Northeast's strong ties with Thaksin sink charter in region

Lt-General Sujit Sitthiprapa, commander of the Second Army Region, which covers northeastern provinces, said the bond between Thai Rak Thai and voters in the region has been strong although its influence suffered slight decline recently.

The draft constitution was rejected in all but a few of northeastern provinces.

"Thai Rak Thai Party had more than 180 MPs from the Northeast when it was government. They feel related to each other for 4-5 years and the relationship still persists. It takes some time to make people understand. The areas are still under Thai Rak Thai influence. We can reach only parts of them," Sujit said.

Reports of electoral fraud were sent to the Election Commission in many provinces. However, they are under investigation.

Sujit said Army commander-in-chief General Sonthi Boonyaratglin did not have any special order after the referendum. However, he told officers to check the Army's work with the mass for anything needing improvement within the next three months.

The referendum result that people in the region rejected the Constitution draft was the loss of the military in the area. But the military would improve its work to win people's heart and it must be better.

Election Commission and officers in Buri Ram worked hard in making people understand so it won people's heart. If officers in other provinces worked hard like that, the opposition would not have distorted information successfully, he said.

The military hoped the Thai Rak Thai influence would not come back. After the lift of the political activity ban other political parties could make understanding with people.

Third Army Region commander Lt-General Jiradej Kotcharat said the national referendum result showed people accepted the constitution draft.

Most voters in the North rejected the draft and the turnout was at 59 per cent but it was not the Army's faults as lots of people go to work in other provinces. Furthermore, the military did not campaign for people to vote for the Constitution draft, but just for them to cast votes, he said.

Meanwhile, the People Power Party, which takes in the former Thai Rak Thai MPs, campaigned against the Constitution draft and said the new charter would affect government projects initiated during Thai Rak Thai government.