Prawit has previously always insisted that regardless of whether the charter draft makes it through the referendum, the general election would be held in 2017.

He could not say whether the general election would be deferred if the draft charter did not pass the referendum.

When asked to comment about concerns raised by some people that the government would not follow the road map, Prawit said he had no idea and could not answer the |question. “We are trying to follow the road map,” he said.

Responding to speculation that the NCPO would remain in power if the draft charter is rejected, Prawit said the council would stay on to draft the new charter.

“We may adapt the 1997 charter, the 2007 charter, the Borwornsak Uwanno charter draft, the Meechai Ruchupan draft. The NCPO chief will appoint a new charter drafting committee,” he said.

However, he said he believed the draft charter from Meechai Ruchupan’s Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC) would make it through the referendum.

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam, meanwhile, has been told to relax regulations to allow political parties to express opinions about the draft charter.

The CDC and the Election Commission will set up platforms for people to voice opinions, Prawit said. “This does not indicate a change in our standpoint. We had previously also opened channels for people to express their opinions,” he said.

Seree Suwanpanont, chairman of the political reform committee under the National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA), said the assembly’s meeting on Monday resolved that the EC should draft guidelines and methods for people to follow when voicing opinions, because the assembly believes that the existing guidelines and regulations set by the EC could result in implementation problems.

He said the assembly had suggested that the EC help the public understand that they have liberty to express and share their opinions about the charter draft provided they do not break any laws, as stipulated by Article 7 of the Referendum Act.

The EC should also come up with guidelines to clarify doubts about what could be deemed illegal or send queries to the EC, Seree said.

The EC should also issue yellow cards to those suspected of |violating the referendum law as a warning.

It should also clearly provide cases or examples of offences in accordance with Article 61 of the referendum law.