Public undecided on how to vote

BANGKOK: Most Thais are undecided about how they will vote next month in a referendum on a new constitution that the government says will promote stability but which critics say will entrench military influence, a pollster said yesterday.

The Aug 7 referendum is an important step for the government that took power after a 2014 coup as it tries to shape a political system after a decade of turmoil in Southeast Asia’s second-biggest economy.

The government has stifled dissent and is particularly sensitive about criticism of the draft charter, curbing debate ahead of a vote that will be the first big test of its popularity.

But a one-sided information campaign left many people dithering about how to vote and liable to make impulsive decisions, said Suwicha Pao-aree, head of polling at the National Institute of Development Administration (Nida).

“Anything could happen.” Suwicha said preparation for Thailand’s referendum was different to the campaign in Britain for a vote last month on whether to stay in the European Union or not.

“There has only been information from one side, whereas in Britain, both sides were allowed to take to the boxing ring and fight. The result is an undecided chunk of the population.”

Nida released a survey this week showing nearly 60 per cent of 1,500

people polled were undecided, 32 per cent would vote in favour of the draft constitution and about six per cent planned to vote against it.

The military government, which has promised an election next year, said the proposed constitution would heal divisions after years of rivalry between election-winning populist political forces and a military-dominated establishment

wary of challenges.

Critics of the charter, including some major political parties and activist groups, said it would empower pro-establishment institutions at the expense of political parties.

While activists said the charter would not heal underlying rivalries, some analysts said a vote in favour of it would be most beneficial for stability in the short term. Reuters

A pro-democracy activist reading an anti-Junta’s draft constitution leaflet next to a referendum campaign poster during a rally against the constitution in Bangkok recently. EPA pic