Campaign in Northeast to reject charter, Democrats claim

Those who campaign against the Constitution draft would give "grade A" to the candidates-to-be in the provinces people most reject the draft, and the candidates-to-be would be likely to get most financial support from the group. The candidates-to-be will be seen as influential and having large network.

The movements against the draft include distribution of t-shirts with messages "We Vote No," and "Thaksin Lovers Reject Dictatorship", Witoon said.

Moreover, the group pays Bt200 to voters and told them not to vote. Otherwise, it pays Bt300 for voters to vote against the Constitution draft, he said.

The provinces with most vote-buying include Buri Ram, Surin and Si Sa Ket, he said.

Kalasin Election Commission chairman Prasit Kotchakote said the movements against the charter draft had been more aggressive with the old power clique distributing stickers and messages through speeches by local leaders. The messages were distorted from facts and the draft.

Commander of Chiang Rai Military Province Maj Gen Kanon Boonriew said officials tried to prevent the flow of the money from a famous casino reported to be used for vote-buying against the draft.

He said the casino belonged to a close friend of a former minister and local MP.

"There still are attempts to bring the money for the conduct (vote-buying against the charter draft). (Military) officials haven't been ignoring but cooperating with officers from the Provincial Administration Department in watching the movements closely. We have some measures at least to make the conduct harder," he said.

He said among 20 leaders of the anti-charter draft movements also included local businessmen and former politicians.

The Nation