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"Time is too tight to hold a November vote and a Sunday in December might be a more suitable date," he said.

Apichart spoke after a meeting with Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont and independent monitor Saiyud Kerdphol of the People's Network for Elections (P-Net).

He said the EC would finalise the date for balloting after the completion of the referendum on the new constitution, scheduled for August 19.

Turning to the awareness campaign on the referendum, he said supporters and opponents of the charter were free to air their views so long as they did not try to spread false or misleading information designed to rig the outcome.

"The people are mature enough to form their judgement and can decide how to cast their votes," he said.

He added that the EC wanted to remind all parties concerned that they were not supposed to sway votes one way or the other.

Government Spokesman Yongyuth Mayalarp said Surayud had told Apichart and Saiyud that the government was ready to facilitate a campaign to encourage a high voter turnout.

Yongyuth said the three had agreed on three issues: the EC will ensure a free and fair referendum; the involvement of local advocacy groups to ensure voting transparency; and the participation of political parties as observers.

The government has earmarked about Bt40 million for the EC and independent monitors, including P-Net, to publicise the referendum. It is ready to allocate more funds if necessary.

Yongyuth said the government expected P-Net to assist the EC in organising the referendum and the general election.

The Nation