Red Shirts May Sue EC If Jatuporn Not Endorsed By Deadline

[webfact]

Reds may sue EC if Jatuporn not endorsed by deadline

By The Nation

Red-shirt leaders yesterday called on the Election Commission to endorse co-leader and MP-elect Jatuporn Promphan, who is in court custody, before the July 31 deadline, or face possible retaliation by suing for dereliction of duty.

In the wake of the EC's decision to delay the Jatuporn case for further checks on his qualifications, Thida Thawornseth, acting chairwoman of the red movement, visited Jatuporn at Bangkok Remand Prison to show support for his cause.

Emerging from the meeting, Thida said red MPs under the Pheu Thai banner would report for duty on Monday before the inaugural session of the House of Representatives, while hoping that Jatuporn could join them at the last minute.

"Even though Jatuporn said his fellow reds should report for duty without him, they will still wait for him," she said.

Thida said she was optimistic that the EC would eventually reconsider and allow Jatuporn to report for duty.

On Wednesday, the EC ruled by a vote of 3-2 to withhold Jatuporn's endorsement pending further checks on his party membership as of the July 3 election day. Party membership is a crucial factor in validating his candidacy and balloting outcome.

Pheu Thai MP-elect Nattawut Saikua said the EC had no mandate to rule on Jatuporn's qualifications as a member of Parliament. According to precedents, Jatuporn should first have his election victory endorsed and then his qualifications could be reviewed by the Constitution Court, he said.

He might sue the EC if it fails to endorse Jatuporn's election win.

Pheu Thai MP-elect Weng Tojirakarn said the EC might have an ulterior motive in faulting Jatuporn, because he was the only one still denied approval.

Yingluck Shinawatra, Pheu Thai's prime-ministerial candidate, said her party's legal team had submitted documents proving Jatuporn's party membership.

She was confident the EC would rule on the Jatuporn case in a speedy and just manner.

"As I understand, the endorsement of Jatuporn's poll result would precede the judicial review on his MP status," she said.

The red shirts will not likely resume street protests on Jatuporn's behalf, as everything should proceed in accordance with the election rules, she added.

Meanwhile, Bhum Jai Thai Party leader Chaovarat Chanweerakul led his party's MPs-elect to receive their election certificates before reporting for duty.

Chaovarat said he was looking forward to working on the opposition bench.

"I will do my best to be worthy of every vote cast," he said.

Porntiva Nakasai, the party's secretary-general, said she expected her party's candidate to win the by-election this Sunday in Sukhothai Constituency 3. Chakrawan Chaiwiratnukul's opponents claimed he was buying votes, but he argued that he was just paying campaign workers. The EC ruled in favour of holding another election to clear lingering doubts.

New Democracy MP-elect Patcharin Manpan said that as her party's sole representative, she would devote herself to educational and social affairs.

Democrat MP-elect Thepthai Seanapong said he was disappointed that the EC issued only two yellow cards despite the rampant campaign violations.

"Although I understand the EC has to work under the 30-day deadline and other constraints, I think the public felt let down by cheats going unpunished," he said.

EC secretary-general Suthiphon Thaveechaiyagarn said an EC committee was investigating Pheu Thai leader Yongyuth Wichaidit for clarification on Jatuporn's status as a party member. It is expected to be brought to the EC meeting today, which could be the last meeting before the cut-off date of 30 days after the election.

Pheu Thai party-list MP-elect Repipan Pongruangrong said her husband Arisman, a fugitive red-shirt leader, planned to turn himself in late this year, leaving time for the Pheu Thai-led government to settle in and solve people's problems first.

-- The Nation 2011-07-29

[siampolee]

Pheu Thai party-list MP-elect Repipan Pongruangrong said her husband Arisman, a fugitive red-shirt leader, planned to turn himself in late this year, leaving time for the Pheu Thai-led government to settle in and solve people's problems first.

This no doubt is to give the P.T.P. time to whitewash all the Red Shirt terrorist actions and push a bill through Parliament to legitimise and exonerate the terrorists.

[hkt83100]

no doubt is to give the P.T.P. time to whitewash all the Red Shirt terrorist actions and push a bill through Parliament to legitimise and exonerate the terrorists.

What did you expect? They start showing their true intentions.

[barryofthailand]

Only in Thailand can a person in prison be elected to a member of parliament.

Barry

[Siripon]

Only in Thailand can a person in prison be elected to a member of parliament.

Barry

The law granting immunity from jail to MPs facing charges was originally brought in to prevent authoritarian governments from throwing the Parliamentary Opposition in jail on trumped up charges, if I remember correctly, Sarit's government spurred the move.

But of course it's not fair on those of us who are not MPs, and I think the red shirts should not take advantage of this clear example of double standards.

[Ricardo]

Only in Thailand can a person in prison be elected to a member of parliament.

Barry

Bobbie Sands was on hunger-strike in prison, when elected to the UK-Parliament in 1981, the law was subsequently changed to prevent this from being possible again in future.

[webfact]

EC to discuss Jatuporn's case again today; chairman hints they might go ahead and endorse him for time being /TAN_Network

[webfact]

EC to Decide on Fate of Red-shirt Leader Today

The Election Commission will decide either to endorse or deny MP status for a red-shirt leader on July 29.

The Chairman of the Election Commission or EC, Apichart Sukakanon, said that the commission would consider the case of red-shirt leader and Pheu Thai MP-elect, Jatuporn Phrompan today, saying that the case was delayed because the EC needed to inspect Jatuporn's eligibility first.

In addition, he insisted that Jatuporn's case does not concern the Constitutional Court, after the red-shirt group called on the EC to forward the case to the Constitutional Court.

He also said that Sodsri Satayathum is the only commissioner who insists that the Constitutional Court has authority to adjudicate on the issue.

Moreover, Apichart assigned an ad-hoc team to investigate additional complaints, but he declined to disclose their findings.

Apichart insists that the Election Commission has performed its duties adhering strictly to the law, and does not fear the red-shirt group's threat to sue the EC if Jatuporn is not endorsed.

-- Tan Network 2011-07-29

[KKvampire]

The Red Thugs looking after their own. If a Person who incites violence and Terrorist acts publically can become an MP it will fit in well with all the other Criminals in the PTP and soon to be running the country

[webfact]

EC has postponed review of Jatuporn case to August 1. /via@ruangdit /via@tulsathit

[Steely Dan]

I always enjoy a good farce and in that respect the current government shows great potential. I do hope Jatuporn makes it as every pack needs a joker.

[hammered]

They get sued if they do, and they get sued if they dont. That is usually time to make a non-decision and toss the hot potato somewhere else.

[TheyCallmeScooter]

Only in Thailand can a person in prison be elected to a member of parliament.

Barry

Bobbie Sands was on hunger-strike in prison, when elected to the UK-Parliament in 1981, the law was subsequently changed to prevent this from being possible again in future.

I have noticed this recurring theme with laws and legislation. I am not suggesting anything in the slightest, except perhaps that I would run a tighter ship, if I wrote the laws. I'd probably make them seem more fair, as opposed to just not caring. This beats actually being forced to make them fair, which in the game I am really good at, is a bit like getting your face owned - giving up wildcards are you mad? That's the first step to losing your wildcards. Even bad players know that. I mean, gosh.

Making laws seem more fair isn't making fair laws, of course. I would not be an idiot-lawmaker. Or appear to be one, which is just as dangerous, in such an important aspect of the game. One must rule with iron fists, and velvet gloves. Wear lace, and maybe you don't get to choose your gloves any more. Or they will get dirty, and then you'll have ruined your lace gloves. It's just not a good idea.

I would just make the law more idiot-friendly. And wear my favourite lace gloves in private. It's the least I can do, to defer to my subjects. I mean, the electorate who voted me king. I wish to continue to be voted king, so I would keep them in my good books. So that they keep me in theirs. No, their books are silly. But they don't know that. People who suck at the game of laws tend to be divided up into two broad classes; the first are dumb people. They are not good to play with. Everything gets dirty. Even when their intentions are are to lose, or to govern fairly. Perhaps especially then. The other group are smart people who don't understand the power of silly things. Silly things are very powerful. Like religion. Or television. Sometimes I have something I just want to tell everyone really quickly and I have to use Twitter, which isn't the same as owning a television station. I'd be more entertaining if I had hot presenters to convey my Twitter to you. When I am King, I will make this happen for us.

Happy people are good people. And that means less nasty stuff. No one likes that stuff. It's not optimal laws strategy. People get nervous and stuff, when you are nervously stamping out pockets of resistance. That messy stuff can get out of control really fast. Then it becomes a who blinks first game that no one really wins, but boy do they sure lose at it. You feels me? Nobility and dangerously seditious ideas about self-worth and laughable confusion about dying free being superior to living free to do as I direct...all sorts of stuff can come up, which require management. You'd have to screw it up horribly, to manage the messy stuff. Then screw it up pretty bad, to blink. You have the wildcards. They can wish on shooting stars for all I care. I would pretend to care, of course.

It's a really easy game, maybe it's different for real money but for play money I can't lose I'm not kidding.

I have read about revolutions. I have little experience but I humbly submit that the big losers in those social movements were really bad at the game of laws. I wouldn't suck that badly. I'd be so embarrassed to lose at the game of laws, from that position, that if I did you wouldn't need to assemble a court, I would hang myself out of shame. I would make that my first Law, actually. So that people weren't confused, about what kind of professionalism they could expect, when they test it. They would be impressed, if they were playing the game. Probably they wouldn't have another crack. Not the brighter dangerous ones, that's for sure. The dumb ones? They might throw themselves onto the fire over and over. It's sad but what can you do. You cannot wrap your subjects in cotton. They must be allowed to breathe and imagine and dream. Dreams are very important. It's important that they get carried away. Achievable dreams are very dangerous. It's lucky no one ever dreams for those.

They dream really big. That's a lucky thing for those who are good at laws. It's like...not even possible to get those kinds of dreams. It's very important to encourage the dreaming of them. Maybe I'm missing something, but I'm willing to play whenever. And that's like my entire game plan. In a ramble. I don't think I can lose. I have the wild-cards. What you got there? Ambition. lol I like you, it's a shame that you are against the law. Oh well. One must not get too close, in that game. Professionalism, I think it just comes down to that. If you wanted to seriously topple me, you best bring a cute girl that stops traffic cause like, good luck with your ambition. I feel it's only fair to warn you, that I have practiced this game. I would never make a play for the wildcards, unless I had one. That is dumb.

Maybe if others go first, I would support them. It's the least I can do. I would not try to steal their thunder or lead them. That would not be fair, if I stole their bullet from them.

I would never do that. It's important to be on the record, about stuff like this. Saves all kinds of confusion, down the line. Might get me a traffic-stopper, at worst. Dream as I say, not as I dream. Silly lovable subjects.