NAKHON RATCHASIMA -- Police in Region 3 have been instructed to be on alert for any emergency during and in the lead up to Sunday's referendum on the draft charter.
They have also been ordered to join the campaign encouraging people to turn out and vote, in addition to their normal duties.
Crime suppression police have been told to be particularly alert for military-grade weapons, explosives and drugs, working in coordination with military personnel.
The instructions were issued by Pol Gen Srivara Rangsibrahmanakul, a deputy police chief, at a meeting of police commanders of all levels in the eight provinces under the Provincial Police Region 3 on Monday at a police training centre in tambon Chor Hoh of Muang district.
So far there had been no reports of any unusual movements in the Northeast, he said.
As for Khon Kaen province, Pol Gen Srivara said he had been ensured that the activities of the New Democracy Group had been brought under control with strict law enforcement.
Asked about the 11 people in the North who had been detained for alleged involvement in spreading letters deemed to contain misinformation about the draft charter, Pol Gen Srivara said the court had approved warrants for their arrest on charges of inciting public unrest in violation of Section 116 of the Criminal Code.
They include Boonlert Buranupakorn, president of the Chiang Mai provincial administration organisation, and his niece Tasanee Buranupakorn, a former Pheu Thai MP for Chiang Mai. The wealthy Booranupakorn family are core supporters of the Pheu Thai Party.
