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Published on August 21, 2007

Thai Rak Thai Party, a senior military figure said yesterday.

Lt-General Sujit Sitthiprapa, commander of the Second Army Region, which covers the northeastern provinces, said the bond between Thai Rak Thai and voters in the region remained strong, although its influence had suffered a slight decline recently.

The draft constitution was rejected in all but a few of the northeastern provinces.

"The Thai Rak Thai Party had more than 180 MPs from the Northeast when it was in government. They feel related to each other after four or five years and the relationship still persists. It will take time to make people understand. The areas are still under Thai Rak Thai influence. We can reach only parts of them," Sujit said.

Reports of electoral fraud were sent to the Election Commission in many provinces and are now being investigated.

Sujit said Army commander-in-chief General Sonthi Boonyaratglin did not have any special orders following the referendum. However, he told officers to check the Army's work and any areas that needed improvement within the next three months.

The rejection of the Constitution draft in the Northeast was a loss for the military in the area. But the Army would improve its work to win people's hearts and it must improve, Sujit said.

The Election Commission and officers in Buri Ram had worked hard in making people understand the draft charter and so won their trust. If officers in other provinces had worked as hard, the opposition would not have been able to distort information about the draft so successfully, he said.

Sujit said the military hoped the Thai Rak Thai's influence would not return. Following the lifting of the ban on political activities, other political parties will also be able to appeal to people.

Third Army Region commander Lt-General Jiradej Kotcharat said the national referendum result showed people had accepted the Constitution draft.

Most voters in the North rejected the draft and the turnout was 59 per cent - but it was not the Army's fault because many people had gone to work in other provinces. Furthermore, the military did not campaign for people to vote for the Constitution draft, only for them to cast their votes, he said.

Meanwhile, the People Power Party, which has taken in former Thai Rak Thai MPs, campaigned against the Constitution draft and said the new charter would affect government projects initiated during Thai Rak Thai government.