In an attempt to censor voices against the draft constitution, the junta threatened Pheu Thai Party after the party issued a statement, denouncing that the draft is undemocratic.
On Wednesday, 30 March 2016, Pheu Thai Party has issued a statement condemning the final charter draft and persuading people to turn it down in the referendum, scheduled in August.
In response to Phue Thai’s move, Col Piyapong Klinphan, the junta’s spokesperson, said the junta thanks Pheu Thai for having a clear stance on the draft, but the junta will check if the statement misleads the public. If so, the junta might ‘invite’ Pheu Thai members for a talk, Thai News Agency reported.
This is one of the attempts by the junta to censor voices against the draft. In the past few months, at least three public events aiming to discuss the content of the draft have been banned.
The statement of Phue Thai states that the draft constitution is undemocratic and can lead to unstable political regime if ratified. The party, therefore, urge people to turn it down, despite the fact that election will be postponed from doing so. If the draft is turned down, Phue Thai proposed that the 1997 Constitution is enforced instead and the general election is held within six months.
Under the draft 2016 Referendum bill, people who try to publicly denounce the referendum will face heavy penalty. The bill also grants ECT an authority to regulate all campaign relating to the draft. (more detail)
Col Piyapong Klinphan (Photo from Thai News Agency)