An election commissioner has filed a complaint under the Draft Referendum Act against a fundraising organization in northeastern province of Khon Kaen.
On Wednesday, 27 April 2016, Matichon Online reported that Somchai Srisuthiyakorn, an election commissioner of Thailand, filed a complaint under the Draft Referendum Act against a fundraising organization in Khon Kaen Province (name withheld) at Toongsonghong police station, Bangkok.
This is the first time that the act has been practically in use, amid criticism for its ambiguity and heavy sentence.
According to Matichon Online, Somchai said that the fundraising organization has posted, in its facebook, a severe, aggressive and rude content with an intention to persuade the public to accept or not accept the draft charter. This action obviously violated the Article 61 of the act which its penalty is a jail term of up to 10 years and a fine of up to 200,000 baht or withdrawing the right to election.
Somchai said that this is to warn people to discuss the draft charter in a constructive way, not in a aggressive, rude or threatening way, Matichon Online reported.
Somchai added that the criticism against the draft can be done, but it must base on academic reasons and not to persuade people to vote in a certain way. If anyone sees a content that violate the Act, he or she can directly file a complaint at any police station, reported Matichon Online.
Matichon also reported that the ECT will have a meeting on Wednesday to discuss the ambiguity of the controversial Draft Referendum Act which currently is a subject of public debates.
(Somchai filing a complaint at Toongsonghong police station)
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