The announcement, signed by EC chairman Supachai Somcharoen, was published in the Royal Gazette yesterday, making it official.

The “Guidelines and Procedures for the 2016 Referendum” stipulates that people can seek information based on reliable sources and air their views regarding the referendum without vulgar, aggressive, harsh, provocative or false remarks and information. Their opinions should be polite, factual, and based on academic study. They can also post or share information via electronic media without added remarks, the announcement said.

Regarding the voting campaigns, people should not misinform others by giving press interviews with false or provocative information, post or share similarly prohibited information, or make or send similarly prohibited symbols.

Other activities, including holding public seminars without inviting state officials, academics or media groups, provocative news reporting, distribution of leaflets, and campaigns are also banned. However, the media can report without bias and without violating the law.

Meanwhile, EC commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn defended his version of what can and cannot be done in regard to the upcoming referendum on the charter draft, claiming that it only aims to simplify legal terms for public so they understand the document better.

Somchai’s version, posted on Sunday on his Facebook account, turned two points out of the eight don’ts into four separate points. They range from posting false information on websites or electronic media, sharing false information to engaging in harsh or seditious behaviour such as displaying divisive symbols in public.

“Our announcement is written with legal wording so it must be concise and thorough, covering necessary principles,” Somchai said. “We cannot write to cover everything, and what I have posted is just trying to simplify or explain the legal wording.”

Somchai’s Facebook post was criticised by Seri Suwanpanon, chairman of the National Reform Steering Assembly’s political reform committee, who said that the different versions could confuse the public and the EC should have finalised the dos and don’ts before publicising them. “If you are concerned about freedom of expression, it’s not only about what can or cannot be done,” Seri said during yesterday’s seminar on the referendum guidelines held by the Thai Journalists Association.

He was referring to the referendum bill’s Article 7, which stipulates that people should have the freedom to express opinions honestly and lawfully. “Fundamentally, everything must be able to be carried out,” Seri said. Seri also urged that the EC follow legal principles and standard procedure when dealing with the matter, especially relating to prohibitions and penalties for some referendum-related actions.

Seri also suggested that the EC should issue yellow cards to warn tentative wrongdoers instead of pressing charges against them right away.

Somchai said: “Political parties may violate National Council for Peace and Order rules if they wish to discuss the draft. So we will arrange that they find [EC-allowed] agencies to legitimately host events,” he said.

Pairoj Polpetch, chairman of the Human Rights Lawyer Association, argued for the EC to give all sides unconditional latitude to discuss the draft. He said that any limitation could discourage people from voting.