们让所有的学生参加分班考试。

8 monarchy   

n.君主，最高统治者；君主政体，君主国

参考例句：

• The monarchy in England plays an important role in British culture.英格兰的君主政体在英国文化中起重要作用。
• The power of the monarchy in Britain today is more symbolical than real.今日英国君主的权力多为象徵性的，无甚实际意义。