BANGKOK, Sept. 6 (UPI) — A reform council on Sunday in Thailand rejected a new constitution which it had drafted, meaning the military junta there will continue to rule until at least early 2016.
The constitution was voted down 135 to 105 by the National Reform Council which was directly appointed by the junta. Some members of the council said the junta was pushing for it not to be adopted as a way to delay elections and keep the military in power.
Had the constitution been adopted, it would have been put to a popular referendum in January.
The Thai military overthrew a democratically-elected government in May 2014, seizing control of the country. While they have promised to return power to elected officials after a new constitution is created and adopted, some worry that will not happen any time soon.
Thailand has had 18 constitutions since becoming a constitutional monarchy in 1932, including one overwhelmingly approved in 1997 to rid the country of corruption and rigged elections. The current junta is looking to replace the most recent Thai constitution, which was adopted in 2008.
While there were concerns about the new draft constitution making it too easy for the military to seize control of the country from elected representatives again, the no vote on this latest draft was said to be pushed by senior members of the junta, who claim to be concerned that loosening military rule in the country could lead to chaos.
Some, however, point to the silencing of political debate and campaigning as proof the junta has no interest in giving up power any time soon.
Based on the rules the junta has set, a new constitutional committee must be put in place within 30 days of the no-vote and will have 180 days to write a new constitution. The next version will go straight to a referendum vote instead of first going before a vote of the reform council.
