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Sacked EC commissioner Somchai: ‘I upset the powers that be’


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Sacked EC commissioner Somchai: ‘I upset the powers that be’

By Somroutai Sapsomboon 
The Nation

 

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Former Election Commissioner Somchai Srisuthiyakorn

 

Former Election Commissioner Somchai Srisuthiyakorn believes his straight comments in public may have upset the powers-that-be, and were the reason he was removed from office.
 

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, in his capacity as head of the National Council for Peace and Order [NCPO], exercised his special powers specified by Article 44 embedded in the new charter to terminate Somchai as an Electoral Commission (EC) member, effective on Tuesday.

 

“I’m not shocked by the order. I have been aware for a long time that the powers-that-be might feel bad towards me. He [the junta chief] has the power to do so [remove him]. I have to admit it [the order],” Somchai told The Nation an hour after the order was announced in the Royal Gazette on Tuesday.

 

The order said that Somchai had carried out inappropriate behaviour by causing “public confusion” in his remarks with the media about the election process. Also, Somchai was in conflict of interest by applying to become EC secretary-general without resigning from his current post, it added.

 

Somchai recounted two of his remarks that could have upset those in power.

 

First, he answered a question asked by Prayut if it was lawful for the NCPO to support a political party, and Somchai said for a person it would be OK, but for the NCPO it was not appropriate.

 

Second, he opined that a petition to the Constitutional Court for a review of the MP election bill would definitely affect the road map to the election. This contradicted those in power who said it would not do so.

 

“I have no regrets. Working here [at the EC], we need to cling on to the right principles. The public will see whether the use of power by the powers-that-be is right or appropriate, or not,” he said.

 

Somchai said it would now be difficult for him to get the job of EC secretary-general.

 

This was because other four EC members, who will choose a candidate, may fear that they would dissatisfy the ruling powers if they voted for Somchai.

 

Somchai said he would not file a petition against the Article 44 order, but would find another job that suited his ability and experience.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30341399

 
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-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-03-21
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5 minutes ago, Misterwhisper said:

If interference occurs, you've got a problem.

Yes . . . the same 'total control' problem that the country has endured, since P1 proudly introduced his Article 44 weapon, as if his guns weren't enough.

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26 minutes ago, webfact said:

Former Election Commissioner Somchai Srisuthiyakorn believes his straight comments in public may have upset the powers-that-be, and were the reason he was removed from office.

is playing the victim an ability that thais are born with ?

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11 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

Will see if the Privy Council step in on this.

Question will be, 'what powers and credibility will they have, given the threat and total control powers of A44?' With P1 now getting into top gear (a nice dress pun, there), nothing has the power or respect that it once had. Give him another week and he'll be a one-man NCPO, EC, NACC and NLA … all rolled into one. Much easier to control, like that.

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2 hours ago, Ossy said:

You'll be lucky to get a job as a Government House toilet cleaner, now, mate. You dared to cross swords with Fancy Pants . . . think yourself lucky you're still breathing.

He should get that job, for life, with his tongue.  Good riddance to bad rubbish, but just firing him lets him off way too easy.

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26 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

TRANSLATION:

...we need to cling onto jobs that pay well and require little responsibility or knowledge.

Wrong!!

This guy was brave enough to speak out against the head-dinosaur   and he got fired...:coffee1:

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7 hours ago, Misterwhisper said:

And if Somchai's claim that he has been removed by the "powers-that-be" is factually true it unfortunately goes to demonstrate all too clearly that Thailand presently is NOT a democracy.

 

And were you under some crazy mis-impression that it was... now.... or any time in the recent past???

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