Charter Bill Constitutional

The Constitution Court has dismissed the petitions submitted by opponents of the Government's charter amendment bill. There is no evidence it is intended to overthrow the current form of government, the judges said.

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Democrat Virat Kalayasiri, who testified against the charter amendment in the Constitution Court and government chief whip chief Udomdech Ratanasthien, who defended the bill, shake hands after the verdict was read. APICHIT JINAKUL

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Afternoon update: Charter bill consitutional

This afternoon, the Constitution Court dismissed the petitions submitted by opponents of the Government's charter amendment bill. After first ruling that the court did have the authority to consider the case, the court then said there was no credible evidence that the amendment process is intended to overthrow the current form of government. Opponents only raised suspicions, not facts, the judges said.

Since, no illegal act had been committed, there was no need to consider dissolving the parties involved in introducing the constitution amendment bill.

It was not a complete victory for the government, however, since the Court disagreed with the current amendment process. Parliament can amend particular parts of the bill, but if there is to be a complete revision, a referendum should be carried out first, the Court said.

testify – to make a statement about something that you saw, know, or experienced, usually in a court of law ให้การเป็นพยาน
charter – a constitution รัฐธรรมนูญ
amendment – a change made to a law or agreement, in this case, to the constitution การแก้ไขกฎหมาย ในที่นี้หมายถึงการแก้ไขรัฐธรรมนูญ
bill – a written document containing a proposal for a new law ญัตติ
Constitution Court – the court that decides whether or not laws follow the constitution ศาลรัฐธรรมนูญ
whip – an official in a political party whose job is to make certain that other members go where they are needed and that they vote in the correct way  วิป
defend – to say things to support someone or something ปกป้อง
verdict – a decision by a court of law คำพิพากษา
constitutional – correct or allowed according to the constitution ถูกต้องหรืออยู่ในขอบข่ายที่ระบุไว้ในรัฐธรรมนูญ
dismiss – (of a court of law) to decide that the charges made against a person or organisation are not correct or proper procedures have not been followed and the case should not be taken to court ยกฟ้อง
petition – an official document in which you ask a court to take legal action คำร้องต่อศาล
submit – to formally give something to someone so that can make a decision about it ยื่น (เอกสาร) เพื่อการพิจารณา
opponent – someone who disagrees with you or who is competing against you  ผู้ไม่เห็นด้วยกับ,  ฝ่ายตรงข้าม
rule (of a court) – to make a decision พิพากษา, ชี้ขาด
authority – power อำนาจ
credible – able to be believed or trusted น่าเชื่อถือ
evidence – facts, signs or objects that make you believe that something is true หลักฐาน,ข้อแสดง
intend – to plan to do; to want to happen ตั้งใจให้เกิดขึ้น, วางแผนไว้
overthrow – to force a person or government out of power  โค่นอำนาจ
current – of the present time ปัจจุบัน
suspicion – a feeling that something bad is probably true or likely to happen ความสงสัย
illegal – against the law อย่างผิดกฎหมาย
commit – to do something wrong or illegal ทำความผิด
dissolve (a party) – (of a political party) to officially end up ยุบพรรค
referendum – an occasion when everyone in a country can vote to make a decision about one particular subject ประชามติ

Earlier story

In about two hours, the Constitution Court is scheduled to being giving its ruling on when the government constitution amendment bill has followed proper procedures and whether it is or isn't an attempt to overturn Thailand's current constitutional monarchy. The case is clearly an important one and I'll have more later today after the verdict is given.

Police carry out a last-minute drill in preparation for today’s Constitution Court verdict. APICHIT JINAKUL

Click button to listen to Constitution Court ruling and rightclick to download

Police brace as Yingluck pleads for calm

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has appealed for calm as tensions escalate in the wake of threats by the red shirts against Constitution Court judges.

The verdict on the government's charter amendment bid is due today.

Ms Yingluck urged all sides to refrain from violence and resolve their differences through talks.

"I believe we can talk it out. We can express opinions but must act within the scope of the law and without violence," she said.

Ms Yingluck will be in Cambodia when the Constitution Court delivers its verdict this afternoon.

Constitution Court spokesman Somrit Chaiwong said none of the eight judges had withdrawn from the case despite the mounting pressure.

He said the judges would meet this morning to announce their individual opinions before casting a vote and preparing the court's verdict.

The verdict reading has been tentatively scheduled for 2pm.

Three companies of riot police were sent yesterday to step up security at the court compound on Chaeng Watthana Road. The police installed barricades to keep protesters from entering the compound.

Defence permanent secretary Sathian Permthong-in expressed confidence that the situation would be under control.

He said police were in charge of security and troops would remain in their barracks.

Deputy police chief Adul Saengsingkaew said police had a contingency plan that includes evacuating judges if the situation spirals out of control.

It was reported that helicopters were put on stand-by to evacuate the judges to safety if need be.

You can read the full story here: http://bit.ly/MnIQ6x

drill – an activity which practises a particular skill and often involves repeating the same thing several times การฝึกหัด
constitution court – the court that decides whether or not laws follow the constitution ศาลรัฐธรรมนูญ
verdict – a decision by a court of law คำพิพากษา
constitution – the set of laws and basic principles that a country in governed by รัฐธรรมนูญ
amendment – a change made to a law or agreement, in this case, to the constitution การแก้ไขกฎหมาย ในที่นี้หมายถึงการแก้ไขรัฐธรรมนูญ
constitutional monarchy – a monarchy in which the ruler’s powers are defined and limited by a constitution ระบบการปกครองที่มีพระมหากษัตริย์เป็นประมุข
brace – to get ready for something unpleasant เตรียม
plead – to ask for something in an emotional way ขอร้อง, วิงวอน
calm – a quiet and peaceful time or situation  ความสงบ
appeal – to make an urgent request for people to do something or behave in a particular way ร้องขอ
tensions – the feelings caused by a lack of trust between people, groups or countries who do not agree about something and may attack each other ความตึงเครียด
escalate – to become much more serious or much worse ทำให้เพิ่มขึ้น, ทำให้มากขึ้น
in the wake of – happening after an event or as a result of it  สืบเนื่องมาจาก
threat – an occasion when someone says that they will cause you harm or problems, especially if you do not do what they want you to do การคุกคาม,การขู่เข็ญ
charter – a constitution รัฐธรรมนูญ
amendment – a change made to a law or agreement, in this case, to the constitution การแก้ไขกฎหมาย ในที่นี้หมายถึงการแก้ไขรัฐธรรมนูญ
bid – an attempt to do something ความพยายาม
due – expected to happen or should happen มีกำหนด
urge – to advise someone very strongly about what action or attitude they should take ผลักดัน, กระตุ้น
refrain – to stop yourself from doing something ระงับ เลิก
violence – physical force with the deliberate intention of causing damage to property or injury or death to people ความรุนแรง, การใช้กำลังทำลาย
resolve – to solve a problem, or to find a satisfactory way of dealing with it  แก้ไขปัญหา
scope – the things that a particular activity, organisation, subject, etc deals with ขอบเขต
violence – physical force with the deliberate intention of causing damage to property or injury or death to people ความรุนแรง, การใช้กำลังทำลาย
withdraw – to no longer being involved in something ถอนตัว
mount – to increase เพิ่มขึ้น
pressure – trying to make someone do something by forcing, threatening, or persuading them in a determined way ความกดดัน,  แรงกระตุ้น, การบีบบังคับ
individual – relating to or involving a single, separate person or thing แต่ละบุคคล
cast a vote – to vote ลงคะแนน
tentative – not definite, or not certain ที่ยังไม่แน่นอน
riot police – police who are trained to deal with violent groups of people ตำรวจปราบจราจล
security – protection; systems providing for safety from attack, harm, or damage ระบบรักษาความปลอดภัย
compound – an area enclosed by a fence or wall in which people work or live บริเวณ
barricade – a temporary structure built to prevent someone/something from getting past แผงหรือแนวรั้วกั้น
protester – someone who shows that they disagree with something by standing somewhere, shouting, carrying signs, etc  ผู้ต่อต้าน, ผู้ประท้วง
(Ministry of) Defence – the ministry that oversees a country’s armed forces กระทรวงกลาโหม
permanent secretary – a government official, not a political appointee, in charge of a ministry ปลัดกระทรวง
confidence – the quality of being certain ความมั่นใจ
troops – soldiers, especially in large numbers กองทหาร
barracks – a group of buildings where members of the armed forces live and work โรงหรืออาคารใหญ่เป็นที่พักทหาร
deputy – a person whose rank is immediately below that of the leader of an organisation รอง
contingency – an event that may or may not happen เหตุการณ์ที่อาจเกิดขึ้นได้
evacuate – to cause to leave a place because it is not safe เคลื่อนย้ายออกจาก
spiral – to increase (get worse, etc.) faster and faster
stand-by – something which is ready for use if needed สำรอง