EC proceeds with today's election

[Lite Beer]

EC proceeds with today's election

RAYONG, 2 Mar 2014, (NNT) - According to the Election Commission, all of its personnel in five provinces are ready for today's re-run elections, stressing that officials would perform their duty with honesty and neutrality.

Secretary of the EC Phuchong Nutrawong visited 27 polling stations in Rayong Province before declaring the EC was 100% ready for the re-run polls. He stated this time around royally appointed police officers have been assigned as directors of each ballot station, claiming that the move would ensure fairness and transparency. Mr. Phuchong said if all goes well in Rayong, Petchaburi, Samut Songkram, and Petchabun Provinces, the remaining re-run elections would soon be organized.

Meanwhile in Samut Songkram, EC staff have set up polling venues for both local voters and voters from other provinces. According to the EC, 4,000 of the latter are expected to turn up today.

Mr. Somchai Srisuttiyakorn, Election Commission responsible for Election Management, has also visited polling stations and inspected ballot boxes in Petchaburi Province. He commented that the EC could soon conduct polls for the rest of the constituencies, if today's re-run elections turn out smoothly.

In the meantime, he urged all of the agency's staff to perform their duty to the best of the their ability while upholding neutrality.

-- NNT 2014-03-02

[smutcakes]

Should they have not let people know in advance that they were planning to conclude the election today? This is the first i have read about it!

[Lite Beer]

Thailand begins re-runs of troubled elections

by Apilaporn VECHAKIJ

PHETCHABURI , March 2, 2014 (AFP) - Polls opened peacefully in five Thai provinces Sunday for re-runs of a widely disrupted general election, authorities said, in the first move to complete a troubled vote that could provide a mandate for a new government.

A February 2 election failed to ease the months-long political crisis after anti-government protesters seeking to topple Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra obstructed the vote in many opposition strongholds.

Demonstrators prevented 10,000 polling stations from opening, affecting several million people, mainly in opposition strongholds in Bangkok and the south.

The nation's Election Commission said the results will not be announced until polls have been held in all constituencies, setting a rough deadline of April for their completion.

A total of around 120,000 people were registered in 101 constituencies across five provinces for Sunday's vote, election commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn told AFP.

"The polls are going peacefully -- everything is under control and there are no problems," Somchai said, adding that a few dozen protesters blew whistles at one polling station in Rayong province.

A trickle of voters arrived at two polling stations early Sunday in Phetchaburi -- one of the affected provinces south of Bangkok -- according to an AFP reporter, but there were no signs of new obstruction of the polls.

Until the full results are announced, Prime Minister Yingluck remains in a caretaker role with limited power over policy.
Under Thai election law, 95 percent of the 500 seats in the lower house of parliament must be filled to enable the appointment of a new government.

Thailand's main opposition party, which boycotted the vote, in February lost a legal bid to nullify a controversial election.

In addition to the street protests, Yingluck faces a slew of legal challenges to her government, including charges of negligence over a troubled rice subsidy scheme which could see her removed from office.

Thailand has been riven by political divisions since 2006 when Thaksin Shinawatra -- Yingluck's older brother -- was ousted in a bloodless military coup.

Hatred for him has fuelled demonstrations which seek to end the influence of his billionaire family on Thai politics.
Shinawatra-linked parties have won every election for more than a decade, drawing on support from the rural north and northeast.

Anti-government protesters on Sunday began dismantling rally stages at several key intersections in the capital after announcing the end of their self-proclaimed "shutdown" of the city.

Crowds have dwindled amid a spate of near-daily gun and grenade attacks -- including an attack last Sunday in a downtown shopping area which killed a woman and two children.

Protesters have moved their tents to a park in the centre of the city, which has also been occupied for weeks.

The movement has denied the retreat marks a defeat, saying it would keep up its struggle to overthrow a government that it sees as corrupt.

Firebrand protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban, who is known for his soaring rhetoric, has predicted Yingluck's government will fall within a fortnight.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2014-03-02

[casualbiker]

Should they have not let people know in advance that they were planning to conclude the election today? This is the first i have read about it!

Are you voting in the said areas?

Sent from my XT1032 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Scamper]

This is but the opening gambit of the ongoing process of piecing this election together. There are still polls to be held for Bangkok constituencies that were either partially or completely closed on February 2. And then of course are the eight missing provinces in the South - totaling 28 constituencies - which didn't have any registered candidates at all. That is the area of greatest contention between the Yingluck administration and the EC. The EC maintains that a new election decree would be necessary for those constituencies. Pheu Thai disagrees, so the EC has appealed to the Constitutional Court for a ruling. Until all these polls are held, the administration does not have a whisper of a chance of securing a 95 % parliamentary quorum. When the Constitutional Court declined to nullify the election last month, it was on the basis of Article 68, as the request was filed under Article 68. Article 108, however, will be the one that will decide this. In the meantime, Article 7 takes effect in three days, effectively cancelling the administration's caretaker status in lieu of a parliamentary quorum. Whether the remaining elections are scheduled or not, Article 7 and Article 108 will unquestionably be the focus of this month.

[bangkokheat]

Should they have not let people know in advance that they were planning to conclude the election today? This is the first i have read about it!

maybe its because your not thai and or dont read thai and its non of our business

[Melyn]

Should they have not let people know in advance that they were planning to conclude the election today? This is the first i have read about it!

maybe its because your not thai and or dont read thai and its non of our business

We expats are all interested.

Don't be so impolite

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[fab4]

smutcakes, on 02 Mar 2014 - 10:41, said:

Should they have not let people know in advance that they were planning to conclude the election today? This is the first i have read about it!

The election does not conclude today. There are still provinces in the south where it was not possible to register candidates and the way forward on this is still to be decided.

[mrtoad]

Should they have not let people know in advance that they were planning to conclude the election today? This is the first i have read about it!

maybe its because your not thai and or dont read thai and its non of our business

Such great insight.

How do you know he doesn't read Thai?

Almost on a par with the "if you don't like it go home" posts.

[bangkokheat]

Should they have not let people know in advance that they were planning to conclude the election today? This is the first i have read about it!

maybe its because your not thai and or dont read thai and its non of our business

We expats are all interested.

Don't be so impolite

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

you have misunderstood what i wrote, its not about expats being interested or not, its about why would thais bother making foreigners aware when the elections are on, in their minds i would assume its non of our business

[bangkokheat]

Should they have not let people know in advance that they were planning to conclude the election today? This is the first i have read about it!

maybe its because your not thai and or dont read thai and its non of our business

Such great insight.

How do you know he doesn't read Thai?

Almost on a par with the "if you don't like it go home" posts.

mr toad, perhaps you should sober up and re read my post before coming up with negative response

[noitom]

This is the part where the dead get to vote in Thailand.

[Crushdepth]

Should they have not let people know in advance that they were planning to conclude the election today? This is the first i have read about it!

maybe its because your not thai and or dont read thai and its non of our business

We expats are all interested.

Don't be so impolite

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

you have misunderstood what i wrote, its not about expats being interested or not, its about why would thais bother making foreigners aware when the elections are on, in their minds i would assume its non of our business

They're asking the UN to mediate, but its nobody's business?

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Melyn]

Should they have not let people know in advance that they were planning to conclude the election today? This is the first i have read about it!

maybe its because your not thai and or dont read thai and its non of our business

We expats are all interested.

Don't be so impolite

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

you have misunderstood what i wrote, its not about expats being interested or not, its about why would thais bother making foreigners aware when the elections are on, in their minds i would assume its non of our business

What is the English language news service for?

The truth is that these elections have been low key. There may be many reasons for this but apathy may top the bill

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[JoeThePoster]

smutcakes, on 02 Mar 2014 - 10:41, said:

Should they have not let people know in advance that they were planning to conclude the election today? This is the first i have read about it!

The election does not conclude today. There are still provinces in the south where it was not possible to register candidates and the way forward on this is still to be decided.

No elections are not necessary there. That be the Sultanate of Suthepistan.

[SICHONSTEVE]

Should they have not let people know in advance that they were planning to conclude the election today? This is the first i have read about it!

maybe its because your not thai and or dont read thai and its non of our business

Such great insight.

How do you know he doesn't read Thai?

Almost on a par with the "if you don't like it go home" posts.

I can read and write Thai - but it's the first time I have heard or seen that they are actually going ahead today.

[Baerboxer]

Should they have not let people know in advance that they were planning to conclude the election today? This is the first i have read about it!

Will you be voting then?

Those that will know about it.

[winstonc]

its all for show nothing is going to happen almost a mute point now...theres a great topic on china buying 400.000 tons of rice if some of you ptp guys want to join in ..just saying .... dont be too selective..were all keyboard warriors after all..

[Dogmatix]

Who are the "royally appointed police officers" and, if they are so effective in ensuring fairness and transparency, why are they not deployed in every aspect of Thai life? If they really exist, they could lead to a better society.

Unfortunately, most of Thailand seems to be policed by non-royally appointed officers who are only interested in murder, extortion and all other crimes under the sun.

Edited March 2, 2014 by Dogmatix

[Dogmatix]

This is but the opening gambit of the ongoing process of piecing this election together. There are still polls to be held for Bangkok constituencies that were either partially or completely closed on February 2. And then of course are the eight missing provinces in the South - totaling 28 constituencies - which didn't have any registered candidates at all. That is the area of greatest contention between the Yingluck administration and the EC. The EC maintains that a new election decree would be necessary for those constituencies. Pheu Thai disagrees, so the EC has appealed to the Constitutional Court for a ruling. Until all these polls are held, the administration does not have a whisper of a chance of securing a 95 % parliamentary quorum. When the Constitutional Court declined to nullify the election last month, it was on the basis of Article 68, as the request was filed under Article 68. Article 108, however, will be the one that will decide this. In the meantime, Article 7 takes effect in three days, effectively cancelling the administration's caretaker status in lieu of a parliamentary quorum. Whether the remaining elections are scheduled or not, Article 7 and Article 108 will unquestionably be the focus of this month.

There is also a problem under Article 127 which requires that the House of Representatives should be convened within 30 days of general elections and 30 days after that a new PM must be elected. A protest leader has already filed a case with the Constitutional Court challenging the government's continuing caretaker status beyond 4th March.

I wonder if elections will be necessary in the Peoples' Democratic Republic of Lanna. Tax revenue will be in short supply and they won't be able to afford around B2bn for elections at the drop of a hat. Perhaps they will take it as read that a majority of Lannanians want Thaksin to be emperor-for-life like Emperor Bokkassa of the Central African Empire (now republic) and dispense with elections.

Edited March 2, 2014 by Dogmatix

[SamMunich]

maybe its because your not thai and or dont read thai and its non of our business

_________________________________________________________________

Should they have not let people know in advance that they were planning to conclude the election today? This is the first i have read about it!

____________________________________________________________________

Does that mean they will take down now these awful traffic-obstructing girlie posters of Ms. Yingluck ???

[kimamey]

Should they have not let people know in advance that they were planning to conclude the election today? This is the first i have read about it!

maybe its because your not thai and or dont read thai and its non of our business

We expats are all interested.

Don't be so impolite

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

you have misunderstood what i wrote, its not about expats being interested or not, its about why would thais bother making foreigners aware when the elections are on, in their minds i would assume its non of our business

I'm not Thai and don't read it but I do know a bit about the elections. I'm not in those areas but I'm surprised it hasn't been mentioned at least on here. Maybe he lives in the area and maybe he has a Thai partner.

Not much happens in the Kingdom without the TV brigade knowing about it. I smell a plot to stop our influence.

[BlueNoseCodger]

you have misunderstood what i wrote, its not about expats being interested or not, its about why would thais bother making foreigners aware when the elections are on, in their minds i would assume its non of our business

What is the English language news service for?

The truth is that these elections have been low key. There may be many reasons for this but apathy may top the bill

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Apathy? Not really, for apathy you expect to see low turnout across the board, but the numbers show higher turnouts last time in Pheu Thai areas (link) than at the last election.

It's the clash polling stations that suffered the low turnouts, so more like fear than apathy. It's still likely to be a factor.

Samut Saongkran suffered the second biggest difference in turnout between 2011 and 2014. For the current ones he's re-running today, 5th Rayong, 4th Petchaburi, 2nd Samut Songkram in the poor turnout list.

I'm not expecting huge improvements, even I'm afraid of voting knowing the yellow-yobos will be watching who votes.

[kimamey]

Who are the "royally appointed police officers" and, if they are so effective in ensuring fairness and transparency, why are they not deployed in every aspect of Thai life? If they really exist, they could lead to a better society.

Unfortunately, most of Thailand seems to be policed by non-royally appointed officers who are only interested in murder, extortion and all other crimes under the sun.

Since I doubt that the king has personally checked and appointed these police aren't they just Royal Thai police?

[kimamey]

maybe its because your not thai and or dont read thai and its non of our business

_________________________________________________________________

Should they have not let people know in advance that they were planning to conclude the election today? This is the first i have read about it!

____________________________________________________________________

Does that mean they will take down now these awful traffic-obstructing girlie posters of Ms. Yingluck ???

Why? Do you want one for your bedroom?

[MunterHunter]

10.2% turn out with a measly 9,835 voters... That's gotta sting Yingluck and her group of corrupt sycophants

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[commie Joe]

They're asking the UN to mediate, but its nobody's business?

Well you seem to be much better imformed than the rest on here.

An invitation to visit don't = mediation . As really there is nothing to mediate . All there is are a very small tiny minority that think they should rule the country to the detriment of the majority . The only problem is the army so inviting the UN seems to be tactical to warn off the RTA which is anything but royal to the Thai people

[rickirs]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

This is but the opening gambit of the ongoing process of piecing this election together. There are still polls to be held for Bangkok constituencies that were either partially or completely closed on February 2. And then of course are the eight missing provinces in the South - totaling 28 constituencies - which didn't have any registered candidates at all. That is the area of greatest contention between the Yingluck administration and the EC. The EC maintains that a new election decree would be necessary for those constituencies. Pheu Thai disagrees, so the EC has appealed to the Constitutional Court for a ruling. Until all these polls are held, the administration does not have a whisper of a chance of securing a 95 % parliamentary quorum. When the Constitutional Court declined to nullify the election last month, it was on the basis of Article 68, as the request was filed under Article 68. Article 108, however, will be the one that will decide this. In the meantime, Article 7 takes effect in three days, effectively cancelling the administration's caretaker status in lieu of a parliamentary quorum. Whether the remaining elections are scheduled or not, Article 7 and Article 108 will unquestionably be the focus of this month.

There is also a problem under Article 127 which requires that the House of Representatives should be convened within 30 days of general elections and 30 days after that a new PM must be elected. A protest leader has already filed a case with the Constitutional Court challenging the government's continuing caretaker status beyond 4th March.

I wonder if elections will be necessary in the Peoples' Democratic Republic of Lanna. Tax revenue will be in short supply and they won't be able to afford around B2bn for elections at the drop of a hat. Perhaps they will take it as read that a majority of Lannanians want Thaksin to be emperor-for-life like Emperor Bokkassa of the Central African Empire (now republic) and dispense with elections.

There is something disingenious about a PDRC protest leader filing a case with the Constitutional Court challenging the government's continuing caretaker status beyond 4th March when that leader has been engaged in actions intended to delay the elections that would have otherwise resulted in the formation of a new parliament before the end of November 2013.

[kikoman]

Many a yellow will be disappointed when on March 5 Yingluck will still be Caretaker PM, it is the EC that did not set up the elections!

But we also noticed a great change in the EC also, some one put the fear into them, so many that opposed anything that could possibly help the government have made a complete turn around, Why?

Cheers

[bigbamboo]

Why did they need to stress that the officials would 'perform their duty with honesty and neutrality'?

Is that not normally the case then?