The chiefs of the Election Commission (EC) and the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) showed confidence on Thursday the draft charter referendum remained on course despite the latest decision by the Constitutional Court.
The court voted on Wednesday to accept for consideration a petition by ombudsmen asking it to rule on the constitutionality of a clause in the 2016 Referendum Act. The ombudsmen acted on a request of Internet Law Reform Dialogue (iLaw).
EC chief Supachai Somcharoen and his counterpart at the NLA, Pornpetch Wichitcholchai, shared the same view in the wake of the court's decision.
The day for voters to decide whether to accept the charter is still on the calendar with no plans to defer it, Mr Supachai said.
Mr Pornpetch said the decision date for the charter and the roadmap to the general election remained unchanged and refused to make a prediction on the outcome of the case in court.
The EC and NLA were ordered on Wednesday to supply documents to the court on Monday in defence of the case, which centred on the choice of words in Section 61.
The controversial words are "violent, aggressive, rude," which the petitioners find vague and subjective and open the door to the use of discretion by law enforcers, making subjective decision. It is against the freedom of expression in the interim constitution, they say.
Mr Pornpetch said on June 2 that the NLA would not amend the controversial section until the court tells it to.
According to the junta's roadmap, the general election will be held in July next year regardless of whether the charter is endorsed in the referendum.
