- Title: THAILAND: CONSTITUTIONAL DEBATE IN BANGKOK
- Date: 7th February 1965
- Summary: CABINET MINISTERS ARRIVING AT THE ASSEMBLY HOUSE IN BANGKOK. IT ALSO SHOWS THE DEBATE IN SESSION WITH MINISTERS SPEAKING. Initials DS/VS/MGT/OS Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 22nd February 1965 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: BANGKOK, THAILAND
- Country: Thailand
- Reuters ID: LVA8L5QGSKWWBHTV7NEAGOPKXDU4
- Story Text: THE NINE-YEAR-OLD MILITARY GOVERNMENT IN THAILAND IS TO STAND DOWN IN FAVOUR OF A CIVILIAN ADMINISTRATION. IN PREPARATION FOR THIS, THE THAILAND CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY BEGAN A DEBATE LAST THURSDAY (FEBRUARY 4) ON THE FINAL DRAFT OF A NEW CONSTITUTION PROVIDING DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT.
THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT CAME INTO POWER IN 1957, FOLLOWING A BLOODLESS COUP STAGED BY THE LATE PRIME MINISTER, FIELD MARSHAL SARIT THANARAT, WHO DIED LAST YEAR. SINCE THEN THE MILITARY HAS REMAINED FIRMLY IN CONTROL, DESPITE CALLS FOR A MORE DEMOCRATIC FORM OF ADMINISTRATION FROM SOME SECTIONS OF THAILAND'S PEOPLE. IN FACT, WORK ON THE NEW CONSTITUTION HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SOME TIME, BUT IT WAS ONLY LAST THURSDAY THAT THE FINAL DRAFT WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY FOR DEBATE, AMENDMENT AND APPROVAL.
THE SECTIONS WHICH CAME UNDER DEBATE DURING THE SESSION WERE THOSE DEALING WITH THE THAI MONARCHY AND THE FREEDOMS OF THE THAI PEOPLE. MAIN TARGET FOR THE QUESTIONERS WAS PRINCE WAN SAITHYAKORN, WHO HEADED THE DRAFTING COMMITTEE. HE WAS A ONE-TIME PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
THE DEBATE WAS ADJOURNED AND IT IS TO BE RESUMED ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18.
- Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
