Meanwhile, defiant activists as well as civil society figures and politicians continued to voice their concerns over tough measures to mute criticism.

The Interior Ministry yesterday gave the green light to local administrators nationwide to intensify measures against the dissemination of “false” information regarding the referendum and the draft.

The ministry also ordered its provincial “order maintaining” centres to hold weekly monitoring sessions regarding the “peace situation”, immediately apply tough legal measures against provocateurs and report to the ministry.

The order also commanded local governors to use all available means of communication to explain to people about bans on attempted provocation.

“Do not worry that people will be alarmed by our informed facts,” the ministry order said. “Because they will show which side wants to stay in order to continue solving the country’s problems and which side wants to create tensions and does not want to solve the problems.”

The order came after the circulation of a report accusing the ministry’s provincial administration department of potentially compromising people’s personal data in a system in which people can type in their identification numbers in its database at http://www.khonthai.com to check their voting eligibility for the referendum.

While confirming that people can check their eligibility on the website, Ministry permanent secretary Kritsada Boonrat insisted in the order that they were not trying to lure people into surrendering their personal data.

The order also followed Saturday’s report regarding the destruction of registration papers belonging to eligible voters in Kamphaeng Phet’s district of Khanu Woralaksaburi.

According to local superintendent Pol Colonel Itthi Chamnanmor, an unknown person tore up the registration papers that were left unattended at a prospective polling station. Police are still investigating the incident and have not concluded whether there may have been a political motive.

Meanwhile, the New Democracy Movement (NDM) said it would continue to distribute charter draft booklets, which were banned by the Election Commission and charter drafters on the grounds that they illegally “distorted” the charter content.

NDM leader Rangsiman Rome said the EC had failed to provide reasons for their ban of the booklet, and had not allowed NDM members to explain their point of view.

NDM member Worawut Butmart said the group had also published a new charter booklet spelling out seven reasons why the charter draft should be rejected.

First, the booklet said, Article 52 of the draft gives the military overwhelming power by giving it a role in developing the country. Second, Clause 2 of Article 279 legitimised every action carried out by the junta regardless of possible human rights violations.

Third, the coup-makers would also have influence in appointing the Constitutional Court judges and key figures in independent agencies, which will be selected by the junta-appointed Senate.

Fourth, the charter could not be amended without military approval because one-third of the Senate must approve amendments.

Fifth, the draft allows the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to continue in power until the new government is appointed, while the prime minister could continue to resort to utilising the broad powers of Article 44.

Sixth, Article 65 stipulates that the national strategic committee, appointed by the current junta government, would have the authority to make suggestions and issue warnings to future elected governments in line with junta-designated strategic plans.

Finally, the draft would create a “military party” in Parliament because there would be 500 MPs and 250 junta-appointed senators, meaning the military would have the power to legislate and screen laws.

Meanwhile, representatives from civil society and political parties yesterday said the NCPO should lift legal restrictions to allow extensive discussions about the charter draft before the vote.

Gathering at Thairath TV studios, the gathering included Pheu Thai representative Chaturon Chaisang, Democrat Thana Cheeravinij, former red-shirt chairwoman Thida Thavornseth, peace academic Kotom Areeya and former rights commissioner Sunee Chairos.