Draft Thai constitution allows leaders to remove PM

An early draft of a temporary constitution for Thailand that military rulers are to unveil this weekend gives them the power to intervene in government and remove the prime minister, one of its drafters said today.

Legal experts criticised the draft text, which was obtained by local media, saying it showed that Thailand’s coup leaders have no intention of completely relinquishing power.

The coup leaders, who seized power on September 19 in a bloodless coup that ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, have said that their temporary constitution could be presented to the king for approval on Saturday.

A draft text of the constitution that appeared in Thai newspapers, was confirmed by Meechai Ruchupan, a former House speaker and justice minister who helped write the text.

It gives the coup leaders the right to call Cabinet meetings to “resolve administrative problems” and allows them to “remove the prime minister” and Cabinet members.