This paves way for a referendum in August

July 6, 2007
AsiaOne

BANGKOK, July 6 (Reuters) - An army-appointed commission unanimously approved Thailand's draft post-coup constitution on Friday, paving the way for a referendum on it in August and a general election before the end of the year.

The 100-member Constitution Drafting Council says the new charter is more democratic than the 1997 "People's Constitution" torn up after the military removed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in a bloodless coup last year.

But the draft, which cuts the number of members of parliament and hands more powers to the courts, bureaucracy and military, could face serious opposition from Thaksin loyalists and academics.

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