CHAIYAPHUM - Two members of the anti-government New Democracy Movement were arrested on Saturday for allegedly distributing leaflets urging residents in Phu Khieo district to vote "no" in the draft constitution referendum on Sunday.
The two men, whose names were not released, were members of a student group which called itself “Isan New Democracy Group”. They were accused of disseminating documents relating to a "Vote No" campaign against the draft at a main market in Phu Khieo district. Local police stopped them shortly before 5pm and took them to Phu Khieo police station for questioning, local media reported.
The Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) group tweeted that a dozen policemen armed with a search warrant later searched the home of one of the men, nicknamed Pai. His parent was at home during the search.
At 6.40pm, it said Phu Khieo police charged the men with violating Paragraph 2 of Section 61 of the Referendum Act and continued to question them. The provision forbids people from disseminating information about the draft charter that is distorted from the facts or through violent, aggressive, coarse or coercive methods. Violators face punishment with imprisonment of up to 10 years and a maximum fine of 200,000 baht.
The Isan New Democracy Group organised a “vote no” activity at Khon Kaen university on Sunday. The event attracted about 200 students from northeastern provinces, as well as Cherchai Tantisirin, a former Pheu Thai MP, and Pannawadee Tantisirin, a former red-shirt leader in the Northeast.
The event was stopped by police, military and administrative officers. Khon Kaen police said they have seized 2,000 documents allegedly in breach of the referendum law on that day and are collecting evidence to press numerous charges against the organisers and participants.