Referendum on Thailand's new Charter draft tentatively set in July-August

BANGKOK, February 18 (TNA) - The Election Commission of Thailand (EC) has tentatively set a public referendum date for the country's new Constitution draft either before or after July 31, 2016. EC Chairman Supachai Somcharoen told journalists of the update on February 17, saying it was the resolution of Wednesday's meeting in Bangkok of parties concerned, including representatives of the media. Supachai revealed that EC has prepared three strategic plans to handle the upcoming public referendum, including voters' convenience, a fair referendum and an assurance toward Thailand's quality democracy. Vowing that his agency will spend money carefully on the public referendum, Supachai stressed that EC is prepared to allow the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) to inspect money spent by his election agency for the upcoming public referendum, expected at more than 3.4 billion baht. Meanwhile, Somchai Srisuthiyakorn, an election commissioner, told reporters that the public would know the result of the public referendum on Thailand's new Constitution draft only about three hours after the closure of polling booths. According to the election commissioner, 1.2 million copies of the full version of the new Constitution draft will be made available in public libraries and education institutes, six million copies of a detailed summary of the new Charter draft will be sent to public agencies and schools and another 17 million copies of fact sheets will be distributed to households throughout Thailand. The election commissioner urged voters to study the new Charter rationally and expressed their views on the new Charter draft straightforwardly without prejudice. (TNA)