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Thai PM calls Ban Ki-moon to talk about preparation for constitutional referendum

Xinhua, June 21, 2016 Adjust font size:

Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha told UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon that Thailand is proceeding according to a roadmap to civilian rule during a telephone conversation Monday, as the government is complained of limiting public supervision on the coming referendum, Thai media reported Tuesday.

Red-shirts, or the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), filed a complaint Monday to the UN since their act of setting watchdog centers for the Aug. 7 referendum on the draft constitution was blocked by the Prayut-led government.

Ban stressed that an open and inclusive debate would be essential to ensuring the legitimacy of the constitution and achieving national unity, according to a statement released by Ban's spokesperson.

Prayut said he told Ban about activities by groups with "ill intentions" toward the country and also informed him of the UDD's petition to the UN office in Bangkok, Bangkok Post reported.

"Still, I explained to him that we have such freedom. As for the draft charter, people throughout the country have been given a chance to voice their opinions," Prayut said.

He also told Ban about the referendum and preparations for a general election, saying that "everything is proceeding according to the roadmap."

Ban has reaffirmed the UN's readiness to support Thailand as the country prepares to vote on a final draft Constitution.

According to UDD leader Jatuporn Prompan, they submitted the petition because its monitoring centers were opened in only 47 provinces on Sunday, while they were prevented by the government from opening such centers in 29 other provinces.

Asked about Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan's suggestion that the UDD should work with the Election Commission (EC) to monitor fraud instead of setting up its own anti-fraud centers, UDD Secretary-General Nattawut Saikuar said that was not possible because the EC had never shown any intention of wanting to cooperate.

Meechai Ruchupan, chairman of Constitution Drafting Committee, asked the UDD leaders not to act in a way that will obstruct the campaign to explain the draft charter, otherwise they will violate the Referendum Act and face legal action. Endit