27 April 2016•Update: 05 May 2016
By CS Thana
BANGKOK
Thailand's Election Commission filed charges Wednesday against members of a Facebook group for criticizing an upcoming referendum on a draft constitution.
The charges are the first to be filed under a new Public Referendum Act signed into effect Friday.
Commission member Somchai Srisutthiyakorn told reporters Wednesday that the criminal complaint was made for "aggressive and demeaning" comments by the group, and accused it of trying to "influence people negatively" against a draft constitution put forward by the ruling military government.
"We hope this sets an example and that all future conversations regarding the charter are done logically and within reason," he said.
The new law forbids public discourse and campaigning on the charter and carries a maximum punishment of ten years.
On Tuesday, junta chief-cum-Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha told reporters that no foreign observers will be allowed to monitor the referendum scheduled for August 7.
Chan-ocha claimed that no country would allow foreigners to monitor an "internal process".
The military unveiled its draft charter in March, which immediately drew criticism from rights groups and politicians for being undemocratic.
According to provisions in the charter, all upper house senators would be appointed by the current junta.
There are also clauses within the charter that allow for an unelected premier.
