Polls: Thais back government change
BANGKOK, Thailand -- A new constitution for Thailand that is to usher in December general elections and end military rule was approved by millions of voters in a nationwide referendum on Sunday, according to two exit polls.
Approval of the charter, the country's 18th in the last three-quarters of a century, was widely expected.
A Suan Dusit Institute poll, released shortly after balloting ended, showed that 68 percent of voters approved the new constitution, while an ABAC poll indicated more than 70 percent said yes.
The approval means the generals who have been in power for the past 11 months are bound to hold general elections in December.
A "no" vote would have delayed the polls and allowed the military to pick any of the country's previous constitutions and make it the law of the land.
Defenders of the charter concede it is imperfect, but argue it is the best way out of the political stalemate that led the military to seize power last Sept. 19 amid growing unrest over alleged corruption and abuse of power by then-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, now in self-exile in Britain.
Critics say the 186-page constitution, which emphasizes checks and balances at the expense of participatory democracy, perpetuates the behind-the-scenes power the military has wielded in Thailand for decades.
A number of voters appeared to ignore the content of the document, focusing instead on either the election or the coup-makers.
"I voted for the constitution because I want the general election to be held this year," said Chucheep Onkoksung, a government official, at one of Bangkok's polling stations.
Samran Kalawin, casting ballots with four members of her family, said, "We voted no because we hate the military coup."
Thailand has been administered since the bloodless coup under an interim constitution that keeps the military -- through its Council for National Security -- in control behind the veneer of temporary civilian rule. The government is headed by ex-army chief Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, who made no comment after casting his vote.
Opponents also complain the referendum itself is flawed because a rejection of the military-approved proposal means the generals will then be free to impose a constitution without further consultation with the voters.
The government said it expects 60-70 percent of eligible voters to cast their ballots. The turnout at many Bangkok polling stations was heavy.
More than 26,000 soldiers, police and militia were on alert across the four southernmost provinces to protect some 2,600 polling stations against insurgent strikes, army spokesman Col. Akara Thirote said.
Violence in the south has taken the lives of more than 2,400 people in nearly four years of almost daily attacks by separatist rebels.
Soldiers in Narathiwat province arrived at polling stations in full battle gear as helicopters clattered overhead.
A homemade, remote-controlled bomb injured a soldier and several civilians in the province, but Akara said the incident did not appear related to the referendum.
"The general situation is rather calm today compared to the daily attacks of the insurgents," he said.