EC urges restart of poll process

[webfact]

EC urges restart of poll process
Jeerapong Prasertpolkrung,
Pongphon Sarnsamak,
Hataikarn Treesuwan
The Nation

Numerous problems in run-up to Feb 2 election; top bureaucrat faces probe over statement calling on the govt to resign

BANGKOK: -- The Election Commission yesterday suggested that the government start anew the election process because of many problems that have complicated the run-up to the February 2 polls.

The EC asked the government to call for a royal decree authorising a new election date. It noted an absence of election candidates in many constituencies. The agency also pointed to concerns expressed by the Office of the Auditor-General that if the February 2 date is maintained, it could be a waste of more than Bt3 billion.

Meanwhile, the permanent secretary of the Public Health Ministry yesterday became the first high-ranking bureaucrat to be investigated by the government's Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO) for his alleged involvement in a statement calling on the government to resign.

Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has ordered CAPO to investigate senior Public Health Ministry officials, according to caretaker Minister Pradith Sinthawanarong. He said Yingluck had instructed CAPO to invite permanent secretary Dr Narong Sahamethaphat explain facts related to his political statement against her government.

"All officials must comply with laws and regulations. They violate the law if they do not work. Narong will be disciplined if he is found guilty," Pradith said.

Such discipline would be administered by CAPO, as the country is now in an abnormal situation.

Fact-finding committee

Pradith said he would also set up a fact-finding committee on Narong's actions.

"It is not proper for him to do something like this as he is a senior officer of the ministry," he said.

Narong and numerous other officials of the Public Health Ministry gathered as a group they called the "Public Health Assembly" and issue a third statement asking the caretaker government to undergo political reform before pressing ahead with the election. They also urged it to resign to pave the way for such reform.

They also announced they would not work with this government as it lacks authority to administer the country. However, they said they would still provide services for people.

"I really feel that I am being myself after I decided to join the assembly to issue this statement," Narong told the MCOT television station. "I also was not worried about my position, as I wanted to express my political standpoint that I want reforms before the election."

However, he said he would not resign and would work to provide medical services to members of the public.

After Narong issued the strong statement against the government, there was a report that other top officials of the Public Health Ministry had issued a counter-statement supporting the election scheduled for February 2, saying ministry officials should be politically neutral.

Medical Services Department director-general Dr Suphan Srithamma denied that report but said all officials must continue their jobs to provide services to people. If they want to join demonstrations, they should do so after office hours.

Meanwhile, the ministry's deputy permanent secretary, Dr Chanvit Tharathep, said health officials should follow the Civil Servants Act and maintain discipline because the election had already been endorsed by the law that designated Yingluck as caretaker prime minister.

"I think nobody should issue a statement like this in the name of [public] officials," he said. A source said there was a meeting of the top officials of all ministries on Thursday but no statements had been issued to express a political stance.

"The top officials at the meeting agreed that they must continue their jobs. If the protesters block the ministries they will move to another place to work, as they do not want to confront the protesters," the source said.

"Most of the permanent secretaries do not want to endorse the power of the People's Democratic Reform Committee as the royal decree for House dissolution is still in place. The country must [therefore] go ahead with the election" unless it is legally postponed.

No leave for health officials

Public Health Ministry officials and all government doctors have been instructed not to take leave, except sick leaves and duty tours, in preparation for extra duties during the "Bangkok shutdown" campaign by anti-government protesters starting on Monday.

In a related development, a group of university rectors yesterday called for the February 2 election to be postponed to prevent possible violence and the caretaker prime minister to be replaced by a person who is "politically neutral".

"In principle, the caretaker government should be headed by a neutral prime minister. So the current caretaker prime minister may have to be replaced," said Professor Rajata Rajatanavin, chairman of the Council of University Presidents of Thailand.

The council, which has members from 27 major state universities, convened yesterday amid rising political tension ahead of the planned siege of key parts of the capital.

Earlier yesterday, Yingluck urged the military to mediate between the People's Democratic Reform Committee and the government in a bid to resolve the political stalemate.


-- The Nation 2014-01-11

[Thailand]

Duh!

[Nowhereman60]

It's not the polls that is the problem it's Suthep and his Yellow Skirts thugs that are the problem.

[pumpuiman]

The EC in my opinion was complicit in registration delays, they are making things up as they go along.

I wouldn't trust one word from these traitors.

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

It's not the polls that is the problem it's Suthep and his Yellow Skirts thugs that are the problem.

More likely the Shinawatra family I believe.

[Tatsujin]

Postpone elections, polls for what reforms the people think should take place, scrap all the laws and rewrite them to remove all loopholes, increase punishments for corruption, lying etc, new elections ... job done. Simple.

[kurtgruen]

It is stupid, trying to push ahead with the election. I think, even Yingluck knows that. I think, she will back down, on the election date, within the next 24 hours, hoping, she can convince some people, not to come to Bangkok. Her strategy has been the same, since the beginning...when backed into a corner, sound like you are the reasonable one and back off a little more, in order to stay in power as long as possible.

After all, there are planes of money and gold to be moved out of the Country and Bank Accounts to be drained, before she can give up and run

[binjalin]

I guess it would be fair, if Dear Leader and the Un-Democratic Party agreed, to make an election date for a month or two from now?

Un-Democratics to take part, Fascists to take part - all support the outcome

I can dream I guess...

[Costas2008]

Nowhereman60, on 11 Jan 2014 - 07:10, said:

It's not the polls that is the problem it's Suthep and his Yellow Skirts thugs that are the problem.

Are they all Ladyboys??

[spare5]

I think that is because Democrats change their mind. Ooops. To late.

[virtualtraveller]

democrats would like to postpone elections until they have had a chance to run a risk scheme and pilfer billions of for an election war chest.

I find it odious that Puea Thai, or other parties, believe that because they get to form an executive to run the govt, all govt officials must toe the line on their dodgy agenda. If whole groups of govt workers feel the situation is untenable and choose to appoint a senior official to announce that stance you should start paying attention rather than threatening with the great 'inactive posting'. People are fed up with the corruption, meddling from ruling party, the nepotism, the divisiveness. Time to go back to the start and stop pretending that this is a democracy because we all voted.

[tomacht8]

"In a related development, a group of university rectors yesterday called for the February 2 election to be postponed to prevent possible violence and the caretaker prime minister to be replaced by a person who is "politically neutral".

"In principle, the caretaker government should be headed by a neutral prime minister. So the current caretaker prime minister may have to be replaced," said Professor Rajata Rajatanavin, chairman of the Council of University Presidents of Thailand."

Agree, a neutral person would be good.
I see no real progress, this government has made​​ in his caretaker mode.
Simply, they do not want it.
Almost all organizations have offered to help with the reforms, instead they only operate their own election campaign,
rather than to try to bring peace to the country.
They are unable to find, together with other organizations, ​solutions,

[webfact]

Thai Election Commission renews call to delay snap poll
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Jan 11 – Thailand’s Election Commission (EC) has urged the government to postpone the February 2 general election amid concerns over escalating political unrest and possible disruption.

Somchai Srisuthiyakorn, EC member in charge of election administration, said after an urgent meeting yesterday that the five-member EC agreed to submit a letter to the government, asking it to issue a royal decree to set a new election date.

Citing six reasons in favour of delaying the election, EC members said 28 constituencies in eight provinces have failed to register candidates for the balloting.

Without election in the 28 constituencies, the number of elected MPs will be less than 95 per cent of the total Lower House members, making it impossible to declare Parliament open.

Mr Somchai said there are 22 constituencies with only one candidate each and the winner must receive votes at no less than 20 per cent of eligible voters, adding that new polls may be required in many of the 22 constituencies.

Many government agencies failed to cooperate with the EC in providing officials to inspect and work at polling booths and the EC will possibly be short by at least 100,000 election personnel, he said.

Mr Somchai said the Office of Auditor General (OAG) has asked the EC to rethink if it would be worth the Bt3.885 billion budget to hold the election, now that polls must be called off in 28 constituencies in Thailand’s South.

A snap poll without balloting in 28 constituencies could be unconstitutional and nullified, wasting the national budget, he quoted the OAG as saying.

Mr Somchai said the six reasons, and not predictions, should be enough justification for caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to postpone the election. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2014-01-11

[robblok]

Reform is the way to go before the election.

Reason the red thugs and red government don't want this are simple.

As long as they are not an government they cant start new scams to rip off the country and enrich themselves. They are monitored now and their hands are bound can't make a profit this way. They need to the 2 trillion baht loan to (its not supposed for it but they will use it) rice scam.

Every month they are not in government means they loose out on corruption money (cant initiate new scams). They hate it that they are in the spotlight, that is why they wanted to remove checks and balances and want to do projects off the books. Everyone can read those signs.

I hope reforms come before the election and ensure a less corrupt government. Governments should be audited (preferably by the other side) to ensure fairness, and if caught in corruption should be punished.

[tingtongteesood]

It's not the polls that is the problem it's Suthep and his Yellow Skirts thugs that are the problem.

Actually it is the Shin regime and their red 'skirts', to use your own derogatory slur, that are the cause of the problems.

[Scamper]

" Such discipline would be administered by CAPO, as the country is now in an abnormal situation. "

Public flogging ? Just how back will CAPO go into medieval times for the administering of punishment for one brave, brave man - Narong - who dared to speak his mind ? The signs are now all over the place of a big change about to occur. Meek and mild men are now standing up - to the unsurprising, instant knee-jerk reaction of bullies. The EC remains - as ever - the sober one in the room. Of course, to set a new date would be the obvious solution. Of course, the administration - impatient to experience what it will feel like to have a parliament that can't open - want to forge ahead. From the Earth to Pheu Thai - when the EC says something can be done - it means something can be done. And in case you haven't noticed - they're providing you with a route out of the crisis. So forget for just one minute about debating the savoury means of punishing dissidents. Get a thinking cap on.

[fab4]

Thai Election Commission renews call to delay snap poll

By Digital Content

BANGKOK, Jan 11 – Thailand’s Election Commission (EC) has urged the government to postpone the February 2 general election amid concerns over escalating political unrest and possible disruption.

Somchai Srisuthiyakorn, EC member in charge of election administration, said after an urgent meeting yesterday that the five-member EC agreed to submit a letter to the government, asking it to issue a royal decree to set a new election date.

Citing six reasons in favour of delaying the election, EC members said 28 constituencies in eight provinces have failed to register candidates for the balloting.

Without election in the 28 constituencies, the number of elected MPs will be less than 95 per cent of the total Lower House members, making it impossible to declare Parliament open.

Mr Somchai said there are 22 constituencies with only one candidate each and the winner must receive votes at no less than 20 per cent of eligible voters, adding that new polls may be required in many of the 22 constituencies.

Many government agencies failed to cooperate with the EC in providing officials to inspect and work at polling booths and the EC will possibly be short by at least 100,000 election personnel, he said.

Mr Somchai said the Office of Auditor General (OAG) has asked the EC to rethink if it would be worth the Bt3.885 billion budget to hold the election, now that polls must be called off in 28 constituencies in Thailand’s South.

A snap poll without balloting in 28 constituencies could be unconstitutional and nullified, wasting the national budget, he quoted the OAG as saying.

Mr Somchai said the six reasons, and not predictions, should be enough justification for caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to postpone the election. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2014-01-11

So Somchai "EC member in charge" today is reported to have said

"after an urgent meeting yesterday that the five-member EC agreed to submit a letter to the government, asking it to issue a royal decree to set a new election date."

Yet just yesterday EC Secretary-General Puchong Nutrawong said the poll agency did not submit a letter advising the caretaker government to do so.

"He reaffirmed that the EC commissioners neither discussed postponing the election nor drafted such a letter."

http://www.mcot.net/site/content?id=52cfbb01150ba0b764000237#.UtDAjPQW2NV

So who is "in charge" Somchai or Puchong?

Edited January 11, 2014 by fab4

[Baerboxer]

It's not the polls that is the problem it's Suthep and his Yellow Skirts thugs that are the problem.

but quite alright for caretaker Yingluck and caretaker cousin to threaten people with discipline they'll dish out for daring to speak against them!

No problem with the Shins. Just do as they say and never question them. That's the democracy they'd like to create.

[shiok]

It is stupid, trying to push ahead with the election. I think, even Yingluck knows that. I think, she will back down, on the election date, within the next 24 hours, hoping, she can convince some people, not to come to Bangkok. Her strategy has been the same, since the beginning...when backed into a corner, sound like you are the reasonable one and back off a little more, in order to stay in power as long as possible.

After all, there are planes of money and gold to be moved out of the Country and Bank Accounts to be drained, before she can give up and run

Ha Ha! you said it all my friend!

[angsta]

Weak. They can 'reform' all they want. 16 million beats 10 million however you count the votes. Deal with it.

[shiok]

It's not the polls that is the problem it's Suthep and his Yellow Skirts thugs that are the problem.

Actually it is the Shin regime and their red 'skirts', to use your own derogatory slur, that are the cause of the problems.

YES!!!

[icare999]

It's not the polls that is the problem it's Suthep and his Yellow Skirts thugs that are the problem.

bs its Taksin and his reims which is problem and if Taksin gave up then most would be ok and Suphep would not have huge following he has and support of my wife and many who simply have had enough of his totally corrupt regime.

Remember how this started with an attempt to pass an amnesty bill to absolve Taksin of all his crimes and amend constitution so government could do whatever they wanted with them obey without parliamentary or any other oversight.

The election if it goes ahead will not be end of it in fact its irrelevant since even if Taksins party got 100% of votes cast parliament cannot open simply due to 95% rule and so a caretaker government would need to be in place for several months.

Only way without a coup is to postpone elections for a few months and put in a impartial government while reforms are carried out and then hold an election which I'm sure the dens would then be quite happy to join. however this will not happen since taksin will not give in and do anything for Thailand which could put any brake on his plan to turn here into his own Taksin state totally controlled by himself his clan and cronies and remove any semblance of democracy or checks and balances.

<deleted> Takins party having said they wont accept court decisions are now saying they wont accept EEC and I'm sure will simply if they dared and theirs an election hold a parliament amend rules so that 95% does not apply.

This will not end with an election even if one is held on 2nd feb but with a coup or civil war. Hopefully a coup is most likely outcome.

[casualbiker]

Weak. They can 'reform' all they want. 16 million beats 10 million however you count the votes. Deal with it.

BUT the government voted in by the 16 million should really TRY and accommodate the OTHER 16 million that DIDN'T vote for them. That's Democracy after all. They can't just get voted in and think about one man even if he IS the leader of the party/government.

Sent from my XT1032 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[smedly]

So Ministry Officials are not allowed to have an opinion or express a view under threat from the sitting government

Well there's something else that needs to change - these are the very people that can keep a government under scrutiny and spill the beans if they discover any wrong doings - I suspect once PTP are out of the picture there will be a flood of beans

The only problem is that if they did not disclose wrong doings then they could be deemed as willing participants, I like to see these people offered a deal that protects them from prosecution if they give statements disclosing criminal activity and corruption by PTP, boy would that be a revelation

[Ulic]

The problem is there is no date for an election that is acceptable to Suthep. So there is no use postponing it.

If they do however they must fire the entire EC for there gross incompetence in getting candidates registered.

I am sure the money they get from Suthep will see them well compensated.

[xminator]

Postpone elections, polls for what reforms the people think should take place, scrap all the laws and rewrite them to remove all loopholes, increase punishments for corruption, lying etc, new elections ... job done. Simple.

There is no law the let the government do that...

[Tatsujin]

Postpone elections, polls for what reforms the people think should take place, scrap all the laws and rewrite them to remove all loopholes, increase punishments for corruption, lying etc, new elections ... job done. Simple.

There is no law the let the government do that...

Rubbish. The way the laws are written here there's always a way to do what you want. First step is PM asking King to postpone elections until such time as a review/reform process has been implemented. It's not that hard. It's only hard when 1 side doesn't want it to happen.

[smedly]

Postpone elections, polls for what reforms the people think should take place, scrap all the laws and rewrite them to remove all loopholes, increase punishments for corruption, lying etc, new elections ... job done. Simple.

There is no law the let the government do that...

which is exactly why the government must step down and the constitution suspended to allow for the needed reforms to take place

There is no other option - I'm not siding with suthep I'm siding with the process that needs to happen, is suthep the right person to be involved ? I don't know, I feel that he will take a back seat once the reform committee is in place with the right people to do the job, then a referendum must take place for the people to approve the changes and if it passes then elections

This process must happen and it must be done right this time, the opportunity in 2008 was there but after 2 years of PTP it is obvious that the reforms back then were not even close to what was needed

[rubl]

"Such discipline would be administered by CAPO, as the country is now in an abnormal situation."

Don't you love democracy Pheu Thai style with caretaker Minister Pradith Sinthawanarong voicing such statements with care-taking Dept. PM and MoFA "passport issuer" Surapong being the chief CAPO.

[spare5]

If EC don't hold the election, if gets auto delay/cancel.

No need to ask Thaksin about it.