THE NATIONAL Legislative Assembly (NLA) yesterday voted unanimously to approve an additional referendum question asking voters whether they would approve the upper and lower houses of Parliament to jointly choose the new prime minister during the five-year transition period under the new charter.

This move is seen as an attempt by the junta to retain power after the next election. If voters approve the proposal in the referendum, it would empower an appointed Senate handpicked by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to select a prime minister.

Klanarong Chantik, a representative from the NLA subpanel gathering opinions, reasoned at yesterday’s NLA meeting that such a measure would ensure that reform plans are be carried out during the five-year transition period, after the next elected government takes office.

Three other NLA members, however, argued why the appointed Senate should be allowed to join elected MPs in approving the new PM.

NLA member Wallop Tang-kananurak said he wholeheartedly supported the proposed extra question in the referendum. In his opinion, he said, the Senate should also be allowed to vote in a no-confidence motion against the entire Cabinet or any of its members.

Other NLA members also agreed with the proposed question, saying it could help prevent the kind of crises that had befallen the country over the past decade. The question was endorsed yesterday with 152 votes and 15 abstentions.

The question would be forwarded to the Election Commission for preparation, as it would be a part of the referendum set to take place on August 7, along with the question to approve the constitution draft. If the the question is approved, the charter draft will be amended accordingly.

Meanwhile, campaigns calling on people to either vote for or against the draft charter will be strictly prohibited with violators facing strong penalties, though people are allowed to express their opinion about the matter, the NLA announced yesterday. The NLA spent six hours deliberating on a bill related to the draft charter referendum. The bill was eventually approved with 171 votes, while one voted against it and three abstained.

The bill carries a highly controversial clause prohibiting any campaigns related to the draft charter. Under the bill’s Article 62, anybody who causes disturbance, deceives, forces or threatens voters in a bid to prevent them from exercising their ballot, or convinces them to cast a certain vote could face jail for up to 10 years or Bt200,000 in fines. The court could also consider banning their electoral rights for up to five years.

In the second reading, NLA members Wallop Tang-kananurak and Tuang Antachai asked whether the bill should differentiate between campaigns to support freedom of expression and campaigns to convince people to vote for or against the charter draft, as the difference between opinion and campaigns could be blurred and easily confused.

The panel in charge, led by Somjate Boonthanom, explained that according to Article 7 of the bill, individuals were free to express their opinions regarding the charter draft, but telling people whether to vote “yes” or “no” was illegal as it could lead to further conflicts.

“Each party has the right to point out the good and bad points of the draft, but they cannot campaign or tell voters to cast their ballot in a particular way,” the panel explained.

The only agency allowed to encourage voters to exercise their rights is the Election Commission (EC) they said, adding that it must remain neutral and not guide people to vote yes or no.

The EC will be responsible for overseeing and arranging a public platform for people to express their views about the draft charter, the panel added.

The bill also authorises the Constitution Drafting Commission to explain the essence of the draft to the people, but it too does not have the power to influence votes.

Since the initial copy of the draft charter was made public in late January, opponents such as pro-

democracy activists and some politicians have said that they will vote “no” at the planned referendum.