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Democracy flag has been passed from bearer to bearer  in every village across the country and will reach Bangkok on August 2. Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont is scheduled to preside over the welcoming ceremony of the flag.

An exhibition to promote the referendum and democratic rule will take place on August 3to5 at Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani.

Mobile exhibition teams will be dispatched to set up 10,000 referendum displays upcountry.

Provincial offices, municipalities and all local governments are to assist in putting up posters and billboards notifying the referendum date and encouraging vote.

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva urged the government to promote the referendum without trying to influence the outcome.

"I agree with the awareness campaign although the government is obliged to remain neutral and accept the people's judgement," he said.

Inspite of a slow start, some 85,000 absentee voters have registered to cast referendum votes in Bangkok.

The registration took place between July 10 and yesterday which saw almost 70,000 nonBangkok residents exerting their right to vote.

The city administration has estimated a voter turnout of 60 per cent.

In Chiang Mai, some 4,000 absentee voters have decided to vote in this northern province instead of going back to their hometown.

The Nation