Thai government not allow campaigns ahead of charter referendum
The Thai military-run government will disapprove any campaign in the run-up to the August referendum on a new constitution that it hopes to stablise the country’s politics, Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan said on April 19.
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Prawit Wongsuwan, who is also Defence Minister, told reporters that campaigns will not be allowed to avoid influence on the referendum. “Let people be free to think”, he said.
The government also warned critics not to attempt to sway the vote.
The country’s Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC) issued the proposed new constitution for public review on March 29 in an effort to pull Thailand out of the decade-long political crisis.
The 105-page, 279-article document will be voted on in a national referendum set for August 7.
If the new constitution is ratified, nationwide elections could be held in July 2017, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha announced.
According to drafters, the new constitution would end the cycle of elections, street protests and coups. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha said the charter will help him rid Thailand of corruption and abuse of power.
The referendum will mark the first time Thais return to the ballot box since Prayuth led a coup in May two years ago.
