Thai King Orders Charter Amendment In Rare Intervention
Fahad Shabbir (@FahadShabbir) Published January 10, 2017 | 05:05 PM
BANGKOK, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Jan, 2017 ) : Thailand's new king has ordered sections of the country's draft constitution to be rewritten, the junta chief said Tuesday, a rare public intervention by the monarch in the kingdom's politics.
King Maha Vajiralongkorn, 64, ascended the throne after the October death of his much loved father King Bhumibol Adulyadej, a unifying figure whose reign spanned seven politically turbulent decades.
Like most things regarding Thailand's secrecy-shrouded monarchy, Vajiralongkorn's approach to the crown remains a mystery and is not open to detailed scrutiny. The country's constitutional monarchy is granted limited formal powers but wields significant political clout behind the scenes and controls vast wealth.
It is also protected by a draconian lese majeste law, forcing media and the public to self-censor.
On Tuesday junta chief Prayut Chan-O-Cha said the king had declined to sign off on the new charter because of clauses concerning royal powers.
"His majesty's private principle secretary has sent a letter to the government saying discussion is needed on the section of the charter regarding the monarchy," the junta leader told reporters.
The document was drafted by the junta after its 2014 power grab and approved in a controversial referendum last year in which independent campaigning was banned. "There are three or four points that need to be amended concerning his authority (as king)," Prayut said, without elaborating on which specific clauses would be altered.
The revision process would take several months, he added.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Rock-solid Ruud racks up season-leading win in Barcelona
At UN, Iran says it will make Israel 'regret' reprisals
G7 hears calls for 'critical' Ukraine aid
EU seeks to leverage might to confront China, US challenge
5 Customs officials martyred as their vehicle ambushed by terrorists in D I Khan
Pak-New Zealand match called off due to rain
NHA restores traffic on roads affected by recent rains in Balochistan
China to fully support Pakistan's efforts against terrorism: Ambassador Jiang
U.S. envoy calls on Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar
Poland arrests man over suspected plan to kill Zelensky
EU wants to ease youth movement to and from UK
Police foils attempt of supply mainpuri raw material
More Stories From World
-
At G7, Blinken seeks European support for pressure on China
3 hours ago -
Thousands of Bosnian Serbs rally against UN resolution on Srebrenica
3 hours ago -
Israel assault has turned Gaza into 'humanitarian hellscape': UN
3 hours ago -
Husband of ex-Scottish leader charged over alleged embezzlement: police
3 hours ago -
Ecuador hit by power cuts of up to 13 hours amid drought
4 hours ago -
Hugs or bullets? How Mexico presidential rivals aim to curb violence
4 hours ago
-
Kenya military chopper crash kills defence chief, senior officers
4 hours ago -
Biden hails 'incredible' Kennedy family backing against RFK Jr.
5 hours ago -
Maldives court frees jailed ex-president ahead of vote
5 hours ago -
Probe into Portugal ex-PM Costa appears to collapse
5 hours ago -
Jury selection stalls in Trump criminal trial
5 hours ago -
At UN, Iran says it will make Israel 'regret' reprisals
5 hours ago