Prayut threatens UDD with legal action over anti-fraud centre

“If they want to set up the centre they can but do not break the law. If they get together and break the law, we will look into it,’’ he said yesterday.

“What do I gain if there are frauds to rig the charter draft to pass or not pass the referendum?’’ he said.

UDD leaders have said that after setting up the centre to monitor for fraud in the August 7 referendum, they would invite the United Nations, the European Union and foreign embassies in Thailand to the centre.

Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan said he would not allow the centre to be set up. “The referendum is our internal affairs. Why would they have to bring others in?’’ he said.

Prawit said the country had the National Anti-Corruption Commission and the Election Commission to monitor for referendum fraud.

“Please stop, I plead with you,” he said. “If the UDD still go ahead, I will take legal action. 

“Our country will be in turmoil. Then why would we have these agencies in the country? Please be confident that we want the country to move forward.’’

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said that national security agencies may have information about the anti-fraud centre that may warrant the centre being banned, but the public referendum law did not ban such a facility.

He said orders by the National Council for Peace and Order did not only ban a political gathering of more than five people. “If a political gathering is carried out on behalf of a centre behind closed doors, we do not know what their discussion is about,” he said.