However, he reiterated that he did not think the centre was acceptable.

The UDD’s anti-fraud centre will be monitored closely to see if it is violating the referendum law, National Security Council secretary-general Thawip Netniyom said yesterday.”It is OK if politicians make moves that are within the law. But if they break the law, then strict action will be taken to prevent disturbances. Officials who take no action will also face negligence charges,” Thawip said.

He did not rule out the possibility that an ill-intentioned third party would use the UDD anti-fraud centre as an excuse to create political turmoil.

Interior Minister General Anupong Paochinda said he disapproved of the centre.

“They [the UDD] have clearly announced that they reject the draft charter. If they set up an anti-fraud centre, it should be neutral and not involve stakeholders. Even without considering the legitimacy issues, it is not fair at all,” he said.

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-gnam said the Public Referendum Act did not ban the setting up of such centres, provided they do not break the law.

UDD co-leader Nattawut Saikua, however, questioned Prayut‘s rejection of the centre, asking what was illegal about it.

“As citizens with sovereign power, we have the right to set up such a centre,” he said.

He added that the centre would deploy staff to observe the voting at different polling booths.

“The Election Commission has the authority to decide over this, not the prime minister. If the EC does not want the public to observe the voting, the government should not deploy uniformed soldiers to man the polling booths,” he said.

Nattawut insisted that the centre was set up for the public’s benefit and was part of public participation in the referendum.

“We have no intention to confront anybody or step up our struggle,” he said.