THAI SECURITY around all foreign missions in Bangkok will be boosted on Sunday when ballot booths open for the draft charter referendum, Foreign Ministry spokesman Sek Wannamethee said.

“There is no indication of clashes but the Thai government has coordinated with relevant security agencies to ensure the safety of all embassies,” Sek said.

The steps are being taken after the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, Myanmar and Denmark issued warnings for their citizens to be cautious on voting day.

Sek said the warnings from different countries are just general advice meant for their citizens, and not a call for better security.

Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai, meanwhile, played down the warnings. “They may not be aware that we are safer than many countries in the West,” Don said, adding that “several countries” had also praised Thailand for getting people to exercise their right to vote in the referendum.

Constitution Drafting Committee chairman Meechai Ruchuphan also said the junta has taken control of the situation. “But if anything happens, we may have to look at foreign countries as well,” he said. “We can’t blame it all on Thais.”

The chief drafter also countered the warning from Washington, pointing out that the US did not issue any alerts on shootings even though there are just three months to the elections.

Government Spokesman Maj-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd also promised that the referendum day would be incident free.

“I don’t think any military officer will carry arms to ensure people behave properly,” he said. “Some countries may have overestimated the situation. Thailand is safer compared to the period before the 2014 coup.”

The Asean Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) yesterday deplored the referendum for its undemocratic process and actions against opposing campaigners.

“This is not a referendum in any genuine sense of the word,” said Charles Santiago, member of the Malaysian parliament and APHR chairperson. “This is no atmosphere in which to conduct a vote. Free and open debate is critical to ensuring that the public can make an informed decision.

“Without it, there seems little rationale for holding this referendum other than an attempt by an unelected junta to manipulate the democratic process in order to claim some kind of legitimacy,” Santiago said.

APHR also mentioned Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s intention to remain in power if the draft is rejected.

“It seems that the Thai people are damned if they do and damned if they don’t approve this constitution,” said Walden Bello, former Filipino congressman and APHR board member.

The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), meanwhile, predicted that the draft would be rejected owing to public fear that it would erode previously held democratic rights.

“A fear of the indefinite and unaccountable control of government by the military will push citizens to overwhelmingly reject the draft constitution,” said John Marrett , the EIU research analyst. “The junta’s efforts to obstruct free opinion on the matter will conversely damage the case for it in the minds of voters.”