Election campaign rules draw flak

[webfact]

Election campaign rules draw flak

By KAS CHANWANPEN 
THE NATION

 

Pedestrians walk past an election campaign poster of MP candidate for the Phue Thai party, in Bangkok yesterday. // EPA-EFE PHOTO

 

CHATURON VOWS TO FIGHT FOR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION; EXPERTS SAY REGULATIONS VIOLATE PUBLIC RIGHT TO INFORMATION
 

METICULOUS and stringent rules governing campaigning for the March 24 general election may restrict freedom of expression as well as voters’ right to information, experts say.

 

The Royal Decree published in the Royal Gazette on Wednesday means the election will take place in 60 days. It also gave the green light for electoral campaigns to kick off. But instead of actively wooing voters online, many politicians seemed to have retreated from their social media sites for fear of violating the campaign rules drawn up by the Election Commission (EC).

 

 

The rules, for instance, stipulate that any online media channel used for the campaign must be registered with the EC. Failure to comply is a crime punishable by up to six months in prison and up to a Bt10,000 fine.

 

Sudarat Keyuraphan, Pheu Thai Party’s head of election strategy, has been inactive on Facebook since Wednesday. She announced that she would not return to the platform until she had notified the EC of her online campaign tool.

 

Many other politicians from parties across the political spectrum posted similar messages.

 

Authorities yesterday also warned politicians that they could be in breach of the law for erecting campaign placards on streets. They were advised to take them down in five days otherwise they could face legal action for breaching the cleanliness and order law.

 

Authorities were also discussing how and where parties and politicians could place leaflets and placards in line with the EC’s orders.

 

Only Thai Raksa Chart Party’s core leader Chaturon Chaisang defied the trend.

 

He wrote on Facebook on Wednesday soon after the hasty retreat by the others: “I’ve been advised to stop making comments or even temporarily shut down my Facebook page. But please be informed that I’m ready to obey the laws while I also uphold my right to freedom of expression.

 

“So, I insist on running the page and making comments. For starters, I’ll criticise the EC tomorrow.”

 

Writing again on Facebook yesterday, Chaturon said the EC should be clear about the definition of “election campaign”. The agency can prohibit politicians from persuading people to vote for particular candidates but they should not be banned from expressing their opinions, which is freedom of speech, Chaturon said.

 

He also said he understood the EC’s efforts to ensure all parties had equal resources. The election rules are aimed at ensuring a level playing field for the contestants.

 

But providing all parties the same chance to speak to the public on a designated television programme was unappealing and, in the end, no party would benefit from this because there would be no audience, he said.

 

Voters would also lose the chance to be informed of policy proposals, Chaturon added. The politician suggested that the EC revise the strict rules and regulations governing campaigning. Political scientist Siriphan Noksuan Sawasdee expressed similar concerns in a recent forum on the election.

 

Parties and politicians are presented with a difficult problem in the election campaign, she pointed out. “[The rules] are full of traps,” she said.

 

Regulations that limit the number of campaign assistants and the areas where candidates can erect placards or place leaflets limit the chance for the voters to get to know their potential representatives, Siriphan explained.

 

The big question is who would benefit from this restriction. The political scientist said that former MPs who are already familiar with the voters would have an advantage over newcomers who would not have as much opportunity to present themselves to the voters.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30362900

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-01-25

[Samui Bodoh]

"...Parties and politicians are presented with a difficult problem in the election campaign, she pointed out. “[The rules] are full of traps,” she said..."

 

The rules are full of traps? Who'd a thunk it!

 

I for one am shocked and appalled that there might be some unfairness in the rules...

 

BTW, does anyone think that the rules will be enforced fairly across the board? Anyone?

 

I LOVE elections and all they stand for; It is one of the great human expressions of respect and civility that citizens are asked how they wish to be governed. On the other hand, there is little in the world that is more disgusting, vile and/or more venal than an unfair or rigged election.

 

Nuff' said.

 

 

Edited January 24, 2019 by Samui Bodoh

[neeray]

This all sounds very "free and fair" to me. Free for the governing party to abuse. Fair only to them.

[YetAnother]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

may restrict freedom of expression as well as voters’ right to information, experts say.

marching orders of the regime, the new thailand; doubtless they would get rid of the 'experts' too

[Eligius]

The democratic parties really should be staging a massive boycott of the fake election now. If they and people generally cannot see (unlike us on Thaivisa!) that every single step of the 'election' process is being unfairly censored, manipulated and controlled by the junta - then they were born 3 seconds ago.

 

The whole 'election' - from start to finish - is and will be a SHAM and a SHAME.

 

 

Edited January 25, 2019 by Eligius

[Lungstib]

So much fuss about the voting when all the real work has been accomplished, the constitution skewed, the senate selected and the 20 year plan imposed. The horse has bolted but still the loud call to shut that door. Isn't there a Thai saying about garnishing with Pak Chee?

 

[robblok]

Seems like the strategy is make sure people don't know about who defected to junta parties by keeping a lid on campaigning. So it seems at least as MP's that are already known have an advantage. That said.. a lot of the pro junta is new too so they are handicapping themselves too (if they play by the rules and that is of course the question).

 

I get rules like this to give people a chance and not give the party with the most money the upper hand but it seems like abuse to me the way it is implemented. 

[grumpy 4680]

      Best put the ruling Junta party in prison now, as they have broken all the EC rules allready.

[sammieuk1]

No Need for any outside monitors sticking their noses in either it will be a fair election with the winner announcement any day now???? 

[madmitch]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

But providing all parties the same chance to speak to the public on a designated television programme was unappealing and, in the end, no party would benefit from this because there would be no audience, he said. 

Or maybe because the junta and cronies would be shown up by the real politicians

[Eric Loh]

41 minutes ago, grumpy 4680 said:

      Best put the ruling Junta party in prison now, as they have broken all the EC rules allready.

The standard practice is to dissolve the party if the broke EC laws. No?

[TKDfella]

What a load of rubbish, but nonetheless powerful...the return of democracy? sounds more like the next step to autocracy to me.

[chainarong]

It is indeed sad to see the lack of choices and freedom of expression for this election in Thai politics, it makes a good case of what is yet to come if Prayut gets his way , all this mainly depends on the Thai people, one can only hope they kick Prayut's butt right out the door, although a stumbling factor is the appointment of 250 Senators by their peers ( whatever that means ). Prayut and company are shaping up as a dictatorship, unfortunately if that happens, blood will be spilt once again in the land of smiles, history has a bad case of repeating itself.  

[Lupatria]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

They were advised to take them down in five days otherwise they could face legal action for breaching the cleanliness and order law.

Is that the same law regulating air pollution?????

[Redline]

Basically, no one will be able to have any kind of real campaign.  Election over 

[RichardColeman]

Does this mean a ban on the PM's Friday night promotional spectacular ? 

[Eligius]

1 hour ago, Redline said:

Basically, no one will be able to have any kind of real campaign.  Election over 

This is the Henry Ford-style election: 'You can vote for any party you want - as long as it follows General Prayut'!

[chama]

None of this comes as a surprise to those of us here. I suspect many Thais also realize that anything that would be fundamental to providing a fair election will be manipulated, censored, or shutdown but....apathy rules and most just shrug their shoulders. Although the winds of change seem to be stirring, the question is will it be enough and will it be strong enough?

[Eligius]

14 minutes ago, chama said:

None of this comes as a surprise to those of us here. I suspect many Thais also realize that anything that would be fundamental to providing a fair election will be manipulated, censored, or shutdown but....apathy rules and most just shrug their shoulders. Although the winds of change seem to be stirring, the question is will it be enough and will it be strong enough?

Good questions, Chama. Will the complaints over the mendacious election result (when the Thais eventually voice their dissatisfaction on the streets in April or May) be enough? No. The resistance will not be sufficient.

 

But it is possible that further down the track the resistance will grow.

As always - it is up to the Thais. I am afraid I am not terribly optimistic about any of this.

 

Edited January 25, 2019 by Eligius

[kannot]

15 hours ago, Eric Loh said:

The standard practice is to dissolve the party if the broke EC laws. No?

in  a  vat  of  acid?

[sjaak327]

It is kind of surprising that they have the audacity to even try this nonsense. No one will see Prayuth's next term as legitimate if they keep this up.

They are cheating through the elections full steam, amazing they try, iwho are they trying to fool.

Sent from my SM-J730F using Tapatalk

[bowerboy]

This really is well and truly game over....the coup to end all coups.

 

The ONLY way out of this now is if Thaksin’s investment in CP futures pays off.

 

The Thais will do nothing, that is for sure...my wife and her cohort do not even know an election is due or pay any attention to this. They simply do not care. I am pretty sure my wife represents the average Thai (office worker, nice family, non hooker).

[Eric Loh]

2 hours ago, sjaak327 said:

They are cheating through the elections full steam, amazing they try, iwho are they trying to fool. 

They ain’t fooling the red shirts and Pheu Thai supporters. Read a great piece titled

“ has the red shirts returned” by journalists on the ground gauging the sentiments of these groups. Conclusion was that they have returned and the crowds at PT campaigns were large and well attended. Lots of booing of the junta’s incompetence and draconian actions on people’s expression. The people have enough of junta’s shenanigans and eager to vote. Also the first time young voters have been very vocal with their frustration with the junta. I hope many will turn out to vote which will be good for the people and bad news for the junta. 

[pornprong]

On 1/25/2019 at 9:28 AM, robblok said:

Seems like the strategy is make sure people don't know about who defected to junta parties by keeping a lid on campaigning. So it seems at least as MP's that are already known have an advantage. That said.. a lot of the pro junta is new too so they are handicapping themselves too (if they play by the rules and that is of course the question).

 

I get rules like this to give people a chance and not give the party with the most money the upper hand but it seems like abuse to me the way it is implemented. 

It doesn't seem like anything. 

Your Junta is doing all it can to cheat and deny an electoral outcome that truly reflects the will of the people.

Only a fanboy could see it any other way.

[baansgr]

Breaking News April 20th 2019.....Thailand suffers yet another Military Coup..just wait

[baboon]

On 1/25/2019 at 7:28 AM, Eligius said:

The democratic parties really should be staging a massive boycott of the fake election now. If they and people generally cannot see (unlike us on Thaivisa!) that every single step of the 'election' process is being unfairly censored, manipulated and controlled by the junta - then they were born 3 seconds ago.

 

The whole 'election' - from start to finish - is and will be a SHAM and a SHAME.

 

 

What more needs to be said? You just shrug your shoulders and say 'as expected...'