Referendum in Thailand for Approval of Military-Drafted Constitution

A referendum for the approval of a new version of the constitution drafted by the military was held on Sunday, August 7, in Thailand; opponents say that this referendum will undermine democracy in the country. According to Reuters, preliminary results of the referendum indicate that the majority of votes have been cast in favor of the new draft constitution. This referendum takes place while the military government has recently prevented public discussions about this proposed text and arrested about a hundred people who had written against it on social media. According to the Associated Press, polling stations opened from the early hours of Sunday, August 7, across the country, and the military leader was among the first figures to cast his vote. The military government, which came to power 27 months ago in June 2014 as a result of a coup, has prepared the new draft constitution and put it to a referendum. Opponents of this referendum, which is the first voting in the last two years and three months, see the referendum as a means of solidifying and permanently establishing military rule, supported by figures like ousted Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. Major opponents of the military government, which includes various groups known as the Red Shirts and Yellow Shirts, accuse Army Commander Prayuth Chan-o-cha, who has been responsible for the government in recent times, of exercising military power and 'giving the military free rein in the country's future plans.' According to the draft of the new constitution, military institutions can become future partners in implementing the country's development and economic projects. The army command claims to have controlled the corruption of politicians during this period and removed 'corrupt individuals' from power, but opponents argue that the military seeks to further control dissenters, including inserting its representatives into the Senate and increasing its influence in judicial matters. Meanwhile, the army commander promised on Friday that a year after this referendum, general elections would be held in the summer of next year. Supporters of the military argue that the approval of the proposed constitution is necessary for stability in the country and to prevent potential future coups. This will be the twentieth constitution approved in Thailand. Recently, Thailand has witnessed significant unrest in the southern regions of the country from independence-seeking groups; deadly clashes and explosions during this period have created an abnormal situation in this part of Thailand. Over the past eighty years, Thailand has continually faced political crises and successive military coups; the King of Thailand and the royal family have played a neutral role in the country's crises.