Buri Ram Call made for transfer of teachers
Call made for transfer of teachers
Buri Ram locals 'told to avoid referendum vote'
POST REPORTERS
The provincial election commission in Buri Ram wants the immediate transfer of three teachers in the northeastern province allegedly for violating the law on the constitution referendum. The provincial election panel joined hands with the Buri Ram provincial army and a network of 12 non-governmental organisations, to preempt any illegal acts meant to disrupt the charter referendum on Aug 19.
According to the panel, certain politicians linked to the old power clique had tried to mobilise resources and manpower to persuade residents not to vote in the referendum.
The teachers, whose names have been withheld, were seen as the early casualties in the intensifying political tug-of-war between proponents and opponents of the draft constitution. Buri Ram is the stronghold of Newin Chidchob of the disbanded Thai Rak Thai party.
Buri Ram deputy governor Kasem Wattanatham, as chief of the provincial election panel, said the panel had sent its recommendations concerning the three teachers to the election commission's headquarters in Bangkok.
The panel said the teachers were canvassers for politicians in Lam Plai Mat district and should be transferred out of the area within 24 hours.
They should also face a disciplinary probe, as what they had done was against the law.
According to the deputy governor, the teachers had urged voters in the district not to vote.
They also intimidated and threatened witnesses, he said.
Mr Kasem said the NGOs were looking for clues as to who was behind the illegal campaign.
Wutthipong Lueang-udomchai, head of the network of NGOs, said canvassers for politicians linked with the old power clique had paid voters in some villages 200-300 baht to vote no to the charter, or not to vote at all.
He said he had been tipped off that canvassers would spend one hour finishing paying all voters in the province simultaneously.
Pol Col Sangworn Phuphaijitkul, deputy chief of the provincial police of Buri Ram, said investigators were looking for evidence to prosecute offenders and residents should provide leads enabling police to arrest them.
The election commission in Bangkok yesterday met the heads of provincial panels from across the country.
EC chairman Apichart Sukhakkhanont stressed that people in the provinces must be educated about appropriate conduct in the lead-up to the referendum to avoid breaking the law.
He expressed concern over the distribution of T-shirts with ''Vote No'' messages in Buri Ram's Lam Plai Mat district.
The act was a flagrant violation of the law, he said, adding that the authorities were gathering evidence against those involved.
Election commissioner Praphan Naikowit said although some opinion polls had indicated that up to 80% of people across the country would vote in the referendum, there was no room for complacency for provincial election panels.
They must try to close loopholes to ensure a high voter turnout, he said.
Meanwhile, Adisorn Piangket, a leader of the Thai Rak Thai group, expressed confidence that Isan people would not accept the draft constitution, adding that the group will hold a forum at Sanam Luang on Wednesday to explain why they oppose the draft charter.
Chulalongkorn University's political scientists yesterday took to task the government for failing to carry out extensive information campaigns to educate voters on the charter.
Their criticism comes after a university poll showed 35.7% of 19,441 respondents nationwide did not understand the charter's content.
Siriphan Noksuan, the poll researcher, said that given the figure, a large number of voters would go to the ballots without sufficient information.
She urged the government to do more work to disseminate information on the charter ahead of the referendum day.
Charas Suwannamala, dean of the political science faculty and supervisor of the poll, said the government has not done enough to promote understanding about the charter.
Most of the campaigns simply encouraged people to vote, he said.
According to the poll results, 77 % of respondents would accept the charter while 22% would reject it. About 47% were satisfied with the charter while 17% were not.
Bangkok Post
