EC asks NLA to pull song on extra referendum question

SUNDAY, JULY 10, 2016
EC asks NLA to pull song on extra referendum question

THE Election Commission (EC) has asked the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) to stop distributing an animated music video presenting a song about its referendum question

The song was composed by national artist Shinakorn Krailas. It was presented in a video clip made by a television channel early this month to accompany an interview with NLA representatives.
The song conveys messages about the NLA’s additional question for the upcoming referendum, on whether they would agree to have the Senate jointly vote on a prime minister for the transitional period of the next government.
The clip – two minutes and 39 seconds long – has scenes that show ballot papers with “vote yes” being crossed.
After the video circulated among some Line chat groups, concerns were raised over whether the clip would be deemed as likely to influence voters and thus breach the referendum law, which bans influencing voters to vote in particular ways.
NLA Vice President Surachai Liengboonlertchai told The Nation that the video was produced by a TV channel and he had instructed concerned authorities not to post the video on the NLA website.