Whatever the outcome, the rival political groups may not respect the result, according to an opinion poll by Rajabhat Suan Dusit University released yesterday. The survey was conducted on 1,179 people in all regions of the country between May 30 and June 3.

Of the respondents, 74.72 per cent said they were concerned about the conflict and division, as well as the possible rejection of the referendum’s outcome. This was the top concern among five issues outlined in the survey’s questionnaires, in which the respondents could answer more than one question.

The second largest group of the respondents, 73.11 per cent, said the issue of greatest concern to them was lack of transparency and the unfairness of the referendum process.

A lack of understanding of the subject of the referendum – the constitution draft – came third with 70.06 per cent.

The issues of least concern were limited participation and waste of state budget at 61.92 per cent and 63.60 per cent respectively.

Asked what they thought could be done to make the referendum go smoothly, 81.76 per cent said the voice of the majority should be heard and public interest guarded.

Transparency, fairness, and well-preparedness came second with 76 per cent promoting the importance of the referendum, and giving accurate and clear information about it was third (71.08 per cent). That was followed by voter independence or the ability to vote for your choice (63.19 per cent). Strict laws to suppress possible unrest came last in the poll with 58.52 per cent.

Another concerning issue about the referendum is the possibility it will be postponed because a clause under its regulating law are subject to a Constitutional Court verdict.

National Legislative Assembly president Pornpetch Vichitcholchai refuted yesterday that he had never said the referendum would be put off if the Constitutional Court found the clause violated the interim charter.

He said his thoughts on the matter had been wrongly reported.

Pornpetch said the referendum law was still in effect. But if the second clause of Article 61 became invalidated, related agencies such as the Election Commission would have to determine if the amended law affected the referendum process.

If the EC proposed the need to enact a law to help with its work, the NLA is willing to proceed accordingly, the legislator said. The NLA is preparing for any explanation the Constitutional Court might request from it, he said, adding the EC, as an enforcing agency, should help provide statements and also be prepared for any difficulties that might follow the law’s amendment.

Constitution Drafting Commi-ssion spokesman Chartchai na Chiangmai said the referendum could only be deferred if the interim charter was amended or Article 44 of the charter was used. But it would be very difficult to do so, making a deferment unlikely, he said.

Chartchai also revealed the CDC’s training sessions for its “mouthpieces” to explain the charter to the public were going well at the district level with a 99 per cent attendance rate. He said the main concern about politics raised during the sessions related to the new election method with the use of only one ballot. But it was not a major issue compared to the interest in state welfare issues such as pension for the elderly and the healthcare scheme.