According to the recent opinion poll conducted by Assumption University in Thailand on the latest attempt to amend the charter among respondents in 17 provinces throughout the country, up to 52 percent of the people still don’t have confidence in the political situation and even fear that it may bring about new rounds of unrest.
While as, 47.3 percent of the respondents are certain that there will not be another political violence.
Meanwhile, out of the 53.3 percent of those who oppose charter change, 12.2 percent of them are staunch opponents who are also planning to rally. At the same time, even though the remaining 41.3 percent may oppose the new government’s attempt to amend the Constitution, they are not looking to organize any opposing activity.
52 percent of the people still don’t have confidence in the political situation
However, there are also 46.7 percent of the people who support the charter change. 11 percent of them are even planing to call for action to support this while 35.7 percent are not looking to do anything about it.
When asked whether the charter change is an urgent matter, the whopping 76.9 percent of the people say no, while only 23.1 percent believe that it should be done immediately.
About the question into whether the 1997 Charter should be re-promulgated, 50.8 percent say no. The poll result has also shown that 55.1 percent of the respondents are suspicious that the government is trying to amend the charter only to benefit some people while 44.9 percent believe it is truly for the people’s best interests.
The poll has also revealed that 40.9 percent see the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra as overstepping its authority to aid former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra while only 24.9 percent believe that the current administration is working for the common good. 14.5 percent view the new government as a disappointment for failing to materialize what it promised to the people during the last election campaign.
It should be noted that the overwhelming 79.8 percent want the government to prioritize the economic problems, particular the current high cost of living, ahead of the charter change. Only 2.1 percent want the government to first proceed with the charter change while 18.1 percent think that both issues must be addressed at the same time.
via Thai-ASEAN News Network.
Thailand’s former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, on a weeklong visit to Japan through Sunday, visited areas hit by the March earthquake and tsunami on Thursday and expressed his readiness to help rebuilding efforts under way in northeastern Japan.
Speaking to reporters after a visit to Natori, a city inundated by the quake-triggered tsunami, and a meeting with Miyagi Gov. Yoshihiro Murai in Sendai, the former leader said he was shocked by the magnitude of the devastation wrought by the forces of nature.
Noting that Japan swiftly came to Thailand’s aid when a massive tsunami hit southern Thailand in 2004, Thaksin said it was now Thailand’s turn to do likewise and that he wants to exchange views and share information with the people concerned based on his experience.
Thaksin proposed that the Thai government waive visas to those displaced by the tsunami if they wish to take a long vacation in his country.
Now a fugitive living in exile to avoid a two-year jail term from a corruption conviction in his home country, Thaksin promised that he will advise his sister, Thailand’s new Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, on what Japan wants Thailand to do
