Thai Police Guard Candidates As Violence Continues

[webfact]

Police guard candidates as violence continues

By The Nation

But fatal shooting of canvasser in Mae Chan blamed on personal rivalry

The Pheu Thai Party wants to keep close tabs on the printing and distribution of ballots for the general election, especially the extra ballots, to prevent bogus votes.

The party will petition the Election Commission (EC) today for the representatives of political parties to take part in the monitoring of the supply of ballots to ensure transparency and prevent the stuffing of ballot boxes.

Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit said yesterday that his party was concerned about the 5 million ballots printed as a reserve to guarantee that every voter gets one.

After candidacy applications closed on Saturday, the EC has started verifying their qualifications and expects to complete the process in a week, EC secretary-general Suthiphon Taveechaiyagarn said.

A disqualified candidate has seven days to appeal, and the Supreme Court's ruling on their reinstatement is final.

Absentee voters should remember to register by Thursday.

Tomorrow the EC would organise a tour of the ballot printing facilities for the media and representatives of political parties, when they can ask questions about measures to safeguard the voting papers, he said.

Every eligible candidate is urged to endorse the EC-sponsored pledge to observe the campaigning code of conduct, he said.

Pheu Thai candidate Prakiart Nasimma should have checked the facts before spreading the rumour about a meeting between EC chairman Apichart Sukhagganond and chief royal adviser Prem Tinsulanonda, he said.

The spat was like when a player decides to punch the referee instead of play by the rules, he said.

Civil servants must keep in mind to remain politically unbiased and stay clear of the electioneering, he added.

-- The Nation 2011-05-30

[tomross46]

Being guarded by the police is like having a fox guard the hen house.

[Samuian]

Being guarded by the police is like having a fox guard the hen house.

.... yo, and that affair's taken care of by the local spirit,

blessed and invoked by a rogue monk with khmer tatoos and very much revered by the rural people.

Edited May 30, 2011 by Samuian