CHINA DAILY Tuesday, August 9, 2016 WORLD 23

THAILAND JAPAN New government could be in place by the end of 2017

By REUTERS day. day also said an election will in Bangkok, Thailand A desire to see greater take place in 2017, confirming political stability drove the the timeline Prayuth laid out A democratically elected yes vote, analysts said. Thai­ ahead of the referendum. government will take power land has been rocked by more Before the vote, Thailand’s in Thailand at the earliest by than a decade of political tur­ major political parties had December 2017, a senior Thai moil that has stunted growth, criticized the draft constitu­ official said on Monday, after two military takeovers and tion, saying it would constrict the country endorsed a mili­ several rounds of often dead­ democracy, including one tary­backed constitution pav­ ly street protests. provision calling for an ing the way for a general “We think there will be an appointed Senate with seats election. election at the earliest in Sep­ reserved for military com­ Thais handed the govern­ tember or October 2017 and a manders. ment of Prime Minister Pray­ new government by Decem­ Few countries have had uth Chan­ocha a convincing ber 2017,” Chatchai Na Chi­ more constitutions and draft­ win in the referendum on ang Mai, spokesman for the ers have historically failed to Sunday, with preliminary Constitution Drafting Com­ produce anything lasting. results showing over 61 per­ mittee, told Reuters. Thailand has issued 19 con­ cent voted in favor. Full Deputy Prime Minister stitutions since a constitu­ results are due on Wednes­ Wissanu Krea­ngam on Mon­ tional monarchy replaced an absolute one in 1932. People watch a large screen showing Japanese Emperor Akihito’s video address in Tokyo, Japan, on Monday. KIM KYUNG­HOON / REUTERS Members of the opposition say they are biding their time until the 2017 election when, if a party they back takes power, they can try to scrap the military charter. Emperor Akihito hints at “We accept the result of the referendum and will wait and see what happens in the 2017 election,” said Jatuporn Prompan, chairman of the United Front for Democracy inability to fulfill his duties Against Dictatorship. “We will decide our next steps soon,”he said. Opposition to the military­ Law would have to be emperor of political power peoples,” Akihito said at a Studies under the Chinese led government was muted and relegates the monarchy to news conference in Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, A Thai student holds a poster that reads “vote no = no coup” at ahead of the vote in Thai­ changed for abdication a purely ceremonial role. on the eve of his departure. “If said it is noteworthy that Thammasat University in Bangkok, Thailand, on Sunday, in protest land’s northeast, once a hot­ As the symbol of his coun­ peopledealsincerelywitheach Japan’s emperor made public of the constitution approved by voters. SAKCHAI LALIT / AP bed of resistance. By CAI HONG in Tokyo and try, Akihito has traveled other heart to heart, I believe his intention to abdicate at the MO JINGXI in Beijing widely around the world. borders can be bridged.” time when Japanese Prime Together with Empress In his New Year statement Minister Shinzo Abe is intent In a rare televised speech on Michiko, he made a historic last year when the 70th anni­ on rewriting the country’s AUSTRALIA Monday, Japan’s Emperor Aki­ and cordial visit to China in versary of Japan’s defeat was Constitution. They, in Lyu’s hito, 82, told the Japanese peo­ October 1992, the first by a observed, the emperor said: words, are divided on views of pledirectlyabouthishealthand Japanese emperor. “I think it is most important history and pacifism. indicated readiness to abdicate. At the welcoming banquet for us to take this opportunity Akihito’s abdication could Man may face more charges “When I consider that my China threw for the Japanese to study and learn from the redefine Japan’s royal family, fitness level is gradually imperial couple in the Great history of this war, starting the world’s oldest hereditary declining, I am worried that it Hall of the People, Akihito with the Manchurian Inci­ monarchy — the Chrysanthe­ over alleged far­right plot may become difficult for me to acknowledged that Japan dent of 1931, as we consider mumThrone—whichhasbeen carry out my duties as the sym­ “inflicted severe suffering the future direction of our heldbytheemperor’sfamilyfor bol of the state with my whole upon the Chinese people. This country.” almost 2,700 years. Akihito is By REUTERS showed that Australia’s being as I have done until is a deep sorrow to me.” “Reflecting on our past and Japan’s125th emperor. in Sydney, Australia tough new counterterrorism now,”the emperor said. Their six­day China visit took bearing in mind the feelings of His abdication would only laws, which some Muslim Japan’s Constitution does them to Beijing, Xian and deep remorse over the last have an impact on Japan’s A member of an Australian leaders have said unfairly not envisage an abdication by a Shanghai. They came into brief war, I earnestly hope that the domestic affairs, according to anti­immigration group I’m not going to subjected them to racial pro­ reigning emperor. To let Akihi­ contactwithsomeordinaryChi­ ravages of war will never be Jia Xiudong, researcher with accused of planning an attack filing, were unbiased. to’s abdication happen, Japan’s nese. The imperial couple was repeated,” he said at the cere­ the China Institute of Interna­ may face additional charges lie, I did know him “This is the first time in the parliament needs to revise the treated with friendly politeness. mony of observing Japan’s war tional Studies. in what the government said history of Australia that we laworhaveaspeciallegislation. “I felt that most of the Chi­ dead on Aug 15, 2015. was the first time federal ter­ and he did attend haveusedCommonwealthter­ The Constitution, promul­ nese people hope for friendly Lyu Yaodong, researcher Contact the writer at cai­ rorism laws had been used to rorism laws to charge some­ gated in 1946, strips the relations between our two with the Institute of Japanese [email protected] targetsuchright­winggroups. our events.” one who is alleged to have Phillip Galea, 31, has been been a right­wing extremist,” charged with acts done in Kane Miller, co­founder of True KeenantoldreportersinPerth. preparation for a terrorist act Blue Crew, which has previously Galea was a fixture at ral­ CAMBODIA and collecting or making doc­ been involved in violent clashes lies held by the far­right True umentslikelytofacilitateater­ with pro­immigration groups. Blue Crew, which has previ­ rorist act, after being arrested ously been involved in violent in Melbourne on Saturday. clashes with pro­immigra­ Healthquestioned,PMpokesfunatpotbelly Victoria state Assistant But far­right activist tion groups, group Commissioner Ross Guen­ groups and political parties co­founder Kane Miller told By ASSOCIATED PRESS the news of is worrying his weight is man who posted about Hun ther told reporters that he or opposed to Islam and Asian Reuters. in Phnom Penh, Cambodia the prime increasing and at the same Sen’s alleged stroke, the prime his associates may face addi­ immigration are on the rise Miller on Monday dis­ m i n i s t e r ’ s time the belly also getting big, minister said: “I wish to advice tional charges. Galea will in Australia. tanced himself and the orga­ PrimeMinisterHunSensays health, you which makes it difficult for my you that you better take care of return to court on Tuesday nization from Galea, whom his growing potbelly is getting better say swing while playing golf.” your health, take care of your for his next hearing. A fixture at rallies he said had never openly dis­ in the way of his golf swing. that the parents’ and grandparents’ “That’s always a possibility One Nation, a political par­ cussed any alleged plot. The Hun Sen, who is known for prime minis­ Added 3 kilograms health. You need not take care Hun Sen given that we’re in an early ty headed by right­wing fire­ group does not condone vio­ his casual comments, went off ter is worry­ Hun Sen, 64, went on to say of Hun Sen’s health.” part of the investigation,” brand Pauline Hanson, lence, Miller said. track while responding to a ing about his that he has put on 3 kilograms Hun Sen is a self­styled Guenther said on Monday. secured four senate seats and “I’m not going to lie, I did Facebook comment on his belly that is now getting in recent days, attributing it to leader and one of the world’s Australia, a staunch U.S. kingmaker status in national know him and he did attend health to talk about his weight. big,” Hun Sen said on Mon­ a lot of time spent sleeping in longest serving prime minis­ ally, has been on heightened elections held last month by our events,”Miller said. He said someone had reposted day in the southern Kandal the car while touring the coun­ ters, with more than 30 years alertforattacksbyhomegrown running on a protectionist, “All lives are precious. Mus­ on Facebook a two­year­old province. try as part of his program to as Cambodian prime minis­ Islamist radicals since 2014 anti­Islam platform. lim lives over in Saudi Arabia, video clip, purporting to show “Don’t say that the prime tour all 25 provinces in the ter. He often likes to talk and authorities say they have Justice Minister Michael although I don’t agree with he had suffered a stroke. minister suffered a stroke. Bet­ country to meet people. about himself and his thwarted a number of plots. Keenan said that the charges them, are precious.” “If you need to broadcast ter say that the prime minister Addressing the unidentified achievements.