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Published on August 10, 2007

He said the Interior Ministry was checking the stickers.

He also called on people to inform the ministry, the BMA and police if they knew of vote-buying by groups opposed to the draft constitution ahead of the national referendum on August 19.

"It is not against the law to display stickers, as long as drivers have not been hired to do so by groups who want to reject the draft charter," Aree said.

However, Prime Minister's Office Minister Thirapat Serirangsan warned that taxi drivers who display the stickers on their cars might be breaking the Motor Vehicle Act. Thirapat said the Motor Vehicle Act stipulated that a taxi driver cannot display a sticker which may be considered as advertising.

Taxi drivers have been displaying stickers saying, "We take passengers but not the draft constitution", while the government has warned the stickers might be against the referendum law.

Cab driver Supong Chanthasane, 33, said he had seen some of his fellow drivers put the stickers in their vehicles and was interested in the wording. "I asked my friend to get one for my car to show that I will reject the draft," he said.

He said he did not know it was against the law and, if the police asked him to remove the sticker, he would ask why. "It is my right to show that I will not support the draft. I am not persuading anyone to do the same, I just want to express my view," he said.

However, some taxi drivers said the police had warned them to remove the stickers.

Bangkok Taxi and Tuk Tuk Drivers' Association leader Chinawat Haboonpad said he had not taken part in the sticker campaign, adding that it had been started by individual drivers.

He said the stickers had been handed out by anti-coup groups at Sanam Luang.

Meanwhile, the Transport Ministry announced half-fares on buses and trains from August 17 to 20 to encourage voters to take part in the national referendum.

He said private companies had also agreed to reduce fares on ferry boat services.

Bangkok's subway will also provide free rides from 7am to 5pm on August 19.

Wattana Kamchoo,

Sucheera Pinijparakarn