It called on the electorate to vote against the charter draft in the public referendum.

The party’s issued statement said the draft violated democratic principles and was a product of a coup-installed government. It had been written by the CDC appointed by the National Council for Peace and Order – and it catered to the desires of the NCPO more than the public interest.

The party said it rejected this charter draft because it would create more problems for the electoral and political systems.

“The CDC is going through a trial and error with its new electoral system that has never been adopted anywhere in the world and takes the public hostage. The election system will result in a weak and unstable government that cannot bring about the country’s development,” the statement said.

The PTP statement said Thais lost flesh and blood through their lengthy political struggle to have an elected PM – but this draft would allow a non-elected PM to take the country’s helm.

“If the non-elected PM belongs to the NCPO, the junta will take absolute control of the country. The junta will steer the country in the direction it wants, not [where] the public wants,” the statement said.

The statement said the charter draft included a mechanism to reduce the power of the people by empowering a Senate with 250 appointed senators. They would have significant power to veto legislation of a government elected by the people.

“The undemocratic charter will lead the country into an economic abyss because foreign investor confidence in the country will plunge,” the PTP said.

“The charter draft also gives unprecedented power to the Constitutional Court – more than the government and Parliament. The court can impeach MPs, senators, the Cabinet and independent agencies. The court has often proven to create a crisis of faith,” it said.

“The charter writers claim this draft was a ‘corruption buster’ aiming to block corrupt politicians from power. “In fact the draft does not have any effective mechanisms to stop corruption but empowers permanent officials to have more political power,” according to the PTP statement.

The draft included ’20-year national strategies’ that would prevent elected governments from steering the country in the direction the public wanted as it would have to comply with the NCPO’s 20-year plan.

“This draft will lead the country backward with some people offering an analogy that Thailand’s future will be like Myanmar’s 20 years [ago],” the statement said.

The draft would also bring about more political conflict and not bring about national reconciliation, the critics said.

The Pheu Thai suggested the interim charter 2014 be amended to say what the government would do if the charter draft did not pass a public referendum.

The party also called on the government to adopt the 1997 charter temporarily and hold an election within six months.

CDC chairman Meechai Ruchupan hit back at the Pheu Thai’s opposition to the charter draft, saying the party rejected it several times before its completion.

He refused to comment if the content of Pheu Thai’s statement would mislead the public, saying any decision was entirely up to the voters.

He expressed optimism that people would accept the charter draft if they wanted the country to move forward and to be governed under the rule of law.

Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan said he believe the Pheu Thai’s campaign for voters to reject the charter draft was illegal but he said Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam knows the law better.

Prawit said the vote no campaign by Pheu Thai does not affect national security.

General Somjet Bunthanom, who chairs a special committee scrutinising the bill on a public referendum on the charter draft said opponents and supporters of the charter draft are allowed to point out the drawbacks and disadvantages of the draft but telling the voters to reject or accept the draft or distort the content is illegal.