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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

Article 44 wielded with surprising speed in this case.

 

There must be some expedited process, including gazetting, for when the PM is upset?

  • Popular Post
5 minutes ago, webfact said:

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

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.

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Bodies like an election commission are supposed to be independent and work free of any government interference. It's called checks and balances - in a true democracy anyway.

 

If interference occurs, you've got a problem. 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.

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.

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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10 minutes ago, Misterwhisper said:

Bodies like an election commission are supposed to be independent and work free of any government interference. It's called checks and balances - in a true democracy anyway.

 

If interference occurs, you've got a problem. 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.

Absolutely right. Is was under the premiership of Anand in 1992 that he realized the need to create a central and independent body. The sacking is definitely an overreach. Also the EC commissioners are royally appointed and this may be a problem. Will see if the Privy Council step in on this.

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now all he has to do is sack the rest

and guess what?

No election

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6 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

Absolutely right. Is was under the premiership of Anand in 1992 that he realized the need to create a central and independent body. The sacking is definitely an overreach. Also the EC commissioners are royally appointed and this may be a problem. Will see if the Privy Council step in on this.

'The sacking is definitely an overreach' - true.

The trouble is - the whole overthrowing of an elected government by the threat of force was an overreach of the highest, most treasonous proportions (some might say - not  me, of course!)

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.

12 minutes ago, Eligius said:

(some might say - not  me, of course!)

Oh, come on . . . 'treasonous' is OK on a Wednesday morning :smile:

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I'm not overly upset as he worked in the JS (Junta System) for years and simply was 'off message' but this guy is not a champion of democracy but he, and others, will try to re-position themselves as the Junta Flagship is sinking!

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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2 hours ago, Misterwhisper said:

Bodies like an election commission are supposed to be independent and work free of any government interference. It's called checks and balances - in a true democracy anyway.

 

If interference occurs, you've got a problem. 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.

Where you here in 2014?  What you say refers to a utopia that couldn't be further from the reality in Thailand.  The slime was completely in cahoots with the PDRC and doing anything in his power to sabotage the last election.  He's completely as despicable as Prayuth, not the good guy in this.  Just a case of the revolution eating its own young, factions fighting for power.

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4 hours ago, webfact said:

Working here [at the EC], we need to cling on to the right principles.

TRANSLATION:

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

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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6 minutes ago, JOC said:

Wrong!!

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

He clung to the job for almost fours after the coup. That's not bravery.

So now he gets fired by the head constitutional abuser. I'd say his departure was long overdue as well as the rest of the EC dinosaurs.

Sorry, but no Kudos to Somchai.

Too bad Fat head P doesn't kick himself out of power using article 44 as he is so full of baloney. Prem T needs to kick the bucket as he is the director behind the scenes. So communist in a sense. 

I often wondered where the PM got the idea for Article 44...could this be it?

220px-Harry_Callahan.JPG

  • Popular Post
4 hours ago, ChidlomDweller said:

Where you here in 2014?  What you say refers to a utopia that couldn't be further from the reality in Thailand.  The slime was completely in cahoots with the PDRC and doing anything in his power to sabotage the last election.  He's completely as despicable as Prayuth, not the good guy in this.  Just a case of the revolution eating its own young, factions fighting for power.

Really som nam na well deserved. He played a role to invite the coup and now got sacked by article 44 with no legal recourse. It will be much more difficult to sack him under an elected government and he can seek court intervention. Such sweet justice. 

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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