Draft constitution for army-run Thailand 'strong medicine'

Meechai Ruchupan, 77, head of Thailand's Constitution Drafting Committee, gestures during an interview with Reuters at the parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, January 20, 2016. REUTERS/Chaiwat Subprasom

BANGKOK (Reuters) - A draft constitution for army-run Thailand to be unveiled this month will be "strong medicine", the constitution panel head said on Wednesday, adding that there was no guarantee it would pass a referendum, meaning a further extension of military rule.

The May 2014 coup ended months of political protests in Bangkok aimed at ousting a civilian government, since when the junta has curbed basic freedoms and pushed back the timetable for elections to 2017.