Thailand’s proposed new constitution was unveiled to the public on Tuesday, amid criticism that the charter is undemocratic and gives too much power to the military that staged a coup two years ago.
The military government, which had banned criticism of the proposed constitution prior to its release, will hold a public referendum on the charter in August. That will be followed by elections that junta chief Prayuth Chan-ocha has promised for 2017.
“We have done our job,” Meechai Ruchupan, chairman of the junta-appointed Constitution Drafting Commission, told reporters as he held a copy of the 105-page, 279-article draft charter.
“The important thing about this constitution, although there is no statement that people have the power everybody has rights, everybody is equal, everybody is provided with protection,” Meechai said.
Politicians from both sides of Thailand’s political divide and human rights groups have opposed the draft