scott heidler has this report. >> it's an unusual job for military reservists. fanning out across the nation by the thousands assigned to inform the thai public about a draft constitution, and a roadmap returning the country to democracy. what has been playing out is something familiar. 2014 was the 13th successful coup in thailand. if voted in, it will be the nation's 20th constitution. some feel the version is designed to entrench the existing brokers. >> we call this term like this. they try to strengthen the power, and try to enhance. >> heed added that those in control wanted to get further away from elections. the draft constitution calls for the upper house. here in the heart land some admitted they do not understand in the draft constitution, nor what they'll be voting on. >> they have been working in this field for 40 years, and he'd like a return to civilian government. >> i am concerned. i don't know anything. i don't like the military. i wish i could be freer like other countries, some that need stability are happy with the military government's draf

scott heidler reports on the communist party's congress in beijing. >> reporter: this man has been selling fruit in beijing since 2010. business is slow. >> who is my boss, the communist party. where did the customers go, you have to ask the communist party. business is bad in the past year. >> he's not alone, it's been a turbulent year in china. six kilometres away, the most important event in the political calendar is playing out. china, the last nation changed considerably over the last 30 years, but the groanedure of the national people's congress remained. 3,000 across the nation attend. china's premier opened the congress with a report on the past year, and was critical of the party. >> there's inconsistencies in the work. government. some reforms, policies and measures have not been implemented. >> he went on to say more work needs to be done on government corruption and conduct. it's not just the economy that is slowing. it's global. >> this is what is going to take place for the next 10 days, for the most part it is political theatre. it's thou they were going to be made. >> it's

scott heidler look at how they will impact these near the border. >> reporter: this is the main gateway to north korea. even though it is winter you there should be more tourists going into china. this couple were laid off by a chinese state-run business five years ago. they opened this restaurant and have been doing very well until recently. >> translation: our business has been affected a lot since people started talking about sanctions against north korea. there is a big decrease in the number of customers. yesterday there were only two tables of customers from north korea. normally there would be four or five tables. >> reporter: there will be a bigger impact here than a decline in tourism. one element came after weeks of closed door negotiations between the u.s. and china. they agreed that all cargo that goes into or out of north korea will be inspected. that means that any cargo carrying train carriage or truck lorry will be expected that crosses these bridges. the responsibility of policing these new sanctions here rests on the chinese government. china said it agreed to cover sa

let's hear from scott heidler on how the sanctions will effect the chinese community on the border withth korea. >> reporter: it's off season on korean street here in china's main gateway to north korea. but even though it is winter, there should be more north korean tourists. buying supplies would seem simple in most of the world, but unavailable in their isolated country. this woman and her husband were laid off by a chinese state-run business five years ago. they opened this restaurant in the heart of the city, and have been doing very well until recently. >> translator: our business has been effected a lot. there is a big decrease in the number of customers. like yesterday there were only two tables of customers from north korea. normally there would be four or five tables. >> reporter: but there will be a much bigger impact here than a decline in tourism. one element of these toughest-ever sanctions came after weeks of closed-door negotiations between the united states and china. they agreed that all cargo will be inspected. and the responsibility of policing these new sanctions he

scott heidler reports from bangkok. >> reporter: this is thailand's largest human trafficking case. a new division created in bangkok's criminal court. those families impacted by these criminal gangs are still suffering. just over three years ago this person fled myanmar to join her husband in thailand to join her husband. violence in recent year against this muslim minority has prompted many toot tempt to leave the country. but instead of the better life he sought, her husband landed in a jungle camp along with other migrants held by human traffickers looking to extort money. when she arrived, she was asked for ransom money she didn't have. her husband is now one witness in a trial of hundreds of others of human trafficking. but he is kept in a shelter away from his family. for safety, she didn't want to show her face. it's not her real name. >> translator: there are many traffickers still out there. we can't be here. if they find us, they will kill us. >> reporter: the case is based on mass graves discovered last may. hundreds of bodies were unearthed along the border. there are 9

scott heidler. >>> jane arraf reports now. >> officials say the security operation in the north of jordan stopped planning for major tack by an i.s.i.l. affiliate. jordan's special forces and police backed by attack helicopters descended on erbid, jordan's second largest city, some wore suicide belts, according to officials, a jordanian official was killed during raid. >> they are a terrorist group connected to terrorist organizations and planned to disrupt the security of the country and its people. >> the operation continued into the morning as security forces sealed roads into the area. the crack down follows the arrest of 13 people a week ago in the same neighborhood. they were allegedly linked to the group that was targeted on tuesday. jordan's officially news agency says they floond carry out attacks on civilian and military targets destabilizing national security. it's impossible to confirm but the targets were said to be restaurants government buildings and even a skill in erbid. >> translator: they chose erbid because they could be more secure there. >> 100,000 syrian refugees, t

scott heidler, al jazeera. >>> the senior researcher on thailand at human rights watch said the new constitution gives the military even more power. >> it is clear that the draft constitution is not giving any convincing promise that the junta is going to return democratic rule to the country but rather a prolonged military control. the constitution guarantee that that will be blanket for the generals what they did, what they're doing and what they will do. the senate which is going to provide guidance to the elected parliament amounted elected government is going to be hand-picked by the junta with the generals themselves sitting on top of the senate. that will make electoral promises by each political party meaningless and when they are sitting in the parliament, sitting in the government, they still have to listen to those selected by the junta, what is the point of having an election anyway. the climate leading up to the constitution referendum is it truly controlled by the military junta. there is no political debate about the pro and con of the constitution. it is clear that what the gener