The government yesterday warned taxi drivers to remove anti-charter stickers from their vehicles and against expelling passengers who express support for the constitution. If they persist, they could face legal action. PM's Office Minister Thirapat Serirangsan said taxi drivers will be fined up to 1,000 baht if their cars carry the stickers and it could be worse if they drop passengers before reaching their destinations.

The warning came after complaints from the public that many taxis were carrying stickers opposing the charter before the referendum on Aug 19.

Many taxi drivers were sympathisers of deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his now dissolved Thai Rak Thai party. They held rallies to back Mr Thaksin during the political crisis when he faced street protests led by the People's Alliance for Democracy before the military coup.

Former Thai Rak Thai members will hold mass rallies next Wednesday in support of its campaign for a no vote in the national referendum, its key leaders said.

Former government spokesman Surapong Suebwonglee said the campaign against the charter will kick off at Sanam Luang.

The campaign would go beyond the issue of the coup as the origin of the draft constitution, he said. Instead, it will focus on the content of the charter, such as the requirement for appointed senators. 

"We will tell the public why we are against the draft charter," Mr Surapong said. "At present, there is little public discussion on the content. Some debates have been cancelled and we don't know why," he added.

The campaign will include key leaders such as Chaturon Chaisaeng and Sutham Saengprathum. The group is in the process of applying for permission to use part of the park, and the event will have nothing to do with another anti-coup demonstration held by the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship.

The campaign will also be held in key provinces such as Nakhon Ratchasima, he said.

Meanwhile, the Office of the Auditor-General (OAG) plans to impose a freeze on the assets of the dissolved Thai Rak Thai party next week, according to a source at the agency.

The freeze is part of the process where the OAG has to settle the financial accounts of Thai Rak Thai within six months of the party being dissolved, as ordered by the Constitution Tribunal.

The source said officials of the OAG will travel to the former ruling party's office in the IFCT building on New Phetchaburi road to make an inventory of assets such as computers, tables, desks and gym equipment paid for by Mr Thaksin.

The source said numbers will be assigned to the items in the office and photos taken so the assets cannot be moved anywhere without authorisation.

The source said the OAG had printed numbered stickers and staff from the Legal Execution Department would paste them on the assets. 

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