‘Isaan is the indicator for the entire country in referendum’
IN AN exclusive interview with The Nation, Preecha Uitragool, the Open Forum for Democracy Foundation (PNET) coordinator for the Northeastern, or Isaan, region says the region is an indicator of Sunday’s referendum result because with 17 million eligible
HOW HAS THE OVERALL ATMOSPHERE BEEN IN ISAAN DURING THE RUN-UP TO THE REFERENDUM?
Concerning attentiveness, it is somewhat quiet. Mostly people follow referendum matters via TV and radio programmes on a few channels and by reading large placards in the cities. However, I rarely see referendum banners set up along main roads. The PNET has talked to its allies in Nakhon Ratchasima province and found that villagers seldom discuss it.
Most voters have not seen the full draft. Even I have not seen the complete version. The Election Commission (EC) should distribute the full draft to all voters for the referendum’s credibility and transparency’s sake. Whether people will read it or not is entirely another matter.
There is a great deal of ambiguity here. If the voters do not know or understand the draft, how can the referendum be valid? People should have the chance to deliberate. Public debates should have been held to raise people’s motivation about and awareness of the charter and referendum.
Villagers seem to receive selective information from mainstream media and will make decisions based on what the media tells them.
HOW IS ISAAN DIFFERENT FROM OTHER REGIONS?
Isaan is the largest region with the largest number of residents in the country, 21.9 million as of last year. More and more people from Isaan graduate (from academic institutions) in the country or abroad. Isaan people, I think, are highly aware of politics at both the local and national levels. This region usually matters in general elections and the region’s voting results have been used as an indicator of the country’s situation.
DOES SUCH A QUIET SITUATION APPLY TO THE ENTIRE REGION, OR IS IT MORE PRONOUNCED IN THE CITIES OR THE COUNTRYSIDE?
Big cities are quiet. And, of course, upcountry areas are even worse. Urban people talk about what they have heard concerning the referendum, but there are only some matters that they dare to speak about.
DUE TO THIS SILENCE, IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THE VOTER TURNOUT WILL REACH THE 80-PER-CENT GOAL SET BY THE EC?
Let’s see whether it will. I anticipate a large number will turn out. Perhaps voters will be interested in the referendum as it will determine the country’s future, laying down laws and regulations for the nation. Or people may feel apathetic regarding Sunday’s referendum because they have no idea how to vote.
THE EC WISHES TO SEE “QUALITY” VOTES, WHICH ARE NOT INFLUENCED BY CAMPAIGNS. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THE VOTES?
I wonder how enthusiastically people will participate in the referendum, as they have not seen the charter. The term “induce” implies that a superior succeeds in convincing someone perceived as inferior to do something. And, I think, a number of voters could be more likely to be induced as they have not received or studied the full charter.
HOW HAVE YOU PLANNED TO COVER THE REFERENDUM?
Our network covers the entire nation and is characterised by various groups of volunteers including ordinary people, the business sector, civil servants, NGOs and local administrators. The network will send volunteers to observe the situation and communicate via social media. Local observers will post regular updates about the social and political situation in their areas and send survey reports to each other.
During the run up to the referendum, we will be visiting our allies throughout Isaan. On August 7, we will observe the referendum in certain districts in Nakhon Ratchasrima, the largest province in the country. Our allies in other provinces nationwide will do the same and afterwards we will publish reports about referendum.
