Election officials may face criminal charges

[Lite Beer]

Election officials may face criminal charges

BANGKOK: -- The Department of Special Investigation has threatened to take legal actions election officials for their alleged partially and deliberate failure to stage advance voting in several polling units.

DSI chief Tarit Pengdit claimed that there are evidences to prove that some election officials were biased as advance voting in some units was closed before the closing hour and election officials did not do their job properly despite the fact that there were not attempts to block the voting.

He said that election officials who were biased and who did not do their job properly could face criminal charges under Article 157 of the Criminal Code.

The Centre to Maintain Peace and Order reported that advance voting went on smoothly in 66 provinces whereas in the rest of the provinces, mostly in the South, and in Bangkok, there were protests to prevent voters from exercising their voting rights.

CMPO chief Chalerm Yubamrung said officials would tomorrow talk with PDRC to ask for the lifting of road blockade and siege of government offices by the protesters.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/election-officials-may-face-criminal-charges/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=election-officials-may-face-criminal-charges

-- Thai PBS 2014-01-26

[TVGerry]

LOL! Something doesn't go well for the Shinawatras, sic Tarit and his DSI dogs on the offenders! How pathetic!

[jackrich]

The Centre to Maintain Peace and Order reported that advance voting went on smoothly in 66 provinces whereas in the rest of the provinces, mostly in the South, and in Bangkok, there were protests to prevent voters from exercising their voting rights.

Just shows where the real educated people in Thailand are located.

[focus27]

I'd bet that the DSI would love to include the Election Commissioners themselves, however, the Constitution states that "no Election Commissioner shall be arrested, detained or summoned by a warrant for inquiry except in the case where permission of the Election Commission is obtained or where the arrest is made in flagrante delicto." [section 241]

[gatorsoft]

The EC has clearly been acting in a criminal manner for several weeks now. Charges should be brought. Of course, they will be like the charges against the airport occupiers and the officials that authorized the slaughter in 2010 - never see the inside of a courtroom.

[haroldc]

How about some criminal charges against the police for doing absolutely nothing to prevent armed red shirts from driving up to the anti-government protesters, killing one and wounding at least four others in a fusillade of gunfire. Oh yes, it seems that they all got away...

[Neurath]

Right now I reckon that the job of Election Commissioner is one of least desirable in world.

[Arkady]

He is just frothing at the mouth. No hope of criminal charges for EC commissioners.

[kurtgruen]

the longer this goes on, the more corruption gets exposed and more people see, why the demonstrators are out there, peacefully demonstrating against corruption.

I just hope, that the military will stop this farce. How else, can it be brought to an end? Thaksin won't give up and neither will the other side.

[Scamper]

The knee-jerk reaction of the Yingluck administration is that of a bully. The massive amount of people around the country protesting is too much for them to deal with, so they might as well go after those officials with the unenviable task of overseeing them. For some reason, when 45 out of 152 pollings stations had to close, and when 11 provinces out of 77 - including the South and the capital, Bangkok - had massive disruption - it is very hard to know where Thaksin's cousin, Surapong was looking - as he boldly proclaimed this afternoon that the polling today was close to a 90 % success ! But from the beginning, this Pheu Thai administration has been steadfastly living in an alternate universe of unity and facebook postings. And as Surapong excitedly looks forward to the main event on February 2 - where if today was any indication will be utter chaos - he may very well find himself reading out the same list of countries that were ecstatic about this election, only to find out that they turned around to issue travel warnings instead.

Edited January 26, 2014 by Scamper

[Robby nz]

That has ensured that all election officials will now resign for fear of criminal charges being laid against them if there are any voting problems.

By by elections, good one Tarit.

[mallmagician]

Shocked. I expected to read that charges would be filed, because they had negligently opened polls knowing full well that it was likely to become a volatile situation.

Postponement at the least seems to be the prudent thing to do, as the government, nor police seem to be capable of ensuring the safety of the people. Be they the protestors, the anti protestor protestors, or the voting public.

[culicine]

This is BS. EC officials are just government workers who also feared for their lives. Blame Chalerm and his useless corrupt police force for not maintaining order.....and this has been going on months now....roads are still blocked because police have done nothing to remove protesters. So, as expected, people take matters into their own hands. Now blood is on his hands and Yinglucks for not forcing the police to do their job. They are lazy spoiled rodents...they lot of them.

[Somtamnication]

A farcical approach to monty python sketch.

[Thait Spot]

The knee-jerk reaction of the Yingluck administration is that of a bully. The massive amount of people around the country protesting is too much for them to deal with, so they might as well go after those officials with the unenviable task of overseeing them. For some reason, when 45 out of 152 pollings stations had to close, and when 11 provinces out of 77 - including the South and the capital, Bangkok - had massive disruption - it is very hard to know where Thaksin's cousin, Surapong was looking - as he boldly proclaimed this afternoon that the polling today was close to a 90 % success ! But from the beginning, this Pheu Thai administration has been steadfastly living in an alternate universe of unity and facebook postings. And as Surapong excitedly looks forward to the main event on February 2 - where if today was any indication will be utter chaos - he may very well find himself reading out the same list of countries that were ecstatic about this election, only to find out that they turned around to issue travel warnings instead.

The PTP administration screwed up big time here. The CAPO clearly unable to run a bath without calamity.

These verbal attacks on the EC are obviously aimed at getting your retaliation in first and I would imagine that there will be a full statement from the EC setting the record straight in due course.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Tatsujin]

The EC won't be worried, when the Amnesty Bill kicks in they'll be absolved of any wrongdoing too lol

[Thailand]

The knee-jerk reaction of the Yingluck administration is that of a bully. The massive amount of people around the country protesting is too much for them to deal with, so they might as well go after those officials with the unenviable task of overseeing them. For some reason, when 45 out of 152 pollings stations had to close, and when 11 provinces out of 77 - including the South and the capital, Bangkok - had massive disruption - it is very hard to know where Thaksin's cousin, Surapong was looking - as he boldly proclaimed this afternoon that the polling today was close to a 90 % success ! But from the beginning, this Pheu Thai administration has been steadfastly living in an alternate universe of unity and facebook postings. And as Surapong excitedly looks forward to the main event on February 2 - where if today was any indication will be utter chaos - he may very well find himself reading out the same list of countries that were ecstatic about this election, only to find out that they turned around to issue travel warnings instead.

[scorecard]

Tarit says ........ election official biased.

[Thormaturge]

So in the parts of Thailand where most voters are anti- thaksin, the opposition is preventing people from voting. Woo Thaksin must be scared witless.

[LuckyLew]

I here Tarit is charging the coffee Barrista at starbucks for not making his coffee properly

Hey Tarit ... man up ... get a interpol arrest warrant for Thaksin ... thought not ... no nards

[gatorsoft]

I'd bet that the DSI would love to include the Election Commissioners themselves, however, the Constitution states that "no Election Commissioner shall be arrested, detained or summoned by a warrant for inquiry except in the case where permission of the Election Commission is obtained or where the arrest is made in flagrante delicto." [section 241]

Would that be the same constitution that says an election must be held within 60 days of the dissolution of the house? Apparently the constitution can be reinterpreted according to who passes you the money or power under the table.

[Basil B]

May be time to put the clocks back 78 years, have Thailand governed by one absolute ruler revered by everybody, democracy in Thailand does not work.

[pipkins]

How about some criminal charges against the police for doing absolutely nothing to prevent armed red shirts from driving up to the anti-government protesters, killing one and wounding at least four others in a fusillade of gunfire. Oh yes, it seems that they all got away...

EC are protected. Why protect Vermin.? It is because they are just an arm of the Elite used with the CC to suppress the people. Again. They have to be protected so they can carry on with their real roles. Election organising is not their main function. Many confuse them with and Election Commission from a real democracy

Police not allowed in poling stations or surrounds unless EC call them in Fact. So shows you have read and learned nothing today. Basic elcetion law.

Ambush in Sri nakarindra. <deleted> are they doing down there? Harrassing the locals thats what. So they were stopped. I I go down there nearly every day. I don't intimidate the locals and they don't shoot me dead. Is that too difficult for some.... Sorry

My one wish here is to see a Thailand where the Judges and EC and Army can be brought to task for the imense damage and hardship they have brought to the country.

[mrtoad]

Tarit should be investigated as well.The bloke is a puppet.

[mrtoad]

May be time to put the clocks back 78 years, have Thailand governed by one absolute ruler revered by everybody, democracy in Thailand does not work.

I believe that is what The Desert Coward is hoping to achieve.

[Crushdepth]

DSI is the most conspicuously sold-out government agency IMHO. Really bad.

[dukeandduke]

I'm really tired of these "May face criminal charges" articles. Law without enforcement is worthless.

[winstonc]

I'd bet that the DSI would love to include the Election Commissioners themselves, however, the Constitution states that "no Election Commissioner shall be arrested, detained or summoned by a warrant for inquiry except in the case where permission of the Election Commission is obtained or where the arrest is made in flagrante delicto." [section 241]

Would that be the same constitution that says an election must be held within 60 days of the dissolution of the house? Apparently the constitution can be reinterpreted according to who passes you the money or power under the table.

any proof oh little troll..naaaa course not..

[Thait Spot]

I'd bet that the DSI would love to include the Election Commissioners themselves, however, the Constitution states that "no Election Commissioner shall be arrested, detained or summoned by a warrant for inquiry except in the case where permission of the Election Commission is obtained or where the arrest is made in flagrante delicto." [section 241]

Would that be the same constitution that says an election must be held within 60 days of the dissolution of the house? Apparently the constitution can be reinterpreted according to who passes you the money or power under the table.

I don't think you've read it properly

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[aimbc]

Clearly abuse of power by the government. And intimidation. Wouldn't you think they would talk about finding the killer instead of wasting time with this.