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Published on August 16, 2007

Opponents and proponents of the draft constitution began last-ditch attempts yesterday in separate campaigns ahead of Sunday's national referendum.

Authorities reported the discovery of "dirty tricks" purportedly employed by detractors of the charter in several provinces.

Meanwhile, in Chiang Mai, the government and proponents of the draft held activities aimed at boosting voter turnout on the big day.

In an all-out effort to vote down the constitutional draft, vote buying, door-to-door and street campaigns were launched and leaflets were distributed, attacking the content of the new charter and calling many provisions a step-back for democracy, officials said.

A National Legislative Assembly (NLA) member filed a complaint in Phetchaburi yesterday showing a leaflet distributed through a letter with a message attacking the draft: "Want to see a sooner election, vote down the constitution draft''.

The leaflet claimed the draft would scrap the Bt30 medical scheme and that every house could be searched without court approval.

The letters said that under the new constitution MPs and senators would no longer use their positions to bail out suspects.

Pradit said he received the leaflet from villagers in Phetchaburi and he found it contained defamatory content against the Council for National Security and the NLA. Pradit wanted police to find those circulating it and take action against them.

Police searched Phetchaburi Provincial Post Office and found more than 1,000 letters with the leaflets attacking the constitution draft. They are searching for the source of the letters.

Si Sa Ket governor Kongkiat Akara-prasertkul said some former MPs in the province campaigned to vote against the draft and officials were keeping a close watch to see if they break law in their campaign.

Si Sa Ket Provincial Election Commission chief Peerasak Hinmuangkao said some groups launched a street campaign calling on voters to vote against the draft.

New Aspiration Party leader Chingchai Mongkoltham said it was true old power groups had been offering money to voters to vote against the new constitution.

"Our party members, former MPs and villagers told us that vote-buying in north-eastern provinces is fierce in this last ditch attempt [to sink the new charter],'' he said.

In Kalasin, canvassers were given Bt1,000 each and voters given Bt200 a head to vote against the draft.

In the North, Lampang governor Charoensuk Chumsri said the Third Army Region reported vote-buying would be rife. The province has ordered every district to closely watch for electoral fraud.

Chat Thai Party leader Banharn Silapa-archa said he was tipped off that Suphan Buri people were offered Bt200 each to join a protest by the Thai Rak Thai Group at Sanam Luang yesterday.

More than 100 members of the Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship led by Methapan Photheeraroj gathered outside Parliament wearing red shirts with the message "We Vote No'' to publicise their stance against the draft. They called on the CNS to quit and said the NLA had no right to remove National Human Rights Commissioner Jaran Dittha-apichai.

More than 80 police were deployed to maintain security around the Parliament.

In Chiang Mai, Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont called on northerners to show their democratic spirit by exercising their voting right at the charter referendum.

He said whatever the outcome on Sunday it would demonstrate the will of the Thai people as masters of their country.

He was presiding over a campaign in Chiang Mai to promote the poll, with 30,000 people joining the activities.

At the 700th Anniversary Stadium, Surayud, Interior Minister Aree Wongse-araya, Third Army Area commander Lt-General Jiradej Kotcharat and 17 northern governors handed over flags in the volunteer-for-democracy project.

Surayud led participants in an oath to develop democracy and songs honouring His Majesty the King.

He said the new constitution offers the nation a chance to return to democracy.

"It will promote the freedom of Thais as well as their involvement in balancing out the political mechanism, enhance the work of independent organisations and stress morality and good governance."

However, no constitution in Thai history was introduced without the country going through a military coup or national crisis. What happened had passed and nobody could change it. What people could do now was their best for today and the future by casting votes in the referendum, he said.

In Bangkok, the Thai Rak Thai Group held a rally against the draft charter at Sanam Luang, attracting thousands of supporters. Many were those who want deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra to return.

More than 50 former Thai Rak Thai MPs led the rally with supporters wearing red T-shirts with the message "Vote No".

The key leaders included Chaturon Chaisang, Sudarat Keyuraphan, Surapong Suebwonglee, Pongthep Thepkanchana, Newin Chidchob, Kuthep Saikajang and Adisorn Piengket. They each took to the stage and urged people to reject what they termed "the junta's constitution".

Chaturon said in a press briefing the TRT Group wanted to use the rally as a channel to communicate with the people. The junta had blocked all other channels through which he and colleagues tried to tell people why they should reject the charter draft.

He said he would only criticise the charter draft. He would not attack the junta leaders and government.