Thailand approved the new constitution

Thai voters approved the new constitution promoted by the military junta that ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra almost one year ago. Some 45 million Thais were eligible to vote for this first-ever referendum.
Nationwide, nearly 57% of voters approved the draft constitution, compared to about 41% against it, according to the state election commission's count.
Prime Minister Surayud announced to national television: "We consider that this constitution has been approved by the people, and by the end of august the constitution will be submitted to the king Bhumibol Adulyadej for endorsement". And he added: "We promised general elections later this year. The exact date still under consideration, it could be after the King's birthday on December 5".
With the adoption of the charter, the election will take place in a significantly changed political context after the banning of the party of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in the september coup and remains in self-exile in London.
Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said about this referendum "this is the first step in moving forward to full democracy". Then he added:"If people see that there are some flaws in the constitution, then the next government will be the one to amend the constitution".
A voter, Tumee Kahnaym, 33 years old declared:"I’m voting yes, because it’s the only way the country will survive this crisis. I’m fed up with all these political deadlocks and crises".
In fact, many voters said they simply wanted an end to political turmoil and military rule, and that voting for the constitution was the best way to achieve this swiftly. Indeed, according a political scientist at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, "a lot of people voted 'yes', not completely because they backed the charter, but just because they wanted new election on december".
Futhermore, the vote shows the country remains largely divided between Bangkok residents, who staged months of protests calling for deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to step down, and those in the poor, rural northeastern provinces where support for Thaksin runs high, only 37% of voters approved the draft, with almost 63% opposed.
Most of the votes for the new constitution came from the central and southern regions as well as the capital, while most of the votes against the charter came from the northern and northeastern regions.
A northeast farmer in Buriram province, Nanit Chandee, said: "I don't think this constitution will do anything for the poor. It will only benefit the rich".
In this context, Thitinan Pongsudhirak think: "The divisiveness is deep-seated and the referendum has done nothing to change it".

Ukraine President wrote a letter to the Majesty the King of Thailand in order to pardon a drug dealer

Last week Ukraine's President asked the King of Thailand, Bhumibol Adulyadej, to pardon a Ukrainian woman arrested for heroin possession. Viktoria Mamontova was charged in 2000 to belong to an international drug trafficking network. 1 kg (2.2 pounds) of heroin was found in his room in Bangkok. Sentenced to death first, the death penalty was replaced by 33 years and six months in prison.
She was the first Ukrainian citizen to be sentenced to death abroad following Ukraine's proclamation of independence in 1991.
Ukraine's president ,Viktor Yushchenko wrote in a letter to his majesty the king : “I am sure that a positive resolution of this issue will once again demonstrate your great wisdom and adherence to the high principles of humanism, Your Majesty, as well as the mutual confidence and respect that characterize relations between our countries”.

Bangkok police arrest 7 anti-coup demonstrators

More than 6.000 demonstrators opposed to Thailand's military-installed government clashed with police Sunday evening in the most violent protest since a military coup ousted the country's elected government in 2006 september.
The protesters, mainly supporters of Thailand's ousted prime minister, staged a rally outside the home of Prem Tinsulanonda, chief adviser to King Bhumibol Adulyadej, accusing him of masterminding the coup last September that ousted government chief Thaksin Shinawatra.
Thousands of protesters and police officers squared off Sunday in the Thai capital, leaving 150 officers and 80 demonstrators injured. Three police officers were severely injured, said Adisorn Nonsee a police commandant.
Bangkok's Narenthorn emergency center said 109 people had received treatment for mostly minor injuries, including 79 police.
The clash came when police tried to disperse the crowd, the protesters hurled rocks, bottles and other objects at them. But the most serious fighting occurred when the police tried to detain protest leaders as they spoke from a makeshift stage on top of a truck.
Thai police arrested seven protesters.
Authorities today confined any protests or rallies to approved areas and banned street marches.
Police have video and other evidence that those detained were involved in “attacking police and damaging public property” declared Adisorn Nonsee, and he added : “We have been very patient in the past. But last night, the protesters reached an unacceptable point”.
The suspects were charged with "causing chaos, obstructing the work of authorities, and damage of state property, and they include a
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Protest leader, Noparut Worachitwutikul said to the local press : “This is not the end, and we will continue to fight for the return of democracy”.