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Published on August 13, 2007

The Democrat Party warned yesterday that opponents of the draft constitution were turning the Northeast into a campaign stronghold in their bid to defeat the charter.

They were offering financial incentives for votes against the constitution, too, it alleged.

However, the Thai Rak Thai group - which commands considerable support in the region - said the claims were concocted by the government because it feared a growing trend against the document.

In the meantime, Buddhist organisations and monks yesterday announced an end to a protracted protest against the draft, following concern expressed by Her Majesty the Queen.

The groups had vowed to campaign for the rejection of the draft after the Constitution Drafting Assembly refused to adopt a proposal to enshrine Buddhism as the national religion.

They were to collect 50,000 signatures to propose an amendment to the charter.

Her Majesty the Queen said during her birthday speech delivered on Saturday that she disagreed with a constitution enshrining a national religion.

She said Buddhism was beyond the political arena, where mistakes can be made. Religion should not be mixed with politics, she said.

Organisation of National Buddhists president Thongchai Kuasakul said it would heed Her Majesty's advice, the Thai News Agency reported yesterday. "We should take Her Majesty's speech as a guide," he said.

Buddhism Protection Centre secretary-general Phrathep Wisutthikavi said it would halt its campaign because it did not want to worry Her Majesty. He said monks would find other ways to strengthen Buddhism, especially through their role in society.

Democrat deputy leader Witoon Nambutr - who is in charge of Northeast provinces - believed anti-constitution activists generating significant voting against the charter or abstentions would be considered by the movement as influential and could receive support from it in the forthcoming election.

Those assembling the greatest opposition will receive more financial support for their election campaigns, he asserted.

The movement against the draft has handed out T-shirts

 

 

and leaflets carrying the messages "We Vote No," and "Thaksin Supporters Reject Dictatorship", Witoon said.

The group is paying Bt200 for voters to abstain and Bt300 to vote no, he alleged. He asserted the most intense vote buying was in Buri Ram, Surin and Si Sa Ket.

Many hard-core Thai Rak Thai supporters are in the North and Northeast.

Meanwhile, Kalasin Election Commission chairman Prasit Kotchakote said the movement against the draft was aggressive - distributing materials and arranging speeches by local leaders. The messages distorted the draft, he said.

The Army commander in Chiang Rai, Maj-General Kanon Boonriew, said it was trying to prevent cash from a casino entering Thailand for use in vote buying.

He said the "casino belonged to a close friend of a former minister and local member of Parliament".

"There still are attempts to bring the money for [vote buying] in. Officials haven't been ignoring this. They are cooperating with officers from the Provincial Administration Department in watching these movements. We have preventative measures," he added.

He said leaders of the anti-charter movement included local businessmen and former politicians.

In Chachoengsao, government referendum-awareness campaign banners were defaced with spray-painted Xs.

Interior Minister Aree Wongsearaya yesterday played down the campaign.

There is no evidence to charge campaigners with, he said, adding officials were keeping an eye on developments.

Bancha Khaengkhan,

Jeerawan Prasomsap,

Sontanaporn Injan

The Nation