Caretaker govt advises EC use of army, police venues for election registration in South

[webfact]

EC disagrees with Govt's idea to arrange election sign-up at military bases

BANGKOK (NNT) - Election Commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn has predicted that the Election Commission (EC) might not accept the government’s suggestion that the EC use military or police buildings as venues of the election registration in the South. He stressed that the EC will still use the registration venues owned by civilians.

Mr Somchai on Monday said the EC was concerned that there might be clashes if military or police buildings were used for the election sign-up. There were weapons in such buildings and the officers who worked there might tackle the protesters to protect their workplace, the election commissioner said.

Mr Somchai earlier met with representatives of the government after the election registration in eight southern provinces was cancelled due to anti-government demonstrations. The government suggested that the EC changed the sign-up venues to military or police bases in a bid to bar the protesters from messing up the registration.

Even city halls refused to allow the EC to use them as registration venues, the election commissioner said.


-- NNT 2013-12-31

[FangFerang]

Sensible precaution bearing in mind the intimidation from Sutheps minions at standard venues.

Fair enough! But there was plenty of police present at the standard venues, problem was they didn't do anything!!

So now they are going to stand outside the policestation doing nothing??

If they are not all out rallying against their bosses!!

The option was army or police premises, I know which one I would take?

That doesn't explain why the police present seems so ineffective

A policeman told me that arresting people is a dangerous career move. No matter what the crime, nor the evidence, there are both untouchables and unmentionables here, and they have extensive networks and relatives (and contacts at every government level). These people with 'immunity' exist on both sides of the political divide. Arresting the wrong person is a great way to get demoted and transferred to watching train tracks.

[rickirs]

EC wants to mainly use civil space for election registration, noting that using army or police premises could lead to losses. So losses in civil space is acceptable because police will safely withdraw out of harm's way. But if held on army or police premises, the army or police might have to stand their ground and get hurt or hurt demonstrators? Thai voters have a constitutional right to vote in these elections and the Government should see to its responsibility to protect those voters and registrants. To walk away is to concede democracy.

[oldsailor35]

EC disagrees with Govt's idea to arrange election sign-up at military bases

BANGKOK (NNT) - Election Commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn has predicted that the Election Commission (EC) might not accept the government’s suggestion that the EC use military or police buildings as venues of the election registration in the South. He stressed that the EC will still use the registration venues owned by civilians.

Mr Somchai on Monday said the EC was concerned that there might be clashes if military or police buildings were used for the election sign-up. There were weapons in such buildings and the officers who worked there might tackle the protesters to protect their workplace, the election commissioner said.

Mr Somchai earlier met with representatives of the government after the election registration in eight southern provinces was cancelled due to anti-government demonstrations. The government suggested that the EC changed the sign-up venues to military or police bases in a bid to bar the protesters from messing up the registration.

Even city halls refused to allow the EC to use them as registration venues, the election commissioner said.

-- NNT 2013-12-31

Apart from supporting and being controlled by the Dems, is there any good, real reason why they have refused to allow the RTA into the scene.

[diehard60]

"Meanwhile, Akanat Promphan, spokesman of the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), reasserted the group's strong standpoint for reform before a national election."

First they said they wanted early elections but when they got that they want reform first, next they will want to run the country as adictatorship. And guess who will be the dictator??????? Well if cannot guess they you must be stupid.

[Costas2008]

Spot....Jesus Christ....in the picture.

Clue.....at the back

[rubl]

Fair enough! But there was plenty of police present at the standard venues, problem was they didn't do anything!!

So now they are going to stand outside the policestation doing nothing??

If they are not all out rallying against their bosses!!

The option was army or police premises, I know which one I would take?

That doesn't explain why the police present seems so ineffective

Maybe this from another thread may help your understanding

"BANGKOK: -- About 500 policemen rallied at the Royal Plaza Monday morning in a rare show of force to express their resentment against their superiors for the lenient handling of the protesters."

In other words it looks like someone has told the Senior Police to handle the protesters with kid gloves and the boys at the bottom don't like the idea but have to do as they're told. Eventually that's going to give and we've seen a few examples already.

Makes you wonder how the ineffectiveness in 2010 can be explained

Edited January 2, 2014 by rubl