Authorities on Sunday stormed the red shirts' flagship investigation centre, an initiative to monitor fraud in the upcoming referendum that the regime has labelled provocative, pulling the plug on its launch party to mark a nationwide investigation centre roll-out.
Police forces muscled in on the red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) coordinating centre at Imperial World in Lat Phrao, scuppering the 10am ceremony which was poised to be broadcast on "Peace TV".
The event was to mark a nationwide investigation centre roll-out to ensure the charter vote is transparent and fair, but which has irked the prime minister who says the centres are politically motivated.
National Security Council secretary-general Thawip Netniyom said Sunday the UDD leaders would face legal action if the group continues to defy the NCPO's order.
"Authorities informed them that it's against the law to set up the centres. If they insist on going ahead with them, they will face arrests. People can help prevent fraud without having to do what the UDD are trying to do," he said.
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Authorities turned up an hour before the launch and took over the area where the activity was going to be organised.
They asked red shirt leaders to cancel the event and told them not to hold any similar activity as it would be in breach of the regime's ban on political gatherings of five people or more.
The red shirts were then escorted out as authorities sealed off the venue.
Col Piyapong Klinpan, deputy spokesman of the NCPO, said the UDD centres were politically driven and could be exploited to give distorted information ahead of the charter poll.
"There is a political motive behind the setting up of the centres. We're afraid that people may fall victim to distorted information," he said, noting the UDD was a party barred from conducting any political activities.
NCPO spokesman Winthai Suvaree said there were several other channels the red shirts could use to protect the referendum process from fraudulent practices without stirring trouble.
"At times when the country remains sensitive to political conflicts, it's better to make sacrifices and avoid making moves that raise questions or scepticism," he said.
Core red shirt leaders on Sunday condemned the regime's move and insisted they did nothing illegal. They said they would not give up on their campaign to return the country to democracy.
UDD chairman Jatuporn Prompan also criticised Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha for going back on his word.
Red shirt core leader and UDD ideologue Jatuporn Prompan took the closings in stride, predicted Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha would be overthrown, and said the UDD will gather fraud evidence and turn it over to the Election Commission.
According to the red shirt leader, Gen Prayut had said on three occasions that the opening of UDD anti-fraud centres was not against the law but then retracted his word, making him lose credibility.
"I'd say he would end up like former coup-maker Gen Suchinda Kraprayoon [whose regime ended in the Black May massacre]. So today he should take pleasure in shutting down the anti-fraud centres. Gen Prayut has no leadership left because he failed to keep his word," Mr Jatuporn said.
Instead of the anti-fraud centres, Mr Jatuporn said the UDD will gather complaints and hand them to the Election Commission (EC) for further action. They will also use social media as a platform for their anti-fraud campaign.
Nattawut Saikuar, a UDD co-leader, said the regime harboured ill-feeling towards the red shirts and viewed their activities with suspicion. He maintained the anti-fraud centres were to encourage the public to voice their opinion and give them the chance to take part in the charter referendum process.
Elsewhere, security forces were sent to key targets where the anti-fraud centres were scheduled to kick off.
They included centres in Khon Kaen, Mae Hong Son, Lampang, Phetchabun, and Satun. In Khon Kaen's Muang district, local red shirt leader Putthingpong Khamhaengpol said the group agreed to abort the launch when asked by authorities. About 50 red shirt activists were scheduled to join.
"We've agreed to cancel the centre here. We'll figure out what to do next because the referendum is approaching," he said.
However, at least one red-shirt group in Surin kicked off the anti-fraud centre in Chom Phra district. They read a statement and distributed 2,000 shirts with a "No Cheat" message to volunteers.