Thailand High Court Dismisses Challenges to Constitutional Amendments

Posted July 13th, 2012 at 4:45 am (UTC-5)
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Thailand's Constitutional Court has dismissed opposition petitions challenging the legality of government amendments to the constitution.

The court ruled Friday that the changes do not threaten the role of the monarchy, but also said a referendum is necessary to decide whether the government can go ahead with the amendments.

The current constitution was drawn up by the military, which deposed former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The party of current Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra — Thaksin's sister — says the amendments are needed to bring more democracy to Thailand.

However, opposition Democrats said the changes would threaten the role of the revered monarchy and allow the exiled Thaksin Shinawatra back into the country without doing jail time for a conviction on corruption charges.