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They said the result in no way legitimised the junta and the coup. The group also vowed to continue opposing the attempt by the junta-appointed regime to pass the controversial Internal Security law, oppose huge increases in the military budget and also launch a campaign for an eventual drafting of a new constitution.

"Judging from the figure of 10 million, this seems like a victory," said Thanaphol Eiwsakul, a co-ordinator of the group which ran a fierce campaign against the draft charter.

"It was beyond our expectations. These 10 million voters managed to overcome all forms of propaganda from one side. I praise those who voted 'no' but at the same time respect those who voted 'yes' for whatever reason.

"However, the result will not legitimise the military junta and the coup they staged," he said, adding that some may have "falsely" voted "yes" in the hope of a quick election, peace or out of fear the Council for National Security may have revived a more draconian constitution from the past.

At the same time, Thanaphol said 35 provinces, or nearly half the kingdom, was under martial law during the referendum and there was no sign it would be lifted before the promised general election slated for the end of this year. Due to this, he said, many anti-draft charter campaigns have been significantly limited and so 10 million was better than he expected.

On the other hand, Thanaphol said, it was wrong for the junta to assume that the 10 million-plus voters who rejected the junta-sponsored charter draft during Sunday's referendum were merely pawns of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

The need to draft a new charter, he said, was due to the problematic nature of the inception and process of the 2007 charter. "We may launch the campaign even before the promised general election."

Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation