Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Thai generals chart likely future

The leaders of Thailand's military coup have done what they promised to do - draft an interim constitution and hand over power to a designated prime minister within weeks of seizing control.
But questions about the military rulers' longer-term intentions still remain.
Perhaps the biggest clue to their plans is the hastily drawn-up interim constitution, which will be valid until democratic elections due to be held in October next year.
This document gives substantial powers to the coup leaders - who now call themselves the Council for National Security (CNS). They are able to dismiss the prime minister if they choose, and are also influential in deciding the committee to draft the next, full, constitution.
"The military is keeping a lot of power for itself, and I would rather this wasn't the case," said Gothom Arya, from Mahidol University.
The CNS does not deny this, but insists such controls are essential in order to keep the peace.

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