<p>Draft charter only prolongs junta power: New Democracy Movement</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The New Democracy Movement (NDM), a youth pro-democracy activist group, has faulted the junta-sponsored draft constitution, concluding that the draft prolongs Thai junta rule.</p> <p>The NDM on Sunday, 15 May 2016, organised a public seminar on the junta-sponsored draft constitution at Thammasat University, Tha Prachan Campus, Bangkok,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.lokwannee.com/web2013/?p=218822">Lokwanee News reported</a>.</p>

<p>Former senators, human rights and election commissioners have pointed out that the laws regulating campaigns before the referendum to pass the junta-sponsored draft constitution ironically go against the junta’s Interim Charter.</p> <p>Jon Ungpakorn, a former senator and current director of iLaw, a human rights advocacy group, Kraisak Choonhavan, former senator, and Niran Pitakwatchara, former member of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), on Tuesday, 10 May 2016, submitted a letter to Raksagecha Chaechai, Secretary-General of the Office of the Ombudsman.</p>

<p dir="ltr">The Thai election commission has warned that people selling t-shirts with prints about the referendum on the junta-sponsored draft constitution might face up to 10 years imprisonment.</p> <p>On Wednesday, 4 May 2016, Somchai Srisuthiyakorn, Election Commissioner of Thailand (ETC), told media that certain political groups might be charged under the Draft Referendum Act for selling t-shirts with images or texts about the referendum on the draft constitution.</p>

<p>A former Law Reform Commissioner says that a fair referendum on the draft constitution is only a dream under the repressive political environment, while an Election Commissioner maintains that laws to regulate campaigns on the draft are necessary to prevent political conflict.</p>

<p>Academics say that the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), the formal name of the Thai junta, has violated its own rule book in harassing critics of the junta-sponsored draft constitution.</p> <p>Academics of the Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies (IHRP) of Mahidol University on Wednesday, 27 April 2016, held a briefing on the authorities’ actions in persecuting and intimidating people for criticizing the draft constitution written by the junta-appointed Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC).</p>

<div>A fundraiser in the northeastern province of Khon Kaen has been arrested as the first victim of the Referendum Act, only eight hours after a complaint was filed against her.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On Wednesday, 27 April 2016, Khaosod reported that Jiraphan Tanmani, President of the Rathawatanamani Fund -- an organization raising funds to promote autism rights -- was arrested for publishing content that was severe, aggressive and rude with the intention of persuading the public to accept or not accept the draft charter in the August referendum.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>She was </div>

<p>Thailand’s military government is brazenly seeking to shut down debate ahead of a referendum on a draft constitution, Amnesty International said today.</p> <p>At least a dozen Facebook commenters have been detained or charged on 27 April under a draconian new Order issued by the head of the military government. The arrests come after they commented on the controversial draft of a new constitution Thailand’s military government is seeking to impose.</p> <p>The Facebook users who were charged under the law now face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of 200,000 baht ($5,715).</p>

<div>An election commissioner has filed a complaint under the Draft Referendum Act against a fundraising organization in northeastern province of Khon Kaen.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On Wednesday, 27 April 2016, Matichon Online <a href="http://www.matichon.co.th/news/118580">reported</a> that Somchai Srisuthiyakorn, an election commissioner of Thailand, filed a complaint under the Draft Referendum Act against a fundraising organization in Khon Kaen Province (name withheld) at Toongsonghong police station, Bangkok.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>This is the first time that the act has been practic </div>

<p dir="ltr">Academics pointed out that even though the junta-sponsored draft constitution passes the public referendum, it will have no legitimacy as the junta is clamping down hard on the draft critics.</p>

<div>A Democrat deputy leader has criticized the Referendum Act for its heavy sentences and ambiguous content which can lead to arbitrary prosecution of those who oppose the referendum and the charter draft.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On Sunday, 24 April 2016, the Thai News Agency <a href="http://www.tnamcot.com/content/453580">reported</a> that Ongart Klampaiboon, deputy leader of the Democrat Party, urged the Election Commission of Thailand (ECT) to clarify ambiguous content in the Referendum Act, enacted on 22 April 2016.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>According to the Thai News Agency, O </div>