A grassroots network has initiated a signature collection campaign aimed at promoting a referendum on whether casinos should be legalized in the country.
The Secretary-General of the Stop Gambling Foundation, Thanakorn Komkris, stated that the network's goal is to gather at least 50,000 signatures to prompt a referendum on the legalization of casinos and solicit public opinion.
Previously, the foundation had launched an online petition against the Entertainment Complex Act, advocated by the Pheu Thai Party. This petition has already garnered over 70,000 signatures opposing the act.
The network believes that the legalization of casinos is a significant issue that could have negative social impacts, thus necessitating a referendum to let the public decide the future of the project. The act will be submitted to the parliament for consideration, and if approved, it would allow the establishment of multiple casino entertainment complexes nationwide.
Thanakorn emphasized the discrepancy between the government's stance and public perception. He noted that while the government might consider the issue as minor, the public sees it as having a broad social impact on future generations.
Once 50,000 signatures are collected, they will be submitted along with the referendum petition to the Election Commission (EC). The EC will then verify the qualifications of the signatories, a process that could take up to 30 days. After verification, the EC will submit the relevant information to the Cabinet Secretariat.
Thanakorn mentioned that according to the Referendum Act, the Cabinet cannot reject the petition; it can only acknowledge it and set a date for the referendum.
Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai has denied the necessity of a referendum on the act. He stated that although the government welcomes policy feedback, delays could impact the economy, as these entertainment complexes are crucial to the government's economic stimulus measures.
The government has asked its legal department—the Council of State—to review the Entertainment Complex Act within 50 days before submitting it to parliament for consideration. The government insists that a referendum is unnecessary, as the policy has already been approved by parliament.
The Secretary-General of the Council of State, Pakorn Nilprapunt, stated that the government has prioritized the act and emphasized the agreed-upon 50-day review period by the Cabinet.
When asked whether a referendum might be considered to gauge public opinion, he said that the decision lies with the government, and if the act is deemed a threat, the government might consider it.
