Thai CDC: fake copies of new constitution distributed

According to the CDC chairman, the CDC found in Chiang Mai copies of a document with same cover as the CDC’s draft constitution, but the content was changed and misleading.

Some of those imitation copies were distributed by students, he said, adding that the EC deployed staff to check the issue.

He believed that the students could not have the money or resources to publish and distribute large numbers of documents alone and there may be someone providing them with funding.

He also voiced his doubts about a scheme which was well prepared and funded by a group of people, aiming to mislead the public about the draft constitution.

On the same day, CDC spokesman Chartnai Na Chiang Mai said that the CDC has asked the EC to inspect the issue as it violates the 2016 Referendum Law.

On March 29, the CDC announced the new draft constitution, which is expected to be the solution to a decade-long political crisis. 

According to the plan, the 105-page draft with 279 clauses will be put to public referendum on August 7. 

The EC issued regulations, which took effect on May 2, on referendum, including prohibiting the distortion of the referendum’s contents, holding meetings intended for political disturbance, or carrying out campaigns influencing the referendum. 

If the draft constitution is passed in the referendum, a general election will be held in July 2017 as pledged by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha.