He said that without this move, members of the media that report on the charter content might not be protected by law. He also said the media should ensure that the content is reported upon without any distortion, as that might lead to social conflict.

Udom added that the CDC would also cooperate with the Election Commission (EC) to set guidelines on allocating broadcast time for the charter draft.

He reported that EC member Somchai Srisuthiyakorn had earlier said that the content would be broadcast 10 times, two of which will be overseen by the CDC, one by the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) and the rest by the EC.

However, Udom explained that the CDC would not disseminate the charter-draft content in a debate format and that the law did not require it to work with the EC on this matter.

Supachai Yawaprapat, chairman of the CDC’s committee on charter content, said the commission would hand over leaflets detailing the essence of the charter draft to the EC to distribute among the public tomorrow.

He said the commission also wanted to come up with a song encouraging the public to cast their ballot in the referendum.

“We have approached some artists to write the song for us,” he said.

Krissada Bunrat, permanent secretary of the Interior Ministry, said the ministry would have each province set up a public relations centre to circulate content of the draft at provincial and district levels. He said five teachers or trainers selected in each province would be trained on how best to publicise the draft content.

He said this training at the provincial level would be held on May 18 and 19, and at the district level on May 30 to June 10. As many as 8,780 people in 878 districts will undergo training.

Training at the village level will run from June 11 to 30 and will involve 321,964 people.

Separately, Sakul Suesongtham, director of the People’s Network for Elections (PNet), said the agency would observe the referendum.

Though Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has banned foreign agencies and non-governmental organisations from observing the referendum, scheduled for August 7, the agency believes having observers for the event would be beneficial for the country.

He said his agency might seek permission from the EC to observe, either officially or unofficially, the casting of ballots at the referendum.

CDC member Prapan Naikowit said that while he was working at the EC, he did not see any regulations banning agencies from observing the referendum held for the 2007 Constitution.

The panel will then submit its findings to the NACC to consider and decide whether it should withdraw the case filed at the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders.

The defendants include former prime minister Somchai Wongsawat, his then-deputy General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, former national police chief Pol General Patcharawat Wongsuwan and former Bangkok police chief Pol Lt-General Suchart Muankaew. The defendants reportedly filed a petition asking the NACC to look into their additional evidence.

NACC chairman Pol General Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit had said earlier that under law, the commission can look into the petition, but whether it decides to withdraw the case or not depends on the evidence.

He reiterated the point yesterday, saying that he had asked concerned officials to expedite the evidence review so the defendants can be treated fairly. The sub-panel will be chaired by the NACCsecretary-general himself.

Yellow-shirt People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protesters were violently removed from outside Parliament in October 2008, leading to the NACC filing malfeasance charges against the then-prime minister and his deputy, along with two police chiefs. Two people were killed and more than 300 injured, including police officers, during the crackdown.

One of the defendants, Patcharawat, is Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan’s brother and it is believed that the deputy PM backed his brother for the post of new NACC chairman, leading to speculation that nepotism could be at play.

Watcharapol said he acknowledged the speculation, and as the agency’s chairperson, he said he must proceed with the case with utmost care. However, he added that eventually the withdrawal of the case would depend on the court.

“Today, we are talking about using reason and law to lead our decision, not a sense of justice or injustice,” Watcharapol said. “According to law, we can consider and come up with reasons, and if our decision to withdraw the case is submitted to the court, it will be the court who finally decides whether the case should be withdrawn.

The point is we have not yet reached a conclusion.”

Watcharapol dismissed a former NACC member’s remark that no cases have ever been withdrawn from court, saying the agency would adhere to the rule of law and proceed with the case.

Meanwhile, a source at the agency said the nine NACC members have started discussing the case to gauge each other’s views. However, they will wait until the sub-panel wraps up its review before making a decision on the petition.

This is the key theme in “The Last Station”, a play which is part of a graduation ceremony of the sixth Advanced Certificate Course in Promotion of Peaceful Society at King Prajadhipok’s Institute.

“The Last Station” has a train as its setting, telling a story of people with different political stances in a society travelling together with no escape.

“We thought about what could be the destination – or the last station – of the country – the station of hope for all Thais,” said the play’s writer and director Piyanuch Narkkong, about her inspiration for the story. “We did not get the idea from any films. We chatted and then agreed to go with this idea.” The play will be featured at the Government House complex on Friday and Saturday. It has been produced by 90 students of the peace course, a programme that attempts to bring activists from rival camps to learn politics together and in peace.

The play’s performers are the students in the class, including Pheu Thai former MP Vipoothalaeng Pattanapoomthai, and vocal red-shirt activist Sombat Boonngama-nong.

The play also stars Democrat former MP Tankhun Jittitsara, and two former key members ofPeople’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) – Veera Somkwamkid and Sirichai Maingram.

They have teamed up to present the play despite their backgrounds in different colour-coded political camps. The play has been crafted to demonstrate how people with different opinions can live together on the same life train peacefully, Piyanuch said.

Piyanuch told The Nation the train houses a wide range of people. While it rolls towards the last station, she said, many problems and activities occur. The final station in the play is the destination of all passengers, she said, which is the station of “peace”.

The full plot of the play has not yet been revealed and still remains to be seen, she said.

Piyanuch insists the story has nothing to do with politics. She said it is just a mirror of Thai society at present. The play will also provide food for thought and let people think further on how our society can exist in harmony without conflict, she said.

Piyanuch said that prior to the debut on Friday, 21 performers had rehearsed the play for months. For the final rehearsal, the performers stayed together for three days at a resort in Khao Yai, from last Friday to Sunday.

“The performers put their hearts and minds into this great work. They switched off their mobile phones and talked together until 3am,” said Piyanuch, also a student in the same class.

The Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC) will work to explain and disseminate the charter draft’s key points while the National Legislative Assembly will clarify details about its additional question, which in essence would empower the next Senate to participate in the selection of a prime minister, NLA Vice President Surachai Liengboonlertchai said yesterday.

Both bodies’ public relations plans regarding the referendum have been an issue because the CDC earlier expressed concerns about the controversial additional referendum question, saying it might confuse voters if the NLA shared the stage at forums, which consequently could affect acceptance of the constitution.

Besides joint public events, the NLA will also rely on programmes such as “NLA Meeting with the Public”, parliamentary broadcasting stations and its media network to publicise the referendum question.

Addressing a concern about a scenario in which the constitution does not pass the referendum but the additional question does, Surachai said the new constitution should include clauses that allow the Senate to choose a prime minister jointly along with the MPs, reflecting public consensus on the matter.

He added that the Election Commission (EC) would stipulate what actions are banned under the new referendum law. The NLA has already adjusted several points in the bill for the sake of clarity, Surachai said, adding that he thought it could be easily understood.

“The two main principles of the referendum law [about public opinion] are that it gives full rights and freedom to the public [to express their opinion about the charter draft] and that people have the right to express their position for or against the charter, but they cannot persuade others to vote as they do. That could lead to another round of conflict,” Surachai said.

He added that the EC was responsible for determining whether the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) and the Great Mass of People’s Foundation for Thailand’s Reform’s recent announcements respectively opposing and favouring the charter violated the referendum law.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam reiterated that the EC had the authority to decide what activities are illegal under the new act.

Wissanu said the EC had issued three sets of guidelines related to campaigns on the referendum, adding that the commission should clarify what is permissible and what is prohibited regarding public expressions of opinion in the media, on signboards and via social media.

“We want the EC to say clearly what is black, white or grey. The EC does not need to seek the government’s approval for its regulations because it has the right to issue such regulations,” said Wissanu, who is a prominent lawyer.

He said both EC regulations and the government’s orders would be enforced although Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has said the priority will be to enforce the referendum act.

The deputy prime minister said both were equally authoritative and depended on the legal context of the situation.

For instance, if there is incitement in public, it will be a violation of Article 61, but the EC must be able to explain what constitutes such an act, he said.

Asked if the UDD or the Great Mass of People’s Foundation for Thailand’s Reform announcements broke the law, Wissanu responded that police, prosecutors and the courts would decide.

He added that there would be consequences if the issue is not clarified.