In an update to my post the other day about the police and soldiers raiding a house and seizing T-shirts, banners, and posters encouraging a "vote no" for the August 19 referendum on the constitution, we have a continuation of the suppression. The Nation reports (via New Mandala) on the latest subversive material:
Police have raided the Duang Prateep Foundation and confiscated 4,000 posters encouraging votes against the junta-sponsored draft charter.
The posters carried the message: "It's not illegal to vote against the draft constitution".
Anti-referendum activists said police had told them they were acting on military orders."They could not cite any law to back up their actions," said anti-charter campaigner Sombat Boon-ngam-anong. "It's ludicrous. The police know full well; so why are they acting upon the orders of the military?"
COMMENT: Actually, according to the wording they weren't even encouraging people to "vote No" just telling them that they are able to "vote no". The Nation's Thai language Nation Channel reports the wording as "Voting to bring down the constitution is not against the law" (“โหวตล้มร่างรัฐธรรมนูญ ไม่ผิดกฎหมาย”)
Given the previous government campaign of telling people they must vote yes, it is not surprising that simply informing people they can vote no is deemed subversive by the junta (actually I had stated I wouldn't use the term "junta" last year as they handed over power to a civilian government, but power still rests with the military so it is a junta).
Remember that the coup was necessary as Thaksin had destroyed the "rule of law". Now, what about this? Last year, there was a very vocal campaign for a "no vote" in the April 2006 election. Can anyone point me in the direction of the government seizing such posters? The whole media was up in arms against Thaksin suing people. Now, we have Pravit at The Nation (the writer of the above article) and one or two others who publicize such things, but there is no outrage.
The article continues:
Election Commissioner Sodsri Satayathum said nothing could be done legally against posters because a referendum bill had yet to be passed.
Former senator Prateep Ungsongtham Hata complained to the Port Authority station that police had committed an "unlawful" act. She cited the nullified 1997 charter stipulating citizens' rights to oppose an unlawful government and that people had a right and duty to peacefully oppose the junta's draft charter.
At press time police had refused to return the posters and said they would investigate whether their message was illegal or could cause a public disturbance.
Thanaphol Eiwsakul, a coordinator of the 19 September Network Against the Coup and poster publisher told The Nation he believed the police had acted unlawfully.
"We may sell and distribute more posters in front of National Police Headquarters on Monday," he said.
COMMENT: Former Senator Prateep is the head of the Duang Prateep Foundation - you can read about here here, here and here. She is one of the new UDD leaders. She is commonly known in Thai as Kru Prateep (Kru means a kind of teacher).
Then, we have the Bangkok Post telling us what we already knew about the new referendum law:
Election Commission chief Apichart Sukhagganond said the EC would not rule that Ms Prateep had committed an offence because the new referendum law had yet to come into effect.
The Referendum Bill, which outlaws maliciously influencing the way people vote on Aug 19, sailed through the National Legislative Assembly and will take effect after receiving royal endorsement and being published in the Royal Gazette.
Offenders are liable to jail and a five-year suspension of voting rights.
Mr Apichart said both new UDD leaders and supporters of the draft charter should exercise judgement before doing anything which could be deemed as violating the law once it becomes effective.
''All groups should campaign with caution,'' he said. ''They can't do just everything they want to. It is all right for the people to express their opinions, but it will be against the law to run a 'vote down the referendum' campaign.
''People should study the law carefully before doing anything.''
His warning also covers state agencies, in particular the Interior Ministry, which will provide transport for people to go to the voting booths.
Ms Prateep accused Pol Capt Phumsit Traipat and Capt Chawalit Netnual of theft, damage to property and infringing on her rights.
COMMENT: So how could telling people that voting no is not illegal be maliciously influencing the vote? If it is, the law is a joke as the posters were tame.
According to the Manager (Thai language only), Prateep has filed a complaint with the local police station and stated that death threats were directed towards the foundation on July 29..
Actually, the most outrageous thing about the whole episode is CNS spin doctor spokesman's Col. Sanserm (as well as Col. Thanathip from ISOC) who stated:
การเข้าตรวจค้นดังกล่าวเนื่องจากสงสัยว่าตนเองจะครอบครองอาวุธสงครามและสิ่งผิดกฎหมาย
[My own summarised translation: The search was because [they] suspected that she had war weapons and illegal things there]
COMMENT: War weapons? WTF? In case you thing that something is lost in the translation there is not. Simply astonishing.
btw, the link is to the Manager and if you want to know about vitriol and hatred towards those against fear leader Sondhi L of the Manager group, the comments are extremely typical.
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