Thailand first female election commissioner would do it all again

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
Thailand first female election commissioner would do it all again
Budsarakham Sinlapalavan
The Nation


Sodsri

BANGKOK: -- Sodsri Satayathum, the only female election commissioner in Thailand's history, will complete her term next month. Looking back, she has seen many tough times but the most upsetting was the mud-slinging directed at her daughter.

"I almost resigned," she recounted.

As a mother, she was hurt to see her daughter's name being dragged through the mud, however, her daughter Konna was eventually able to clear up the allegations against her.

"It's not easy to work in an environment where we have such politically divisive views" Sodsri told The Nation. She said her friends tried to warn her that her family might face trouble if she decided to take the job with the Election Commission (EC).

However, after working in the judicial sector for 35 years, she was keen to try something different. "Even if I could go back in time, I would have still applied for the EC job," said Sodsri, who has now been with the EC for the last seven years.

Appointed as an election commissioner in the third round of commissioner appointments, Sodsri has worked alongside Apichart Sukhagganond, Prapun Naigowit, Somchai Juengprasert and Wisut Potitaen.

In a society of such opposing political ideologies, Sodsri said she has often received letters that blamed her for so many things. Strange phone calls have also been so common that she has often had to turn off her phone.

"With the country becoming so politically divided, it is very difficult to work as an election commissioner. No matter what decision the EC makes, there will be a loser. Those who lose their benefits from the EC rulings accuse the election commissioners of siding with the opposition. Independent organisations like the EC and Constitutional Court have a really difficult job. When crisis strikes, no one is there for us," she said.

Even the EC headquarters has experienced breaches of security.

"Demonstrators once entered the EC compound and police had to evacuate me. They said they could not protect me and advised me to leave the building. After I left, I had to head out of town. I was worried that if I returned home, someone might try to attack me there," she said, recalling what happened after the EC decided to drop the complaint against the Democrat Party when TPI Polene donated Bt258million to the party. Sodsri also said when massive political rallies were held, the atmosphere was always very tense at the EC. "Even the election commissioners at the EC need to practice evacuation drills," she said.

Asked what advice she would give to future EC commissioners, Sodsri said, "Once you're in, you can't step back. The only choice you have is to look forward and fight all the way".

After completing her term at the EC, Sodsri has big plans for herself. "I will write a book about my life," she said at the close of the interview.

-- The Nation 2013-07-29

[Pib]

Yeap, I would agree this job is one of those "Dammed if you do; dammed if you don't" type job...especially in Thailand. What ever the final decision in an election protest, some will happy; some won't. And many of those who will not be happy have some real influence which can make life tough for some...and I expect there are a lot of threats to life and limb.

[marell]

Apparently there's not much money to be made as an EC. If it was even halfway lucrative some connected goon would have grabbed it a long time ago. The fact that she held this job for seven years strongly suggests that no one else wanted it. And if no one else wanted it, could it be that she was actually playing a straight game? After all, what political lackey would want a difficult job where you actually have to work and earn your way. I sincerely hope she was on the level, as even a small bit of fresh air would be awfully nice.

[Bluespunk]

What was her daughter accused of?