Int'l delegates briefed on Thailand's referendum result, next steps

BANGKOK, August 11 (TNA) - The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) have briefed representatives from foreign embassies, international organisations and foreign chambers of commerce in the country of the official result of last Sunday's referendum on the new Constitution draft and next steps toward the new general election, expected to be held in late 2017. During the briefing session, held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok on Thursday and attended by delegates from 48 foreign embassies, four international organisations and foreign chambers of commerce, Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai, CDC member Supachai Yawaprapat and CDC Advisor Jade Donavanik told the international corps that 61.34 per cent of eligible voters approved the new Constitution draft with their turnout rate of about 60 per cent. The foreign minister and the CDC representatives noted that the turnout rate of voters in the August 7 referendum was higher than the previous referendum organised in 2007, showing that Thai people were keen to participate in making the key decision on the country's future. The authorities pointed out that the majority of eligible voters' approval of the new Charter draft and an additional question made it clearer that Thailand is moving forward toward a new general election, based on the government's ongoing roadmap, expected by late 2017. The Thai authorities also stressed on the interim government's policy on promoting democracy, national security and prosperity on the sustainable basis. "The result of last Sunday's referendum shows that the silent power is satisfied with peace and order over the past two years, as it is a Thai identity that the military plays a role in helping solve national woes with public support", said the authorities. The authorities also acknowledged that it is possible that the Thai army-led National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), headed by Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha, which has taken the national administrative power since May 2014, will relax its orders on limiting public gathering and freedom of expression in the near future if national peace and order are maintained, citing a result of a survey by the US-based Bloomberg News Agency recently that Thailand is the least unhappiness country in the world. On the occasion, the Thai authorities also answered questions raised by the international corps, while ensuring them of the participation of all sectors in the writing of organic laws to support the implementation of the new Constitution. Meanwhile, the Thai foreign minister told journalists, after the briefing session, that he believed the international delegates would inform their governments and people of what they were briefed by him and the CDC representatives. Insisting on Thailand's sound relations with all allied countries, the foreign minister revealed that his ministry may invite foreign ambassadors and top envoys stationed in Thailand for a meeting to inform them of some key information and share opinions with them. (TNA)