BANGKOK: Thailand’s king yesterday endorsed an interim constitution that grants power to the military to intervene in politics for security reasons without approval of a civilian government, due to be elected next year.
The constitution, posted online yesterday, preserves the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), or the junta that has ruled Thailand since a coup on May 22, and grants immunity from prosecution to those who led the putsch. The draft gave no time frame for when a general election would take place, although junta leader General Prayuth Chan-ocha has said it would likely come at the end of next year.
The charter was whittled down from 309 articles to just 48 and allows the NCPO to intervene in matters it deems “destructive to the peace and safety of the country” even if that meant disrupting the interim government’s work.
It was unclear whether the military would remain involved in economic matters. The NCPO has been scrutinising state-owned firms and major infrastructure deals.
REUTERS
