Latest : EC to allow foreign observers to monitor February election

[snoop1130]

Latest : EC to allow foreign observers to monitor February election

By The Nation

 

Ittiporn//Korbphuk Phromrekha

 

The Election Commission on Wednesday decided to allow foreign observers for the upcoming national election expected in February.

 

EC chairman Ittiporn Boonprakong said that the presence of foreign observers had been permitted during previous election dating back to 2003.

 

“Therefore, our meeting agreed in principle to continue it in next year’s national poll, as there is no reason to change the action. However, they would have to work under our regulations and respect Thailand’s laws,” Ittiporn, a former ambassador, told reporters.

 

As Thailand has not yet passed an election Bill, no country has officially requested to observe the February 24 election.

 

He dismissed reports that Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai had voiced opposition to allowing foreign observers into the country during the election. A careful reading of Don’s interview comments would find that he supported the idea, said Ittiporn.

 

In principle, those countries who had previously invited Thai observers to monitor their elections would be invited, he said.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30360745

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-12-19

[webfact]

EC ready to welcome foreign observers

By KAS CHANWANPEN 
THE NATION

 

ELECTION COMMISSION (EC) president Ittiporn Boonpracong

 

Commissioner says practice has been in place since 2003, dismisses foreign minister’s oppositioninfluence agency.
 

ELECTION COMMISSION (EC) president Ittiporn Boonpracong said yesterday that international observers were welcome to monitor the upcoming election, provided they follow procedures and respect the law. 

 

Ittiporn’s statement came after Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai rebuffed the idea of allowing outside observers, triggering heated debate recently. The minister claimed that having foreigners monitor the election would make Thailand – which becomes the Asean chair next year – look as if it lacked the ability to hold an election on its own. 

 

The national election is scheduled for February 24, while Thailand will take the rotating position of Asean chairmanship on January 1. 

 

Ittiporn, a former career diplomat, said yesterday that election commissioners had agreed in principle to allow international observers to monitor the long-awaited poll. He pointed out that this practice has been common since 2003, when the EC allowed foreigners to observe the voting. 

 

However, he said, no agency has contacted the EC officially about monitoring the election. 

 

Though the European Union (EU) has shown interest, it has yet to make official contact because the Royal Decree on the election has not been issued, he said, adding that the EC will discuss the matter again later. 

 

As for Don’s comment that the election was an internal affair and should not involve foreigners, Ittiporn said the foreign minister’s input had no influence on the EC’s decision. 

 

“We invite countries that have invited us to observe their elections,” he said. “And we have organisations that always monitor voting, such as the Asian Network for Free Election. They have always been allowed to observe the elections, and they know how to proceed. Nothing has changed.” 

 

As for concerns that the elections are being held under extraordinary circumstances after four years of junta-backed rule, Ittiporn said it was not the EC’s responsibility to consider this issue. 

 

“We will only consider observers if they agree to follow our rules,” he said. “Anything beyond that will be looked into on a case-by-case basis.” 

 

Campaign guidelines 

 

Over the past week, debate over the matter has become heated. While Don announced it was unnecessary for foreigners to monitor the first election in five years, critics shot back, saying international scrutiny was necessary to enhance the credibility of the vote and the government that will follow. And since the election is being held under a coup-installed regime without checks and balances, proponents argue that foreign observers are especially necessary to ensure the process is open and transparent. 

 

With the election less than three months away, the EC yesterday also met with political parties to discuss campaign guidelines, which are expected to be published early next month. 

 

Yesterday’s meeting, attended by 154 politicians from 77 parties, covered issues such as the size of campaign banners and where they can be displayed as well as what would be allowed in online campaigning. 

 

Politicians raised questions about whether it was possible to depict political outsiders in the banners, with many expressing concern that it may go against the law and result in parties facing dissolution. 

 

Future Forward Party’s secretary-general Piyabutr Saengkanokkul said yesterday that the rules and regulations should allow parties more freedom. 

 

“Even if they ban photos of outsiders, voters will still know who is backing which parties,” he said. 

 

However, the EC chief said no conclusion had been reached yet and that the commission would consider the ideas floated yesterday and come up with campaign guidelines at the start of the new year. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30360775

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-12-20

[Chang_paarp]

Looks like the penny finally dropped that not having election observers might have unwanted consequences.

[SoilSpoil]

Good news to get objevtive observers from Beijing, Phyongyang and Phom Pehn.

[yellowboat]

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

He dismissed reports that Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai had voiced opposition to allowing foreign observers into the country during the election. A careful reading of Don’s interview comments would find that he supported the idea, said Ittiporn.

 

In principle, those countries who had previously invited Thai observers to monitor their elections would be invited, he said

The lack of guile is amazing.  Everything is boiled down to back scratching.  The junta's moral compass is in the same place as he missing democracy plaque.

 

Don a seemed to have moaned uncontrollably over observers, or it was just a misunderstanding. 

[Eric Loh]

2 hours ago, Chang_paarp said:

Looks like the penny finally dropped that not having election observers might have unwanted consequences.

I wouldn't pop the champagne yet. They still have to be approved by the EC and they can make the approval a tedious and laborious process. I rather wait and watch for new developments and feet on the ground before agreeing the EC relented.  

[MaxLee]

Foreign observers,..... from China I guess

Edited December 20, 2018 by MaxLee

[Srikcir]

1 hour ago, Eric Loh said:

I wouldn't pop the champagne yet.

The caveat:

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

they would have to work under our regulations and respect Thailand’s laws

and

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Thailand has not yet passed an election Bill

So an opportunity to essentially strangle foreign observers with severe restrictions.

For example (let's imagine) the possibilities that all reporting:

• must be reviewed and allow deletions, redactions or changes by the EC such as is required by the Thailand Human Rights Commission by the Ombudsman Office.
• shall not potentially defame Thailand
• shall not be critical of the junta
• shall not cause "confusion" or "chaos" for the Thai People
• shall not create potential threat to national security

Control of observer travel:

• observers presence at polls must be approved in 2 weeks advance
• observer change in polling locations must be approved in 1 week advance
• number of foreign observers at any one poll shall be limited to one.
• assigned observers may not be substituted nor any reason

 

[DM07]

I will not hold my breath...

[chama]

13 hours ago, SoilSpoil said:

Good news to get objevtive observers from Beijing, Phyongyang and Phom Pehn.

You make a good point. Having observers are one thing, having hand picked observers can be deceptive.

[connda]

It would have been political suicide to do otherwise.

[neeray]

They have seen the light.

 

Without oversight, the majority would not have believed the outcome.

[Cadbury]

President Ittiporn Boonpracong seems to have a certain smugness about him suggesting they won't find anything because it's too well covered up. The important part like vote counting will likely be done by junta appointees or recipients of their Thai Niyom largesse and well away from prying eyes of observers.