A "3-baht democracy" scheme is planned to allow people who want the constitution to be amended to send a postcard, costing only 3 baht each, to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to show their support for charter amendment.
Arisman Pongruangrong (Photo by Surapol Promsaka na Sakolnakorn)
The scheme was announced by Arisman Pongruangrong, a leading member of the United Front for Democracy for Dictatorship leading member, Jiradech Vorapienkul, a vice minister attached to the Finance Ministry, and Pheu Thai Party list MP Apiwan Wiriyachai at a press conference at a Bangkok hotel on Friday.
Mr Arisman said people coud send the postcard to voice their support for constitutional amendment, which was a policy of the Pheu Thai Party.
Explaining why the scheme was called "3-baht democracy," the red-shirt leader said the number 3 is for the three main institutions - the nation, the religion and the monarchy. The number also means the three main sovereign powers - the executive, legislative and judicial branches.
He said that on the back of each postcard there would be a message: "Support the move to amend the constitution to make it truly democratic by the government of the people."
Those who agreed with charter amendment could send the postcard to an address shown on it. He would then collect them and forward them to the prime minister, Mr Arisman said.
"By sending a postcard to voice an opinion, the people do not need to take to the street and cause problems for the country. They can simply send a postcard to give moral support to the prime minister. I believe amending the charter is a way of pushing Thailand forward.
"These postcardswill be first distributed at the Bonanza in Khao Yai, where the red-shirts will hold a mass rally on Dec 22," Mr Arisman said.
Col Apiwan said the people's power was of high importance. He said the government-sponsored charter amendment bill had passed the first and second reading, and was now awaiting for the passage in the third reading.
He said it would be difficult for a charter rewrite to be endorsed by a referendum, with a turnout of at least 23 million eligible voters needed .