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The president of Thailand’s statesmen have urged the junta to amend the draft charter to open a channel for constitutional military intervention during political deadlocks. The statesmen reasoned that the amendment would prevent Thailand from future coups.
 
On Friday, 26 August 2016, Kriangsak Lekkla, the representative of Gen Saiyud Kerdphol, President of Thailand’s Statesmen, filed a petition to the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC), the junta-appointed charter drafter. The petition demands the drafters to enshrine coup d'etats into the draft charter although the draft was already passed the 7 August with a landslide, Matichon Online reported.   
 
According to Matichon Online, the petition states that when a political deadlock occurs the military, as the people’s ‘last resort,’ should be allowed to enact the Martial Law and take control the state power in order to maintain the nation’s peace and order. After that the military shall invite experienced people to run the country for up to two years and then host a general election.
 
The petition also asserts that this is not a coup d'etat because the constitution would not be tore off, but just an exemption of some articles. The statesmen also suggested the junta to activate Article 44 of the Interim Charter, the junta’s absolute power, to make the amendment possible, adding that Thailand would not have anymore coup if the junta follow the statesmen’s petition. 
 
 
Kriangsak Lekkla hands the statesmen's letter to a member of CDC (Photo courtesy: Matichon Online)

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