Fear of cultural identity being undermined and distrust of the military drove many Malayu Muslim voters in the deep South to reject the draft charter in the Sunday referendum, sources say.
Sixty-five percent of voters in Pattani, 62% in Narathiwat, and 60% in Yala rejected the draft, while 66% of voters in Pattani, 63% in Narathiwat, and 60% in Yala voted No to the extra question on whether the Senate should join MPs in choosing a prime minister.
Panu Uthairat, secretary-general of the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre, thanked people in the deep South for coming out to vote despite threats issued by insurgents ahead of the poll.
"The government will rectify any misunderstanding in the draft with the residents," said Mr Panu.
Gen Tawip Netniyom, secretary-general of the National Security Council, said the vote against the draft did not mean voters in general did not support the military.
"The authorities will ensure safety and security for the people. After all, the number of reported attacks has fallen to a 12-year low," said Gen Thawip.
Thaweesak Pi, a Narathiwat native, said regardless of the referendum outcome, the Melayu Muslims have faith in democracy and have chosen political means rather than guns to settle problems.
They were not certain if the draft charter can guarantee free education up to Mathayom 6 for their children.
Also, open discussions about the extra question and the draft were restricted in the far South and many voted against that in protest, said Mr Thaweesak.
But now people are looking to the future and expect they will get an elected government to take care of the economy, he added.
Mohammad Zamri bin Haroon, a Pattani-based activist, said 12 years of the military overseeing security in the far South made people naturally less inclined to accept the draft charter written with the junta in power.
"The bombs ahead of the referendum scared away voters. Also, those who voted against the draft don't want to see their cultural and religious identity restricted," said Mr Mohammad.
He said while the draft charter recognises the freedom of religion, some voters felt the issue is tied to security, which may affect their way of life.
Although attempts to stipulate Buddhism as the national religion in the charter were dropped, the draft distinctly emphasises the state's duty to promote and support Buddhism.
Srisompob Jitpiromsri, a political scientist at the Prince of Songkla University, said an underlying fear of persecution on the basis of religious and cultural identity has been played up by religious leaders and old political cliques. "It resonates in the minds of the people who are the minority in the country that their distinct identity might be wiped out," said Mr Srisompob.
Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva also has expressed concern the results in the far South may reflect people's doubts about the charter's content on religion, which is a sensitive matter.