Bid to get around blockades in Thai South: Feb 2 election

[webfact]

Bid to get around blockades in South
The Nation



Ruling party, others register at border police base at 3am but legal doubt over move

BANGKOK: -- Candidates in the South were once again stopped from registering for the February 2 election yesterday by members of the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) even though election officials agreed to host the registration at a police-run facility in one province.

Election commissioner Somchai Srisuthiyakorn said a decision to change venues had been made solely by officials at the constituency level and the central Election Commission had nothing to do with it.

Police and constituency poll officials reportedly coordinated the move, which saw the ruling party and others register at a border police camp in Nakhon Si Thammarat at 3am.

"The decision to move venues was not unanimous. Some candidates registered at the 42nd Border Patrol Police Camp in Thung Song district at night, which is not fair for other candidates and might lead to legal problems later. So the provincial and constituency election commissions should report to the EC about this," he said.

In Nakhon Si Thammarat 15 candidates from Pheu Thai, Chart Thai Pattana, Palang Sahakorn and Bhum Jai Thai parties allegedly registered for seven of the nine constituencies at 3am yesterday.

The Pheu Thai candidates were then escorted to the Fourth Army Region Airport by the border patrol police, who also flew Chart Thai Pattana candidates into the registration venue in a helicopter.

With at least two parties registering, the candidates will no longer have to comply with the election regulation that requires them to win at least 20 per cent of eligible votes - otherwise they may have to undergo several elections until the meet the minimum votes required.

Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit said he and representatives of other parties will meet with the EC today to ask that the deadline for registration of candidates in the South - due to end today - be extended due to the disruptions.

Meanwhile, Democrat Party spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut warned that the move to register candidates in different venues in Nakhon Si Thammarat's Thung Song district might result in the election being declared invalid.

He said following incorrect procedures may result in the election being cancelled like what happened in 2006.

The EC and members of the Democrat Party met yesterday to try and resolve the problem of failed candidacy registration in provinces in the South. The outcome was not available as of press time last night.

Chavanond also said Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva will give a speech at 8am today via the Blue Sky TV channel on a seven-point reform blueprint.

He said feedback to the blueprint would be sought from chambers of commerce and anti-corruption agencies tomorrow and on Friday before the reform plan is finalised.

Somchai said EC representatives would also explain to Democrat leaders today why the election must be held. They had wanted to explain this to the PDRC, he said, but an invitation for talks had yet to be accepted.

He said registration of candidates in Songkhla and Phuket has been cancelled.

Separately, an unknown gunman sprayed the house of Thanapol Sukpan - legal adviser to Pheu Thai candidate for Chumphon, Rujinart Srisuwan - with M16 bullets on Monday night. Thanapol believes this attack may be politically motivated.

In another report, the spokesman for the anti-government Students and People's Network for Thailand's Reform has been released on bail, on condition that he not instigate any unrest or disorder.

Phichit Chaimongkhol, who was arrested at a shopping mall on Sunday, was granted release yesterday on a Bt100,000 bail guarantee. He faces trespassing charges after he led a group of protesters into the Foreign Ministry compound in November. Criminal Court judges cited light penalties and his tendency not to flee as reasons for granting bail.

A preliminary hearing has been set for 9am on February 24.

Meanwhile, a taxi driver was shot and wounded by gunmen at the Misakawan intersection on Monday, just before midnight.

Pokket Boonyok, 43, was hit by two gunshots in his right torso but is now safe after hospital treatment. Witnesses said the gunmen approached in a silver pickup before opening fire and fleeing.

New Year celebrations were held at the main anti-government rally site near Democracy Monument, with a Ferris wheel erected in the middle of Rajdamnoen Avenue and protesters taking part in large numbers. All traffic was blocked.

The events, hosted by the PDRC and titled the "Great People's New Year, Hope and Life Force", featured live music by various bands and artists. A Buddhist countdown prayer ceremony was also being considered as of press time.

Meanwhile, Interior Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan asked Bangkok governor and Democrat deputy leader Sukhumbhand Paribatra to offer measures to deal with the PDRC plan to shut down Bangkok after the New Year break. Transport Minister Chadchart Sittipunt also slammed the plan, saying its much-heralded reform plan would become unpopular if it started violating other people's constitutional right to travel.


-- The Nation 2014-01-01

[JRSoul]

Catch 22. Venues for registration of candidates must be widely advertised to be seen as fair to all prospective candidates, which also allows protesters to blockade. There is no way that a 3am registration of candidates from ruling parties only can be described as widely advertised or fair.

Interesting that 2 parties running allows an MP to be elected with less than 20% of the vote, clears up why Thaksin was accused of forming dummy parties in 2006. It seems that an MP could be elected with only 2 votes if his opponent gets only 1. Whatever happened to the concept of run-off elections?

[h90]

Catch 22. Venues for registration of candidates must be widely advertised to be seen as fair to all prospective candidates, which also allows protesters to blockade. There is no way that a 3am registration of candidates from ruling parties only can be described as widely advertised or fair.

Interesting that 2 parties running allows an MP to be elected with less than 20% of the vote, clears up why Thaksin was accused of forming dummy parties in 2006. It seems that an MP could be elected with only 2 votes if his opponent gets only 1. Whatever happened to the concept of run-off elections?

I think with 2 parties a MP could be elected with only 1 vote. There must be at least 2 candidates but I doubt there is a minimum votes for the second one.

These minimum requirement might get interesting in the south....

[ramrod711]

This government has a penchant for doing things in the early hours of the morning, didn't work out so well for them last time.

He said following incorrect procedures may result in the election being cancelled like what happened in 2006.

[gerry1011]

This government has a penchant for doing things in the early hours of the morning, didn't work out so well for them last time.

He said following incorrect procedures may result in the election being cancelled like what happened in 2006.

The government has nothing to do with it.

It's the EC that organizes it.

Sent from my HTC One using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[JRSoul]

This government has a penchant for doing things in the early hours of the morning, didn't work out so well for them last time.

He said following incorrect procedures may result in the election being cancelled like what happened in 2006.

The government has nothing to do with it.

It's the EC that organizes it.

Sent from my HTC One using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

".....a decision to change venues had been made solely by officials at the constituency level and the central Election Commission had nothing to do with it."

"..........15 candidates from Pheu Thai, Chart Thai Pattana, Palang Sahakorn and Bhum Jai Thai parties allegedly registered for seven of the nine constituencies at 3am yesterday."

But the government has nothing to do with it. Oh dear.

[Ulic]

Ridiculous, protesters complaining because they were unable to stop some of the politicians from

registering for the election. "What they did is illegal, because our illegal act was not able to stop them"

[fxe1200]

Ridiculous, protesters complaining because they were unable to stop some of the politicians from

registering for the election. "What they did is illegal, because our illegal act was not able to stop them"

Sure its illegal, but <deleted> graft and corruption is also illegal. The Thais live with this government for more than 20 years and nothing has changed for the better, only the politicians got rich. Another election would only be a carte blanche to proceed as ever with the exploitation of the Thai people. Think about it: Aristoteles never said, that democracy consists of elections every other year. But he said: Democracy is when the indigent, and not the man of property, are the rulers.

Edited January 1, 2014 by fxe1200

[Scamper]

The administration is clearly taking unilateral decisions at this point over the wishes of the EC to make sure these constituencies are open. The public divide between the EC and the administration is palpable. To emphasize, the EC is solely empowered to conduct this election, not the administration. Flying a Pheu Thai candidate in the middle of the night to a police station is an initiative fraught with legal difficulties, and shows a real desperation on the part of Pheu Thai to yet again take things into their own hands. And yet, it will be all for naught, as a massive " no " vote in the South will clearly prevent parliament from attaining the minimum required 95 % occupancy. But in the meantime, the optics are terrible.

[tragickingdom]

So the people on the local level have ten times as much brains and 20 times bigger balls than the Election Commissioner, who plays a game with the Democrat Party. (what a bizarre name for a party that only comes to power after a coup)

[khunken]

So the people on the local level have ten times as much brains and 20 times bigger balls than the Election Commissioner, who plays a game with the Democrat Party. (what a bizarre name for a party that only comes to power after a coup)

As usual TV's resident troll gets it all wrong.

Twice in the last 20 years the Democrat party has governed. Once after the 1997 crisis (that's crisis, not coup) brought about by Chavalit & including Thaksin.

The second occasion was after Samak & Somchai were found wanting (i.e. corrupt) - well after the coup.

Oh, and flying in candidates in a police helicopter doesn't take brains - more like bribes.

[ratcatcher]

Ridiculous, protesters complaining because they were unable to stop some of the politicians from

registering for the election. "What they did is illegal, because our illegal act was not able to stop them"

Sure its illegal, but <deleted> graft and corruption is also illegal. The Thais live with this government for more than 20 years and nothing has changed for the better, only the politicians got rich. Another election would only be a carte blanche to proceed as ever with the exploitation of the Thai people. Think about it: Aristoteles never said, that democracy consists of elections every other year. But he said: Democracy is when the indigent, and not the man of property, are the rulers.

" But he said: Democracy is when the indigent, and not the man of property, are the rulers." Aristotle.

He also said: The most perfect political community is one in which the middle class is in control, and outnumber both of the other classes.

[fxe1200]

Ridiculous, protesters complaining because they were unable to stop some of the politicians from

registering for the election. "What they did is illegal, because our illegal act was not able to stop them"

Sure its illegal, but <deleted> graft and corruption is also illegal. The Thais live with this government for more than 20 years and nothing has changed for the better, only the politicians got rich. Another election would only be a carte blanche to proceed as ever with the exploitation of the Thai people. Think about it: Aristoteles never said, that democracy consists of elections every other year. But he said: Democracy is when the indigent, and not the man of property, are the rulers.

" But he said: Democracy is when the indigent, and not the man of property, are the rulers." Aristotle.

He also said: The most perfect political community is one in which the middle class is in control, and outnumber both of the other classes.

There Aristotle may be also right. Where is the middle class in Thailand??

[fab4]

This government has a penchant for doing things in the early hours of the morning, didn't work out so well for them last time.

He said following incorrect procedures may result in the election being cancelled like what happened in 2006.

The government has nothing to do with it.

It's the EC that organizes it.

Sent from my HTC One using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

".....a decision to change venues had been made solely by officials at the constituency level and the central Election Commission had nothing to do with it."

"..........15 candidates from Pheu Thai, Chart Thai Pattana, Palang Sahakorn and Bhum Jai Thai parties allegedly registered for seven of the nine constituencies at 3am yesterday."

But the government has nothing to do with it. Oh dear.

What part of "solely by officials at the constituency level and the central Election Commission had nothing to do with it" do you not understand? It wasn't a central EC decision but a decision made by EC officials at constituency level, which in any other words is NOT the government.

suthep/democrayt party apologists are yet again grasping at straws.

[fab4]

The administration is clearly taking unilateral decisions at this point over the wishes of the EC to make sure these constituencies are open. The public divide between the EC and the administration is palpable. To emphasize, the EC is solely empowered to conduct this election, not the administration. Flying a Pheu Thai candidate in the middle of the night to a police station is an initiative fraught with legal difficulties, and shows a real desperation on the part of Pheu Thai to yet again take things into their own hands. And yet, it will be all for naught, as a massive " no " vote in the South will clearly prevent parliament from attaining the minimum required 95 % occupancy. But in the meantime, the optics are terrible.

How is a massive No vote in the South going to affect the end result? It only takes one candidate to register at a constituency for it to be a valid election.

After abhisit made a change to the Constitution (without a referendum ) the 20% rule was changed to avoid the problems made by a boycott. Now if a candidate does not get 20% of the vote a by election is held. If the same thing happens again a third election is held. Regardless of the percentage of votes won by the candidate in this 3rd election the Candidate wins by default. How ironic.

http://asiancorrespondent.com/117295/democrats-boycott-problem/

So, No Vote, No cigar.

Edited January 1, 2014 by fab4

[spare5]

Never heard of internet registration.

And you call Southern Thai people educated?

[JRSoul]

This government has a penchant for doing things in the early hours of the morning, didn't work out so well for them last time.

He said following incorrect procedures may result in the election being cancelled like what happened in 2006.

The government has nothing to do with it.

It's the EC that organizes it.

Sent from my HTC One using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

".....a decision to change venues had been made solely by officials at the constituency level and the central Election Commission had nothing to do with it."

"..........15 candidates from Pheu Thai, Chart Thai Pattana, Palang Sahakorn and Bhum Jai Thai parties allegedly registered for seven of the nine constituencies at 3am yesterday."

But the government has nothing to do with it. Oh dear.

What part of "solely by officials at the constituency level and the central Election Commission had nothing to do with it" do you not understand? It wasn't a central EC decision but a decision made by EC officials at constituency level, which in any other words is NOT the government.

suthep/democrayt party apologists are yet again grasping at straws.

Correct. Local officials were influenced by 15 candidates from Pheu Thai, Chart Thai Pattana, etc, who are also known as the government. That's the bit you preferred to ignore.

[truk39]

So the people on the local level have ten times as much brains and 20 times bigger balls than the Election Commissioner, who plays a game with the Democrat Party. (what a bizarre name for a party that only comes to power after a coup)

As usual TV's resident troll gets it all wrong.

Twice in the last 20 years the Democrat party has governed. Once after the 1997 crisis (that's crisis, not coup) brought about by Chavalit & including Thaksin.

The second occasion was after Samak & Somchai were found wanting (i.e. corrupt) - well after the coup.

Oh, and flying in candidates in a police helicopter doesn't take brains - more like bribes.

Now Thaksin is responsible for the '97 financial crisis as well?!? Every text I've read on the crisis points to lack of regulation and Chavalit's refusal -- or more rightly, BoT's refusal to devalue the baht in May of '97. Refusing to devalue the baht, caused speculators to crush the baht, eventually leading to the float of the baht in July '97. Thaksin didn't join with Chavalit until August '97, the IMF was already involved, and the Chavalit government was gone 3 months after that. Please explain what actions Thaksin took that had any effect on '97.

[gerry1011]

This government has a penchant for doing things in the early hours of the morning, didn't work out so well for them last time.

He said following incorrect procedures may result in the election being cancelled like what happened in 2006.

The government has nothing to do with it.

It's the EC that organizes it.

Sent from my HTC One using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

".....a decision to change venues had been made solely by officials at the constituency level and the central Election Commission had nothing to do with it."

"..........15 candidates from Pheu Thai, Chart Thai Pattana, Palang Sahakorn and Bhum Jai Thai parties allegedly registered for seven of the nine constituencies at 3am yesterday."

But the government has nothing to do with it. Oh dear.

Well indeed, the government has nothing to do with it...

What is it in your quotes that suggests that the government has anything to do with it?

Sent from my HTC One using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Edited January 1, 2014 by gerry1011