EC under microscope for gerrymandering over designing of boundaries

[webfact]

EC under microscope for gerrymandering over designing of boundaries

By THE NATION

 

 

THE ELECTION COMMISSION (EC) yesterday faced difficult questions over the design of constituency boundaries and whether boundary gerrymandering is at work after the junta issued an order allowing the agency extra time for the process.
 

The electoral boundary drawing was a burning question in yesterday’s meeting between the EC and political parties. The meeting’s stated aim was to guide politicians through new rules and regulations in preparation for the first election in five years.

 

But Chusak Sirinil, head of Pheu Thai Party’s legal team, yesterday expressed discomfort over the junta order that legalises any decisions on constituency mapping by the EC no matter whether they were in line with the existing laws.

 

“Pheu Thai would like answers from the EC – will you really go against the law and disregard electoral laws?” the lawyer asked. “The junta order obviously suggests and opens way for the EC to do anything.”

 

He went on to say that there was no other way to look at it, but as an intervention by the junta to tamper with electoral boundaries.

 

Mapping constituencies is one of the fundamental issues in an election, Chusak said. If it is not done freely and fairly, it is impossible to believe that the whole voting process will be free and fair, he said.

 

‘Junta’s own political gain’

 

This is especially worrisome given that the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has been involved with some political parties, Chusak said. All these moves could be considered something they did for their own political gain, he added.

 

“Pheu Thai would like an answer on how the EC will go about this. We hope you uphold justice and draw constituency boundaries according to the law,” he said.

 

The concern began looming after the NCPO ordered an extended timeline for the EC to design electoral constituencies and have a final say on the issue regardless of complaints. It was previously reported that the EC had already completed the task. Some politicians and critics now fear that the boundaries would be changed to favour pro-junta parties.

 

Pongsri Tharaphum, the Democrat Party’s registrar, chimed in yesterday to say that if the boundaries had been changed and showed irregularities, it would petition the EC to review its decision.

 

The EC has been working on drawing constituency boundaries over the past couple of months. The agency put three different options for each electoral area before public hearings. Since the junta order was issued, rumours are circulating that a fourth drawing had emerged in many areas.

 

Gerrymandering is a serious threat for political parties. If a party’s stronghold is separated into two constituencies, for instance, then that party could lose the election in one or both of those constituencies.

 

Prayut Siripanit, Pheu Thai Party’s head of the Northeast, has already reported an instance of what he charged amounted to gerrymandering.

 

The 17 sub-districts of Maha Sarakham’s Kosum Phisai cistrict, have been divided into two constituencies, he said. One had 10 sub-districts and the other had seven and the change would have impact on Pheu Thai candidates running in the area, he charged.

 

Prayut said he would call on the EC to look into the issue today.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30359125

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-11-23

[YetAnother]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

THE ELECTION COMMISSION (EC) yesterday faced difficult questions over the design of constituency boundaries and whether boundary gerrymandering is at work after the junta issued an order allowing the agency extra time for the process.

ask a third world country to govern itself and this is what you get

[Srikcir]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Pongsri Tharaphum, the Democrat Party’s registrar, chimed in yesterday to say that if the boundaries had been changed and showed irregularities, it would petition the EC to review its decision.

Asking the essentially junta-appointed (through new junta EC member qualification criteria, junta-controlled EC selection panels and junta-appointed NLA) EC to review its decision does what?

Nothing.

Albeit the EC may ask the NCPO for "advice" with a firm statement to assert EC's independence from the NCPO.

The Democrats might as well petition the NACC for EC abuse of power.

That will do nothing.

But at least any protest should further strengthen the perception that this electoral process is a sham solely designed to keep the military in control.

[yellowboat]

2 hours ago, YetAnother said:

ask a third world country to govern itself and this is what you get

It depends on whether they wish to remain a third world country.   Taiwan's elections come across as fair as it is a point of pride.  Again, looked what happened in Malaysia.  Thailand's elite are holding the country back.  Tens of millions of people serve 1% of the population.  Don talks of dignity, but there is none without fairness.  Poor Thailand.

[Eric Loh]

When Prayut invoked Article 44 on the 19 Nov. authorising the EC to make changes to constituency boundaries after the EC has already finalized and ready for submission for Royal Gazette publication; it already signaled bad intention. The EC should be investigated after the election for breaking laws and malfeasance. They are as crooked as the NACC. 

[Eligius]

Why don't all the Thais and their 'politicians' just realise by now that this whole 'election' thing is a total travesty of the genuine article? It is all a lie and a con and a farce- and people should by now be refusing to have anything to do with an 'election' which is bogus through and through (from beginning to end) and which is designed to bestow a (sham) 'legitimacy' upon the autocratic ruling elite. 

 

Edited November 23, 2018 by Eligius

[yellowboat]

55 minutes ago, Eligius said:

Why don't all the Thais and their 'politicians' just realise by now that this whole 'election' thing is a total travesty of the genuine article? It is all a lie and a con and a farce- and people should by now be refusing to have anything to do with an 'election' which is bogus through and through (from beginning to end) and which is designed to bestow a (sham) 'legitimacy' upon the autocratic ruling elite. 

 

Its like the constitution.  What choices were there for the average Thai ?  You either agree and move forward, or watch the buffoonery continue to make participatory government in Thailand look like a dog and pony show.   The elections will be the same.  The electorate will participate in the hopes of making Thailand a better place.  The corrupt and delusional are in control.  Hope those who took to the streets at the end of 2013 are having trouble living with themselves now.

[tomta]

20 minutes ago, yellowboat said:

Its like the constitution.  What choices were there for the average Thai ?  You either agree and move forward, or watch the buffoonery continue to make participatory government in Thailand look like a dog and pony show.   The elections will be the same.  The electorate will participate in the hopes of making Thailand a better place.  The corrupt and delusional are in control.  Hope those who took to the streets at the end of 2013 are having trouble living with themselves now.

On this point, a deluded friend of mine was whistling away in all her PDRC regalia and really enjoying the protests. She is an idealist and believed contrary to all the evidence that Suthep was sincere. Now she recognizes it was alll bogus. But she won't engage in discussion about it. "I'm bored with politics," she says now.

[PatOngo]

Someone asked me just this morning...……."Who is Gerry Mander?"

[Kasset Tak]

Well, they are just doing the same as been done in "the greatest democracy" USA where this practice originated, got it's name, and is getting perfected to destroy democracy... just look at some states where 1 party might get 40% of the total votes and still get 60% of the seats in the government or Trump who got 2 million votes less than Hillary and still became president... that's because of the gerrymandering!

[Eric Loh]

2 hours ago, yellowboat said:

Its like the constitution.  What choices were there for the average Thai ?  You either agree and move forward, or watch the buffoonery continue to make participatory government in Thailand look like a dog and pony show.   The elections will be the same.  The electorate will participate in the hopes of making Thailand a better place.  The corrupt and delusional are in control.  Hope those who took to the streets at the end of 2013 are having trouble living with themselves now.

The electorate have been through this before in 2007. The popular party was massively handicapped by the banning of many of their key members. The military was going to the red shirt provinces and intimidating them to switch allegiance. The army chief was backing the Dem. Constitution was the-written to favour the elites dominance and the EC was selectively targeting political enemies. Somehow the electorate turned out in large number of over 70% and mandated the leaders of their choice. No difference this time. They will turn out in numbers. Also the youth first time voters and the disillusioned yellows. It will be a disaster for pro military parties. Prayut is toast. 

[yellowboat]

2 hours ago, Eric Loh said:

The electorate have been through this before in 2007. The popular party was massively handicapped by the banning of many of their key members. The military was going to the red shirt provinces and intimidating them to switch allegiance. The army chief was backing the Dem. Constitution was the-written to favour the elites dominance and the EC was selectively targeting political enemies. Somehow the electorate turned out in large number of over 70% and mandated the leaders of their choice. No difference this time. They will turn out in numbers. Also the youth first time voters and the disillusioned yellows. It will be a disaster for pro military parties. Prayut is toast. 

We can only hope the events you describe will happen again, but if they do, what is to stop the military from devouring the country ?   Prayut is a lame duck to put it mildly, but will the elite allow Thailand to flourish at their own determent ?  

[yellowboat]

5 hours ago, tomta said:

On this point, a deluded friend of mine was whistling away in all her PDRC regalia and really enjoying the protests. She is an idealist and believed contrary to all the evidence that Suthep was sincere. Now she recognizes it was alll bogus. But she won't engage in discussion about it. "I'm bored with politics," she says now.

After being duped into a blind hate frenzy, and ruining a perfectly good country, what is one suppose to say ?

[HalfLight]

10 hours ago, YetAnother said:

ask a third world country to govern itself and this is what you get

 

Agree. I sometimes think that colonisation (you know, what the Thais proudly insist has never happened in Thailand, despite the obvious untruth of the claim). Would have been a distinct plus for the Thai culture.

[HalfLight]

1 hour ago, yellowboat said:

We can only hope the events you describe will happen again, but if they do, what is to stop the military from devouring the country ?   Prayut is a lame duck to put it mildly, but will the elite allow Thailand to flourish at their own determent ?  

 

Every time there's a coup, the incompetence of the Thai Armed Forces is put on show again. Every time there's a coup. Thailand loses ground on it's neighbours. Every time there's a coup, Thailand becomes more of a laughing stock. Personally I don't mind, it keeps the useful idiots gainfully employed without adding anything actually useful to the country which might push prices up more than the exchange rates already do. Look at the NLA if you need any evidence for that.

 

 

Edited November 23, 2018 by HalfLight

[chama]

On 11/22/2018 at 3:44 PM, webfact said:

He went on to say that there was no other way to look at it, but as an intervention by the junta to tamper with electoral boundaries.

 

Mapping constituencies is one of the fundamental issues in an election, Chusak said. If it is not done freely and fairly, it is impossible to believe that the whole voting process will be free and fair, he said.

It seems people are starting to pay attention. This junta must really have initiated some interest in who governs the country. So if nothing else they have at least done something positive for the country.

[JAG]

On 11/23/2018 at 12:58 PM, Eric Loh said:

The electorate have been through this before in 2007. The popular party was massively handicapped by the banning of many of their key members. The military was going to the red shirt provinces and intimidating them to switch allegiance. The army chief was backing the Dem. Constitution was the-written to favour the elites dominance and the EC was selectively targeting political enemies. Somehow the electorate turned out in large number of over 70% and mandated the leaders of their choice. No difference this time. They will turn out in numbers. Also the youth first time voters and the disillusioned yellows. It will be a disaster for pro military parties. Prayut is toast. 

They have had 4 years to plan. practice and carry out the staff studies on what they will do.

 

The kit has been got ready, and you can be sure the op orders are in key peoples safes, ready for the go...

[robblok]

On this point, a deluded friend of mine was whistling away in all her PDRC regalia and really enjoying the protests. She is an idealist and believed contrary to all the evidence that Suthep was sincere. Now she recognizes it was alll bogus. But she won't engage in discussion about it. "I'm bored with politics," she says now.

I still support the street protests where the people brought down a corrupt government. The grievances were real. Had the PTP been less corrupt with the rice scam and accepted that the G2G deals were fake and done something about it and had not brought up the Thaksin amnesty but kept it as an amnesty for lower level people the street protests had not happened an the coup would have less support.

Even redshirts admitted this so don't act as if the PTP did not play a role in this. The coup was bad in hindsight but the PTP made it easy.

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

[DM07]

Taking a page out of the book of the "Greatest democracy on Earth", I see?!