Thailand: Red-shirts ask probe into anti-fraud centre closure
The Thai United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), or Red-shirt group, on June 23 sent a petition to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), asking for an investigation into the shutting down of their referendum anti-fraud monitoring centres.
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UDD leader Jatuporn Prompan filed the petition with NHRC's Angkana Neelapaijit.
According to Jatuporn, no officials from the Thai government came to the Election Commission to express the opposition to the opening of the centres monitoring frauds in the referendum on the new constitutional draft.
However, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon on June 19 announced he would not allow the UDD to establish those centres and police closed the operating centres nationwide, he said.
On March 29, Thailand’s Constitution Draft Commission 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.
Thailand’s Election Commission issued regulations on referendum, which took effect on May 2. Under the regulations, the distortion of the referendum’s contents, holding meetings intended for political disturbance, or carrying out campaigns influencing the referendum, are prohibited.
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.
