The Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) has approved stricter legal measures in the new charter to curb street protests.
The move partially redefines the freedom of public rallies, said Gen Lertrat Ratanavanich, the CDC spokesman.
While the drafters insist on maintaining people's rights to peaceful gatherings, members of the CDC agree some specific laws are needed to restrict their freedom if the demonstrations are organised to cause problems to other people and society, Gen Lertrat said after the CDC's meeting on the charter's section-by-section drafting yesterday. He said such restrictions will only be implemented for the sake of national security, public safety, order and morality of people, public health and the protection of other people's rights.
The conditions will be added to the new charter, making a significant change to the revoked 2007 constitution's Section 63 which imposes few limitations on street rallies, he said.
The preceding charter stipulates that public gatherings can be restricted when a state of emergency or martial law has been enforced, the country is involved in a war or authorities need to ensure other people can use public places, he said.
However, Gen Lertrat added that authorities have so far had no specific laws to control rally-goers when their demonstrations develop into what officers view as a riot.
The Prayut Chan-o-cha cabinet in November last year agreed to a bill restricting public gatherings proposed by the Royal Thai Police Office, according to deputy government spokesman Maj Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd.
The bill requires rally organisers to inform police at least 24 hours in advance of their planned demonstrations and refrain from giving speeches and holding activities between 10pm and 6am, Maj Gen Sansern said.
It also bans rallies in certain areas including Government House, state agencies, railway stations and airports, he said.
Violators of these regulations will face strict punishment. Rally organisers who fail to inform police of rallies face up to six months in prison or a fine of 10,000 baht. They can also be jailed for between two and 10 years or pay a fine of between 40,000 and 200,000 baht for other offences, he said. Rally-goers can also face legal action.
The bill has not yet been listed on the National Legislative Assembly's agenda, but the government is reportedly preparing to push it ahead for consideration this year, Maj Gen Sansern added.