Jatuporn’s Facebook live stream on charter legal, says EC
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KEY RED-SHIRT figure Jatuporn Promphan’s Facebook live stream to criticise the constitution is not illegal, said Election Commissioner Somchai Srisuthiyakorn.
A person has the right to provide information on the draft constitution as long as the referendum law is not violated, the commissioner said.
As the referendum date of August 7 approaches, United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship president Jatuporn hosted an online live-stream program on Facebook to express his views on the charter draft.
The move raised concerns over whether it breached the referendum law, which prohibits the spreading of false, rude, incendiary, or intimidating messages with the intention to influence voters.
But Somchai said Jatuporn’s live stream could have given an alternative view of the constitution draft to voters that could be advantageous.
However, he warned the red-shirt leader not to cross the line set by the referendum law by giving false information or using vulgar language to incite people or induce street protests.
Jatuporn should only give essential information without trying to influence how people vote, the election commissioner said.
