20,000 Thai village headmen rally

20,000 Thai village headmen rally

BANGKOK (AFP): About 20,000 Thai village headmen opposed to a new draft constitution being debated by lawmakers staged a peaceful rally in front of parliament here yesterday, police said.

The orderly demonstration began as parliament began the second and final day of a key debate on the charter, which includes radical proposals to shake-up local government.

Police said most of headmen, who arrived by bus from the provinces late Thursday, were from the northeastern Thailand.

The gathering could increase to about 30,000, but the headmen were expected to depart Bangkok later yesterday.

Television pictures showed the headmen, dressed in beige uniforms and holding yellow flags indicating their opposition to the charter, sitting in the concourse in front of parliament, listening to speeches attacking the draft.

Headmen have expressed concern that the new charter draft poses a challenge to the constitutional role of Thailand's revered king, and represents a step towards establishing a republic.

Observers note that village and subdistrict headmen could lose powers in local government under the terms of the draft, which calls for all representatives on local councils to be elected.

A small number of pro-charter demonstrators, wearing green t- shirts and headbands, were reported to be rallying nearby, but police believed the situation was under control.

"I don't think it will be serious because the demonstration (of the headmen) is peaceful. But police are still monitoring the situation and standing by," police told AFP.