The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) denies it plans to deploy high school students undergoing territorial defence training to mobilise votes for the draft charter.
NCPO spokesman Winthai Suwaree denied the accusation made by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) that students undergoing the compulsory Ror Dor military training course provided by the army would be sent to polling stations to whip up support for the draft during the referendum.
Col Winthai said the army had a policy of encouraging these students to take part as volunteers in various activities. "We would ask them to help promote understanding of the draft and the referendum among other young people or their families, but not to tell Thais how to vote for the draft as alleged," Col Winthai said.
He added the NCPO was not trying to restrict the people's right to express their opinion. What they have done was counter opinions which had been distorted with a hidden agenda.
"The NCPO has not done anything to contravene the principle of a public referendum. The people can still make their own decisions under an appropriate legal framework and method," he said.
It was possible some political groups opposed the draft because they were afraid independent agencies would be given more power, and the people would be able to petition for an investigation into irregularities or corruption.
"Claims the draft charter, when in force, would benefit the NCPO the most are based on mere suspicion, no proof," said Col Winthai. He also denied claims sovereign power would not be in the hands of the people under the draft.
On the contrary, the draft was intended to give the public the supreme power to exercise checks and balances to safeguard the country's interests, he added.