Doubt grows over polls in Thailand

Thailand's junta-appointed reform council yesterday rejected a new constitution aimed at steering the country out of political turmoil, a move likely to extend the military's time in power and delay elections.

  The rejection at a vote by the National Reform Council means the painstaking process of drafting a charter will now start again, potentially knocking back the timetable for elections which had been slated for mid-late 2016.

Of the 240 NRC members who voted, a majority of 135 were against the document, leaving 105 in favour.

The army seized power from an elected government in May last year.

Opponents of the charter said it was a blatant attempt to embed the military's political power for good and would prevent genuine democracy from taking root.

They pointed to "section 260" that allows the military to replace any elected government with an appointed 22-member "crisis" panel at any time in the five years after the charter is enacted if unrest or political deadlock, as they see it, requires it.

The panel would be stacked with military top brass and other unelected officials, effectively guaranteeing the military's grip on power.