Soldiers were ‘ordered to cast ballots’ in referendum

TROOPS in the capital were instructed to vote on the charter yesterday but many of them cast their ballots without a firm understanding of its content.

The polling station at the Military Circle 11 Flat in Dusit district was crowded with soldiers, mostly from the nearby Cavalry Battalion 3 camp and the Royal Thai Army Signal Department office.

A long queue was seen outside the station when it opened at 8am, as many military voters came at the same time and caused a minor disruption when they tried to find their name and number on the voters’ list.

One of the soldiers from the Signal Company, who did not want to be unidentified, told The Nation that they were all ordered by their superiors to participate in the referendum. “All soldiers from my company were told to cast a ballot on the referendum.

“I’m stationed to attend to my commander at his home but also have to travel here to vote. All of us have showed up,” the private said.

A cavalryman said all of the privates in his company had to head to the referendum.

However, he denied that there was a roll call of soldiers who voted, and did not answer what will happen if any of them decides not to vote.

From an exit interview, many of them admitted that they did not understand the details of the referendum and the extra question, but said there was an explanation at the military camp about the constitution.

A private from the Signal Company said he endorsed the charter.

“I voted ‘Yes’ in this referendum because I heard that this charter will guarantee free education for children until they graduate from high school, which I think this is a good thing,” he said.

The animated atmosphere at the polling station died down in the afternoon, when all the soldiers had finished exercising their citizen’s right and only a few people came to do their duty.

In Sa Kaeo, a huge number of soldiers turned out to vote but not in uniform. They wore warm-up gear instead. In Phitsanulok, many polling stations were set up right in front of a military base. Most servicemen showed up in the morning forming long lines.