Thailand’s proposed new constitution unveiled to the public, to be put to referendum

Meechai Ruchupan, head of Thailand's Constitution Drafting Committee, holds up a draft constitution during a news conference at the parliament in Bangkok, on Tuesday March 29,2016

Thailand’s proposed new constitution was unveiled to the public on Tuesday March 29,2016, amid criticism that the charter is undemocratic and gives too much power to the military that staged a coup two years ago. 

The draft will be put to a referendum in August, followed by elections that junta chief Prayuth Chan-ocha has promised for 2017. 

The referendum will mark the first time Thais return to the ballot box since Mr. Prayuth led a May 2014 coup that toppled an elected government and suspended democracy in the South-East Asian country.