Thai military could arrange ballots in areas marred by protests: Sodsri

[webfact]

Military could arrange ballots in areas marred by protests: Sodsri
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Former Election Commission (EC) member Sodsri Satayathum has suggested that the military take over the EC's duty in managing the election in areas that were marred by protests and disruptions.

Sodsri spoke at a Senate committee forum yesterday on ways to try to resolve election problems. She said that her proposal could be possible by taking recourse in Article 236 of the Constitution.

She said all problems cited by the EC would be solved if it issues regulations or announcements allowing the military to do its job. The military has its own printing houses, which are able to print ballot cards. And it could also deliver ballot cards and boxes.

General Ekachai Srivilas, director of the Office of Peace and Governance at King Prajadhipok's Institute, agreed that the military could carry out the EC's role but suggested that they should not fully replace the EC.

"For instance if there are five EC officials, then only three military officials should be replacements to carry out the role of keeping peace and order and they should be unarmed,'' he said.

Meanwhile, EC chairman Supachai Somcharoen said he would bring on board eight suggestions from the meeting on Monday for discussion today and see which ones are practical and legal. Supachai described the atmosphere at the last meeting of EC and Pheu Thai Party leaders and academics as amicable.

Today's meeting will decide if the EC can move forward election dates it had earlier scheduled on April 20 and 27, or not. It also needs to decide if it can fix the new election date (for seats in Bangkok and the South where people were unable to vote on February 2) - and hold it on the same day as the half-Senate election, on March 30.

Meanwhile, EC secretary-general Puchong Nutrawong said the agency expected to spend not more than Bt3 billion in holding the Senate election.

He said the EC had sought Royal approval for a Royal decree to hold the Senate election on March 30, but had yet to receive endorsement.


-- The Nation 2014-02-19

[LevelHead]

PTP already told the EC to hold the registration at police stations or army barracks to prevent the anti-democracy mobs from stopping sign up and elections. The EC said no to this, as it might work it seems.

But the EC appears to want to join the anti-democracy protestors and stop the elections.....................

Only in Thailand can you have, it appears, "independent organizations" fully under the control of the same people who back the protestors, an EC who is doing their utmost to sabotage elections.

All in my opinion.

Edited February 19, 2014 by LevelHead

[millwall_fan]

The elections could take place if the police, army and EC all got together and were determined to uphold democracy. They are allowing the mob to dictate the course of events.

[telecom]

The protesters won't even block the elections if they continue, the completion of the polling will now work in their favour.

The remaining polling is totally in Dem areas and will just be an almighty 'no vote'. The PTP candidates won't be able to beat the 'no votes', so no MP can be selected.

The mandate for the PTP will be well under 20% of the electorate and parliament will be unable to convene, so nothing will really change apart from the EC will be able to press for a new election which the Dems can run in and almost certainly win by a country mile.

PTP only manages 8 million votes nationwide, and their entire voter base has already been able to cast their votes unhindered. The Dems will not lose any of their 11.5 million voters from 2011 and they will likely pick up a load from the PTP disaffected voters.

[LevelHead]

The protesters won't even block the elections if they continue, the completion of the polling will now work in their favour.

The remaining polling is totally in Dem areas and will just be an almighty 'no vote'. The PTP candidates won't be able to beat the 'no votes', so no MP can be selected.

The mandate for the PTP will be well under 20% of the electorate and parliament will be unable to convene, so nothing will really change apart from the EC will be able to press for a new election which the Dems can run in and almost certainly win by a country mile.

PTP only manages 8 million votes nationwide, and their entire voter base has already been able to cast their votes unhindered. The Dems will not lose any of their 11.5 million voters from 2011 and they will likely pick up a load from the PTP disaffected voters.

You fail to understand.

The rules in 2008 are now new, this is not the election 2006 rules.

The coup in 2006 and the new constitution they put into place means :

Elections are held, if a single candidate gets under 20% of the vote then there is a by-election process.

In 2006 a candidate needed to get over 20% in a by-election. This was changed in the new Constitution so now in by-elections there is no 20% requirement - so a single candidate can now win with a single vote, if that is what happens.

Why do you think the PDRC are on the streets killing police ? They have to stop elections.

All in my opinion of course.

[whybother]

The protesters won't even block the elections if they continue, the completion of the polling will now work in their favour.

The remaining polling is totally in Dem areas and will just be an almighty 'no vote'. The PTP candidates won't be able to beat the 'no votes', so no MP can be selected.

The mandate for the PTP will be well under 20% of the electorate and parliament will be unable to convene, so nothing will really change apart from the EC will be able to press for a new election which the Dems can run in and almost certainly win by a country mile.

PTP only manages 8 million votes nationwide, and their entire voter base has already been able to cast their votes unhindered. The Dems will not lose any of their 11.5 million voters from 2011 and they will likely pick up a load from the PTP disaffected voters.

If there is more than one candidate, the winner doesn't need to beat the "No" vote.

[Thai at Heart]

<deleted>?

[amecth]

The protesters won't even block the elections if they continue, the completion of the polling will now work in their favour.

The remaining polling is totally in Dem areas and will just be an almighty 'no vote'. The PTP candidates won't be able to beat the 'no votes', so no MP can be selected.

The mandate for the PTP will be well under 20% of the electorate and parliament will be unable to convene, so nothing will really change apart from the EC will be able to press for a new election which the Dems can run in and almost certainly win by a country mile.

PTP only manages 8 million votes nationwide, and their entire voter base has already been able to cast their votes unhindered. The Dems will not lose any of their 11.5 million voters from 2011 and they will likely pick up a load from the PTP disaffected voters.

You fail to understand.

The rules in 2008 are now new, this is not the election 2006 rules.

The coup in 2006 and the new constitution they put into place means :

Elections are held, if a single candidate gets under 20% of the vote then there is a by-election process.

In 2006 a candidate needed to get over 20% in a by-election. This was changed in the new Constitution so now in by-elections there is no 20% requirement - so a single candidate can now win with a single vote, if that is what happens.

Why do you think the PDRC are on the streets killing police ? They have to stop elections.

All in my opinion of course.

Do you have proof of this?

Are you willing to stand in a court room and swear to it?

[focus27]

Finally, the EC is open to the idea I have suggested of holding both senate and by-elections on the same day of 30th March.

I still think that is the most logical - and cost-effective - choice as the Suthepistas won't want to have the Senate non-quorate too.

[noitom]

Thai hypocritical circus. Army in army out. Wax on wax off.

[whybother]

The protesters won't even block the elections if they continue, the completion of the polling will now work in their favour.

The remaining polling is totally in Dem areas and will just be an almighty 'no vote'. The PTP candidates won't be able to beat the 'no votes', so no MP can be selected.

The mandate for the PTP will be well under 20% of the electorate and parliament will be unable to convene, so nothing will really change apart from the EC will be able to press for a new election which the Dems can run in and almost certainly win by a country mile.

PTP only manages 8 million votes nationwide, and their entire voter base has already been able to cast their votes unhindered. The Dems will not lose any of their 11.5 million voters from 2011 and they will likely pick up a load from the PTP disaffected voters.

You fail to understand.

The rules in 2008 are now new, this is not the election 2006 rules.

The coup in 2006 and the new constitution they put into place means :

Elections are held, if a single candidate gets under 20% of the vote then there is a by-election process.

In 2006 a candidate needed to get over 20% in a by-election. This was changed in the new Constitution so now in by-elections there is no 20% requirement - so a single candidate can now win with a single vote, if that is what happens.

Why do you think the PDRC are on the streets killing police ? They have to stop elections.

All in my opinion of course.

I think you should read up a bit more:

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

BP: The problem was that The Organic Act on The Election of Members of the House of Representatives and Senators 1998 and Section 74:

In any constituency, if, on the election day, there is one candidate standing for an election on a constituency basis and such candidate receives votes at least twenty percent of the total number of voters in that constituency, the Election Commission shall announce such candidate to be the person elected.

In the case where the only candidate standing for an election under paragraph one receives votes of less than twenty percent of the total number of voters in that constituency, the Election Commission shall hold a new election in such constituency.

Only in my opinion, of course!!

...

[tx22cb]

Where there's a will, there's a way.

If the EC want to hold the elections, they have enormous power to do so, including asking the Army to help (the protesters respect only the Military).

I don't mind that EC members are pro-Dems or pro-PTP, that's their right.

However, I expect them to act as Professionals and do their job without bias.

[HUAHIN62]

The protesters won't even block the elections if they continue, the completion of the polling will now work in their favour.

The remaining polling is totally in Dem areas and will just be an almighty 'no vote'. The PTP candidates won't be able to beat the 'no votes', so no MP can be selected.

The mandate for the PTP will be well under 20% of the electorate and parliament will be unable to convene, so nothing will really change apart from the EC will be able to press for a new election which the Dems can run in and almost certainly win by a country mile.

PTP only manages 8 million votes nationwide, and their entire voter base has already been able to cast their votes unhindered. The Dems will not lose any of their 11.5 million voters from 2011 and they will likely pick up a load from the PTP disaffected voters.

Atleast get your statistics right before posting.

[Gweiloman]

The protesters won't even block the elections if they continue, the completion of the polling will now work in their favour.

The remaining polling is totally in Dem areas and will just be an almighty 'no vote'. The PTP candidates won't be able to beat the 'no votes', so no MP can be selected.

The mandate for the PTP will be well under 20% of the electorate and parliament will be unable to convene, so nothing will really change apart from the EC will be able to press for a new election which the Dems can run in and almost certainly win by a country mile.

PTP only manages 8 million votes nationwide, and their entire voter base has already been able to cast their votes unhindered. The Dems will not lose any of their 11.5 million voters from 2011 and they will likely pick up a load from the PTP disaffected voters.

You fail to understand.

The rules in 2008 are now new, this is not the election 2006 rules.

The coup in 2006 and the new constitution they put into place means :

Elections are held, if a single candidate gets under 20% of the vote then there is a by-election process.

In 2006 a candidate needed to get over 20% in a by-election. This was changed in the new Constitution so now in by-elections there is no 20% requirement - so a single candidate can now win with a single vote, if that is what happens.

Why do you think the PDRC are on the streets killing police ? They have to stop elections.

All in my opinion of course.

I think you should read up a bit more:

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

BP: The problem was that The Organic Act on The Election of Members of the House of Representatives and Senators 1998 and Section 74:

In any constituency, if, on the election day, there is one candidate standing for an election on a constituency basis and such candidate receives votes at least twenty percent of the total number of voters in that constituency, the Election Commission shall announce such candidate to be the person elected.

In the case where the only candidate standing for an election under paragraph one receives votes of less than twenty percent of the total number of voters in that constituency, the Election Commission shall hold a new election in such constituency.

Only in my opinion, of course!!

...

In the case where the only candidate standing for an election under paragraph one receives votes of less than twenty percent of the total number of voters in that constituency, the Election Commission shall hold a new election in such constituency.

Exactly, a by election will then be called. If, the candidate still receives less than twenty percent, then a second by election will be held and this time, the candidate with the MOST votes casted will win, regardless of the percentage.

[Gweiloman]

The protesters won't even block the elections if they continue, the completion of the polling will now work in their favour.

The remaining polling is totally in Dem areas and will just be an almighty 'no vote'. The PTP candidates won't be able to beat the 'no votes', so no MP can be selected.

The mandate for the PTP will be well under 20% of the electorate and parliament will be unable to convene, so nothing will really change apart from the EC will be able to press for a new election which the Dems can run in and almost certainly win by a country mile.

PTP only manages 8 million votes nationwide, and their entire voter base has already been able to cast their votes unhindered. The Dems will not lose any of their 11.5 million voters from 2011 and they will likely pick up a load from the PTP disaffected voters.

You are a bit behind. Read up a bit more on what the constitution says about such situations.

[bkkdave1220]

The protesters won't even block the elections if they continue, the completion of the polling will now work in their favour.

The remaining polling is totally in Dem areas and will just be an almighty 'no vote'. The PTP candidates won't be able to beat the 'no votes', so no MP can be selected.

The mandate for the PTP will be well under 20% of the electorate and parliament will be unable to convene, so nothing will really change apart from the EC will be able to press for a new election which the Dems can run in and almost certainly win by a country mile.

PTP only manages 8 million votes nationwide, and their entire voter base has already been able to cast their votes unhindered. The Dems will not lose any of their 11.5 million voters from 2011 and they will likely pick up a load from the PTP disaffected voters.

You fail to understand.

The rules in 2008 are now new, this is not the election 2006 rules.

The coup in 2006 and the new constitution they put into place means :

Elections are held, if a single candidate gets under 20% of the vote then there is a by-election process.

In 2006 a candidate needed to get over 20% in a by-election. This was changed in the new Constitution so now in by-elections there is no 20% requirement - so a single candidate can now win with a single vote, if that is what happens.

Why do you think the PDRC are on the streets killing police ? They have to stop elections.

All in my opinion of course.

Do you have proof of this?

Are you willing to stand in a court room and swear to it?

took 9 posts for the first troll to appear.

my friend, you are in an english language "Internet Forum" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_forum

we exchange ideas here, argue, fight, agree, kiss and make up, whatever, we are not in any position to engage in this activity in Thai Law Courts.

If you feel the need to get involved to that extent, please post your interesting (which they will be) details of how you get on. if not, just stay in your seat and comment on things please.

[bkkdave1220]

either way, I still see elections as the way forward here and I can't see the Army wanting to jump into the command seat with the country in the state it is because of the proterstors.

however it pans out, i can't see the Army wanting Suthep and his backers in. They work on a regular basis with USA forces and are not as entrenched in their thinking as the other forces or many of the isolated elites.

Next intake of students would be fighting for democracy from day one, along with the dissenfranchised voters and all this with dwindling investment, toursist numbers dropping off (they'll drop off a lot more if there needs to be an overthrow of a peoples council) etc.

rain forcast for the weekend and this is what finished Pitak Siam for anybody who remembers the last coup plot!!

[whybother]

either way, I still see elections as the way forward here and I can't see the Army wanting to jump into the command seat with the country in the state it is because of the proterstors.

however it pans out, i can't see the Army wanting Suthep and his backers in. They work on a regular basis with USA forces and are not as entrenched in their thinking as the other forces or many of the isolated elites.

Next intake of students would be fighting for democracy from day one, along with the dissenfranchised voters and all this with dwindling investment, toursist numbers dropping off (they'll drop off a lot more if there needs to be an overthrow of a peoples council) etc.

rain forcast for the weekend and this is what finished Pitak Siam for anybody who remembers the last coup plot!!

Elections are obviously not the way forward, as shown by what has happened so far with these elections.

An election won't magically solve the issues that the protesters are protesting about.

[rubl]

either way, I still see elections as the way forward here and I can't see the Army wanting to jump into the command seat with the country in the state it is because of the proterstors.

however it pans out, i can't see the Army wanting Suthep and his backers in. They work on a regular basis with USA forces and are not as entrenched in their thinking as the other forces or many of the isolated elites.

Next intake of students would be fighting for democracy from day one, along with the dissenfranchised voters and all this with dwindling investment, toursist numbers dropping off (they'll drop off a lot more if there needs to be an overthrow of a peoples council) etc.

rain forcast for the weekend and this is what finished Pitak Siam for anybody who remembers the last coup plot!!

'coup plot'?

Anyway, back to the discussion of whether or not the EC can 'order' or 'ask' the military to help. Furthermore if the military are legally allowed to do such task and if yes under what provisions?

[tenaceous]

<deleted>?

Ballots? Ballots!! So the Thai army now want to be politicians <deleted>! You Have Guns! You have been trained!! Do something about stopping the protests!! instead of the # Hand Shandy" Tactics!

[Thaiready]

We already voted......where were you

[Crushdepth]

Beware of the coup! Please army, organise the election for us...

Sent from somewhere in the Pacific

[Scamper]

If anyone trying to absorb these constantly shifting myriad of dates, geographic regions, objectives, and proposed modus operandi - finds they quickly develop a headache - there is a good reason for it - it's a huge, unmitigated mess. And the more one delves into it - as well as all the disparate groups of officials they tragically involve - the more one is certain that it will never get off the ground. This latest brain-child of a proposal from a former EC commissioner - is that the military take over the process of opening up intractable constituencies. Unarmed ! The February 2 election that never was - is but one simple ruling away from being deemed utterly and constitutionally invalid. All this does is make that ruling that much easier and inevitable.

[rickirs]

Better late than never. But this discussion could have and should have taken place before the Feb 2nd election when it was well announced in advanced by Suthep that polls would be blocked and delivery of ballots disrupted. But EC arrogance of its own authority stood in tyhe way. EC now requesting military assistance also points to two significant failures in Thailand: both the National Police and EC are incapable of maintaining law and order to assure people exercise their right to vote.

[rubl]

Better late than never. But this discussion could have and should have taken place before the Feb 2nd election when it was well announced in advanced by Suthep that polls would be blocked and delivery of ballots disrupted. But EC arrogance of its own authority stood in tyhe way. EC now requesting military assistance also points to two significant failures in Thailand: both the National Police and EC are incapable of maintaining law and order to assure people exercise their right to vote.

The EC is not set up to 'maintain law and order'. If they tried that they would exceed their mandate of 'organising elections'.

As for the discussion of 'using the army' should have been held much earlier, well, there was a discussion, but nothing come of it. The army also somewhat reluctant to play 'police' for the occasion.

[rickirs]

Thai hypocritical circus. Army in army out. Wax on wax off.

It would be interesting to see how the army "waxes" if anti-government protesters open fire on army vehicles as they did on the police and attempt to drag soldiers from their vehicles and beat them. The good news is Suthep's guards won't have to intercede to save the soldiers.

[soalbundy]

The elections could take place if the police, army and EC all got together and were determined to uphold democracy. They are allowing the mob to dictate the course of events.

IF,a big IF, the army is willing,they seem to have their own agenda

[bangon04]

The elections could take place if the police, army and EC all got together and were determined to uphold democracy. They are allowing the mob to dictate the course of events.

IF,a big IF, the army is willing,they seem to have their own agenda

Instead of wasting all that money on ballots, wouldn't it be cheaper to just let the army decide who wins each by-election?