BANGKOK – Thailand’s next constitution will be the first of Thailand's 19 charters to include an explicit ban on "hate speech," says a spokesperson for the junta-appointed Constitutional Drafting Committee (CDC).

 Kamnoon Sitthisaman said the ban will be outlined in Section 14 of the new constitution, which is expected to be completed later this year.

According to Kamnoon, the first clause of Section 14 will grant citizens "liberty in the expression and dissemination of their opinion by speaking, writing, publishing, advertising, or communicating by other means."

However, the section’s second clause will read as follows: 

"Any restriction of liberty as prescribed in Clause 1 cannot be done, unless it is done by the power of legal means to maintain the stability of the state; to protect the rights, liberty, dignity, reputation, private information, rights in family, or individual privacy; to maintain peace and order or the good morality of the people; to prevent or cease mental or health degradation of the people; to prevent any hatred between the people in the nation or religions; or to prevent any act of violence against one another."

"Section 14 is a solution to the crisis that has been taking place in the present era, which has seen many remarks that incite hatred, or something that is called hate speech in English," Kamnoon explained.

He said the punishment for "hate speech" will be outlined in separate legislation and added to Thailand's Criminal Codes. 

Thailand already has a ban on any comments considered critical of the Thai monarchy, with a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. The Computer Crime Act of 2007 also outlaws disseminating information through a computer system that may damage national security, cause a "public panic," or violate any section of the Criminal Codes.

Kamnoon also told reporters that Section 7 of the new charter will explicitly prohibit any discrimination based on "gender," another unprecedented constitutional measure in Thailand. 

"The drafting of this Constitution will add a new word, "gender," to cover any gender that is different to the natural sex," said Kamnoon, explaining that the clause is meant to protect the rights of transgender individuals in Thailand.

BANGKOK — The Thai court known for ousting a string of democratically elected political parties is now offering a course titled "Good Governance For Democracy."

The program is open to members of the state and private sector who want to improve their "conscience and behaviour," said the chairman of the Constitutional Court, whose judges will be teaching the class. 

"We want them to use the knowledge from the course to apply to their organizations, the public, and national reform process," the chairman, Nurak Mapraneet, said during the opening class yesterday.

The Constitutional Court is known for its numerous rulings against political parties and governments allied to former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the de facto leader of the Redshirt movement. 

The court dissolved two parties and deposed three Prime Ministers backed by Thaksin, including former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who led the government toppled in the 22 May 2014 coup. The Constitutional Court also annulled two national elections organized by pro-Thaksin governments. 

Officials say 52 people have signed up for the "democracy" course, including Pornchai Rujiprapa, Minister of Information, Communication, and Technology (ICT); Surachai Liangboonlertchai, deputy chairman of the junta-appointed National Legislative Assembly; Amara Pongsapich, chairwoman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC); and Vicha Mahakhun, a member of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). 

Related coverage:
Constitutional Court Asks Media Not To Call It a 'Joke'

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BANGKOK — Standing a block away from the site of a bloody military crackdown on Redshirt protesters in 2010, junta chairman and Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha kicked off last night’s "Thainess" parade in Bangkok with a vow to bring smiles back to the capital city.

"The government is doing everything to make the people happy," Gen. Prayuth said. "As for this area, in the past there were problems with vendors and political rallies, but today, I will make it a place of smiles."

The TAT's "Discover Thainess" parade in Bangkok, 14 Jan 2015.

Gen. Prayuth, whose speech marked the launch of an extravagant cultural parade organized by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), was referring to the Redshirt rallies in 2010 that took place on Ratchaprasong Intersection, a block away from where he was speaking last night. 

The protests lasted from April to May 2010 and were eventually squashed by series of military operations that Gen. Prayuth helped lead. More than 90 people, mostly civilians, were killed in the unrest.

However, Gen. Prayuth insisted that those violent episodes are a thing of the past.

"When I was visiting foreign countries, foreigners asked me if Thailand was stable and peaceful yet, whether the protests were over," the junta chairman said. "I told them with pride: they are all over. It's all peaceful now."

Shortly after seizing power, Gen. Prayuth imposed martial law and banned all political protests and gatherings. Violators have been sent to face trial in military courts. 

"Whoever causes chaos to Thailand or takes peace and order away, they should not be recognized as Thais, because Thais don't destroy each other," the junta chairman said in his speech last night. 

Gen. Prayuth seized power from a Redshirt-allied government last May on the pretext of preventing confrontations between rival anti- and pro-government protesters in Bangkok from spiraling out of control. A parliament whose members he handpicked later appointed him as Prime Minister. 

The extended political protests and military coup in 2014 dealt a huge blow to Thailand’s tourism sector, a vital source of income for the Kingdom. 

In an effort to revive the industry, the TAT launched its "2015 Discover Thainess" campaign, which Thailand’s tourism minister says “will offer the chance for foreigners to appreciate the essence of ‘Thainess’ through the Thai way of life, Thai culture and Thai experiences.”

In his speech last night, Gen. Prayuth touted the smiles of Thai people as the country’s biggest tourist draw. 

"The charm of Thai people is that they look lovely even when they do nothing, because they have smiles. Don't look angry all the time like me," teased Gen. Prayuth, who is known for his short temper with reporters.

"Foreigners want to come to our country because there are many things here, like wellness spas, forests, mountains, seas," the general said. "But the most important thing is the loveliness of Thai people. The charm of Thais is their smiles."

BANGKOK — Thailand's military government has "solved" nearly all of the complaints submitted by citizens across the country since the May 2014 coup, a senior official said.

"We have solved 91 percent of the complaints," said Panadda Diskul, Minister of the Office of Prime Minister. "As for the rest, we are working on them. It takes time because they are related to issues of law enforcement, such as encroachment on protected forests and Ponzi schemes."

"Please don't get involved in these issues," he advised the public.

Shortly after seizing power from an elected government last May, the Thai junta set up "complaint centers" in all of Thailand's 77 provinces.

Members of the public can submit their complaints by calling the hotline 1111, visiting the website 1111.go.th, or sending a letter to the Government House in Bangkok at P.O. Box 1111.

According to Panadda, the centers have received exactly 158,286 complaints since the program was established in May 2014. 

"We have been working with justice agencies at the provincial and local level," Panadda said. "People can file their complaints in their areas. I would like to call on all kamnans, village chiefs, and local administrative officials to take care of the welfare of the people in their regions."

Junta chairman and Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha will personally visit some of these complaint centers in the future to make sure that officials are performing their duties, Panadda said.

He added that the government is working to expand the operation and allow complaints to be filed at Thai embassies in nine Southeast Asian countries.

The Thai junta has urged critics to file their complaints via the government's agencies rather than expressing their dissatisfaction in public. To ensure the absence of any public opposition to its regime, the junta has banned all political activities and public protests. Violators of the ban are threatened with prosecution in military courts.