In Thailand, a commission writing a new constitution is set to consider proposals by the military government. The proposals include a non-elected senate and an appointed prime minister over a five-year period until the new constitution takes effect. The proposals have led to sharp criticism from major political parties. The commission’s draft version of the constitution calls for a 500-member House of Representatives. Those seats would be filled through elections in Thailand. A 200-member senate would be chosen by interest groups and other organizations. However, the government’s proposal calls for a 250-member appointed Senate. It would include seats for the permanent secretary of defense, supreme commander, and commanders of the army, navy and air force and the chief of police. Thai Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon said the military’s proposal was aimed at preventing a military overthrow of the government. But Thailand observers and politicians from major parties say the proposal will weaken parties and harm democracy.
Title: Conflict in Thailand Over New Constitution
Content: <div id='article-page'><div id='article-content' data-media-url='//news-app-staging.s3.amazonaws.com' data-base-url='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/912/thai_audio.m4a' data-capture-url='//staging.analytics.lingraphica.com/events/capture_news' data-article-title='Conflict in Thailand Over New Constitution' data-article-id='1338'><script src='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com/javascripts/getscripts.js'></script><link rel='stylesheet' href='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com/stylesheets/article.css' type='text/css' /><div class='article'><p><span data-start-time='0' data-end-time='8125'>In Thailand, a commission writing a new constitution is set to consider proposals by the military government.</span> <span data-start-time='8125' data-end-time='20208'>The proposals include a non-elected senate and an appointed prime minister over a five-year period until the new constitution takes effect.</span> <span data-start-time='20208' data-end-time='27021'>The proposals have led to sharp criticism from major political parties.</span> <span data-start-time='27021' data-end-time='34896'>The commission’s draft version of the constitution calls for a 500-member House of Representatives. </span> <span data-start-time='34896' data-end-time='39563'>Those seats would be filled through elections in Thailand. </span> <span data-start-time='39563' data-end-time='46792'>A 200-member senate would be chosen by interest groups and other organizations.</span> <span data-start-time='46792' data-end-time='54375'>However, the government’s proposal calls for a 250-member appointed Senate. </span> <span data-start-time='54375' data-end-time='67750'>It would include seats for the permanent secretary of defense, supreme commander, and commanders of the army, navy and air force and the chief of police.</span> <span data-start-time='67750' data-end-time='80042'>Thai Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon said the military’s proposal was aimed at preventing a military overthrow of the government.</span> <span data-start-time='80042' data-end-time='90521'>But Thailand observers and politicians from major parties say the proposal will weaken parties and harm democracy.</span> </p></div><div class='control-buttons-sticky' style='display:none;'><div class='control-buttons'><button title='Back' class='back' disabled='disabled'></button><button title='Play' class='play' disabled='disabled'></button><button title='Pause' class='pause' style='display:none;'></button><button title='Forward' class='forward' disabled='disabled'></button><button class='finished-reading' style='display:none;'>Done</button></div></div></div><div id='article-media'><div id='media-image'><img src='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/912/thai_img.jpg'/></div></div><div id='question-content' style='display:none;'><div class='vocabulary_question question-container' data-question-id=5590 data-hint-location='8125' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/912/what_does_proposal_mean.m4a'>What does proposal mean?</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='a plan or suggestion'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/912/a_document.m4a'><span>a document</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/912/using_power_over_people.m4a'><span>using power over people</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/912/a_plan_or_suggestion.m4a'><span>a plan or suggestion</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/912/to_accept_something.m4a'><span>to accept something</span></div></div></div><div class='multiple_choice_question question-container' data-question-id=5591 data-hint-location='0' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/912/what_is_being_written_in_thailand.m4a'>What is being written in Thailand?</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='constitution'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/912/constitution.m4a'><span>constitution</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/912/speech.m4a'><span>speech</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/912/declaration_of_war.m4a'><span>declaration of war</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/912/code_of_conduct.m4a'><span>code of conduct</span></div></div></div><div class='sentence_completion_question question-container' data-question-id=5592 data-hint-location='80042' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/912/thailand_officials_say_the_proposal_will__blank__democracy.m4a'>Thailand officials say the proposal will <span class='blank'>harm</span> democracy.</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='harm'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/912/build.m4a'><span>build</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/912/harm.m4a'><span>harm</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/912/increase.m4a'><span>increase</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/912/strengthen.m4a'><span>strengthen</span></div></div></div><div class='question-buttons'><button class='skip-button'></button><button class='hint-button'></button><button class='speak-button'></button></div></div></div>
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