The Election Commission is among agencies overseeing the issue, NCPO spokesman Colonel Piyapong Klinphan said. But he said the NCPO would also monitor the group.

Colonel Peerawat Sangtong, a spokesman for the Internal Security Operations Command, said his agency would support the EC in looking for violations of the referendum law.

He said the agency always followed the movements of political groups but it was not a law enforcer.

Meanwhile, Boonsong Noisophon, an Election Commission member, thanked the Constitutional Court for accepting a petition from the Ombudsman’s Office to look into whether Article 61 of the referendum law violates the charter. He said the move would help clear up the issue.

The EC was ready to act whatever the court ruling, he said. If it rules the controversial clause in the referendum law is at odds with freedom of expression guaranteed in the interim charter, the bill would be amended, he said.

Boonsong said new clauses could also be added to the bill. Any amended version of the bill would be given to Cabinet and National Legislative Assembly (NLA) before endorsement, he added.

In the meantime, the referendum law as it stands remains in effect, he said.

Red-shirt leaders including Jatuporn Prompan yesterday submitted an open letter to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha at Government House explaining the objectives of the anti-fraud centre.

“If there’s no intention to cheat, this centre will pose no problem,” Jatuporn, chairman of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, said.

He said the authorities had threatened people in charge of the centre’s branches in different provinces.

Jatuporn told the PM this was a good chance for him to ensure the referendum was transparent.

In a related development, EC president Supachai Somcharoen said administrative officers across the country playing a role in the referendum were only tasked with spreading information about the charter, explaining the NLA’s additional question in the referendum and explaining the referendum process to the public.

‘Officials should stay neutral’

He said they should remain neutral and not try to influence people’s decision on how to vote.

He encouraged the officers to keep doing their task, despite the uncomfortable political circumstances.

Meanwhile, Pheu Thai politician Noppadol Patama, a former foreign minister, urged the authorities to allow people to express themselves freely, saying that doing this would be beneficial to the country in every way.

Freedom of expression would help create a free, fair and respected referendum in the eyes of people both in and outside the Kingdom, as well as create a democratic and relaxed atmosphere in the country, Noppadol said.

He said it would help ease the distrustful atmosphere while facilitating trust-building in every part of society. Ultimately, it could help bring about reconciliation.

“Allowing constructive expression is the best way to learn about democracy in reality,” he said. “I don’t believe that different views will always lead to chaos and unrest.

“The chance is less than a snake protruding from a toilet bowl,” he added, in reference to the news story about a snake coming up through a toilet.

Freedom was as important to democracy as air was to mankind, Noppadol said.