Senate Panel Starts To Screen EC Nominees

[Jai Dee]

Senate panel starts to screen EC nominees

The Senate panel scrutinizing the 10 nominees for the new Election Commission (EC) announced yesterday that it will begin looking into the numerous public complaints made against certain candidates this week.

Wallop Tangkhananurak, the panel secretary, confirmed yesterday that the screening process is proceeding on track, and that candidates facing public objections will be given a chance to provide their defense next week.

Wallop, an outgoing Bangkok senator, said that the panel had received 199 complaints in the mail and 461 on the Senate website.

“The panel will invite the complainants to appear before the panel on August 28 to voice their concerns,” he said. “Those who are accused will be able to provide counter-testimony to the panel on August 29.”

Wallop also said there were only six candidates who needed to appear before the panel to defend themselves.

Upon its formation two weeks ago, the Senate screening panel, consisting of 22 caretaker senators, agreed to complete the EC selection process in not more than 20 days.

Last week, the panel listened to the individual statements of the 10 EC candidates on how they envisioned their role as an election chief, and received information from nine state organizations, including the National Intelligence Agency, the Office of the Auditor General and the Economic Crime Suppression Police, detailing specific aspects of the backgrounds of the candidates for use in the selection process.

However, the new EC will not be appointed by the time the Royal Decree for the October 15 general election comes into force tomorrow, and it is widely acknowledged that the election date will need to be postponed.

Source: ThaiDay - 23 August 2006

[sriracha john]

Sorry, but had to snag the last quote from the closed thread that led to this thread:

The thread's title is outdated - it should be "All three EC members have been out of jail for three weeks and counting"

As it stands its completely inaccurate.

Jai Dee, close the thread and start another one about EC selection, please.

sheesh Plus... do you got all this detailed information on some kind of large, erasable whiteboard sitting next to your monitor??

It is EXTREMELY trying to keep up with all the going-ons in Thailand...

I know... I try the same myself

Thumbs up to ya

[Martin]

"....it is widely acknowledged that the election date will need to be postponed. "

Well, in the financial world outside Thailand (among the people who put their money where their thoughts lead them), the prospect of Thailand carrying on under its caretaker Government for quite a bit longer is causing no worries.

If it was, the baht would be sliding down even more than the US dollar. But the baht is holding up very nicely.

Thailand must be signalling that the caretaker government is doing a good job.

The EC being formed carefully, and then being seen to run the General Election apparatus competently, will add to Thailand's esteem.

[hammered]

"....it is widely acknowledged that the election date will need to be postponed. "

Well, in the financial world outside Thailand (among the people who put their money where their thoughts lead them), the prospect of Thailand carrying on under its caretaker Government for quite a bit longer is causing no worries.

If it was, the baht would be sliding down even more than the US dollar. But the baht is holding up very nicely.

Thailand must be signalling that the caretaker government is doing a good job.

The EC being formed carefully, and then being seen to run the General Election apparatus competently, will add to Thailand's esteem.

Its arguable that the country runs fairly well with no government considering the caretaker government are very limited in what they can do and that they like all caretaker governments world wide are more interested in positioning for the next election than conducting affairs of state. Maybe the world prefers Thailand with no functioning government too allowing the bureaucrats to just get on with technical matters.

[sriracha john]

there's a glitch in the process... seems the Senate Speaker neglected to inform the Senate that His Majesty The King's Royal Decree detailed a specific closing date... a date which is earlier than the one planned to hold a vote on the EC commissioners:

Suchon attacked for not telling session's closing date

Caretaker Senate Speaker Suchon Chaleekrua came under attack by his colleagues for delaying the announcement to close the upper chamber's special session till Wedneday.

Although His Majesty the King had approved the royal decree on August 11, specifying the opening date on August 14 and the closing date on August 31, Suchon chose to withhold part of the information.

This led the majority of senators to schedule the vote on the Election Commission appointment on September 4. The earlier timetable will have to be revised to fit the closing date.

Many senators in charge of vetting the EC candidates said the government wanted to force the upper chamber to rush to EC appointment.

"Under the closing date of August 31, the Senate should have no trouble nominating five EC members because the vetting of qualifications won't take much more time," caretaker Senator Sawai Phramanee said.

The Nation

-------------------------------------------------

Hopefully, they'll all still a good job.

Edited August 24, 2006 by sriracha john

[Jai Dee]

The interim senate is expected to select five new poll commissioners on August 30

The interim senate is expected to call a meeting of members to vote five of the 10 contenders for the post of election commissioner on August 30th.

A royal decree ordering the closure of Parliament’s extraordinary session on August 31st was issued yesterday so the senate needs to name the new poll commissioners before that.

The senate is screening qualifications of the 10 nominees chosen by the Supreme Court’s general assembly early this month.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 24 August 2006

[cclub75]

Well, in the financial world outside Thailand (among the people who put their money where their thoughts lead them), the prospect of Thailand carrying on under its caretaker Government for quite a bit longer is causing no worries.

If it was, the baht would be sliding down even more than the US dollar. But the baht is holding up very nicely.

The THB is not "holding" : it's the USD that goes down.

As for the "capital inflow" (BOT said that 500 millions USD are now coming every day in Thailand, against 100 millions before), I would not take it as proof of confidence or faith toward the caretaker governement and its policy.

Around the world, we have people/companies/hedges funds that are awashed with cash. In USD. And some of them start to understand that the outlook for the USD is not really rosy. At that point : what you'd do ? Share the risk : put money in other currencies, and buy hard assets. Or speculate.

What I mean, we have right now a "half full or half empty bottle" syndrome.

A last example : 2 weeks ago, during is radio show, Thaksin gave a bunch of statistics to show the good condition of the thai economy

He spoke about the "foreign currency reserves" of the country. Thoses reserves are indeed going up. Is it a proof ? Guess what : it's mainly because BOT has bought USD in order keep USD/THB exchange rate !

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/08/24...ss_30011847.php

That's the good point with economics datas : you can strech them in a way. Or in another.

[sriracha john]

A royal decree ordering the closure of Parliament’s extraordinary session on August 31st was issued yesterday

yesterday? hmm... you sure about that, TNNBPRD?

[Jai Dee]

A royal decree ordering the closure of Parliament’s extraordinary session on August 31st was issued yesterday

yesterday? hmm... you sure about that, TNNBPRD?

Maybe the TNNBPRD's translators got the wording slightly wrong on that SJ... maybe they should have said "due to expire on"... or words to that effect...

[sriracha john]

A royal decree ordering the closure of Parliament’s extraordinary session on August 31st was issued yesterday

yesterday? hmm... you sure about that, TNNBPRD?

Maybe the TNNBPRD's translators got the wording slightly wrong on that SJ... maybe they should have said "due to expire on"... or words to that effect...

sorry.. I should have been clearer. I was questioning the issuance date of the Royal Decree. A few posts up it quotes the opening AND closing dates were specified in a Royal Decree issued on August 11, not yesterday.

[sriracha john]

Senators threaten to boycott meeting

The Senate minority Thursday threatened a boycott if caretaker Senate Speaker Suchon Chaleekrua would force a vote on the appointment of five election commissioners on Wednesday.

"The vote should not take place before the completion of the vetting process for job qualifications," caretaker Senator Sunthorn Chindain said.

Sunthorn said he foresaw no possibility for the vetting to complete before Tuesday, adding that the upper chamber would then need a three-day notice before casting votes on the matter.

He said the vetting process was on track to complete within the 20-day deadline although Suchon appeared to try to rush the vote ahead of the agreed date.

The upper chamber originally resolved to vote on the appointment around September 4 before Suchon made a bombshell announcement about the royal decree for the session's closing date set for Thursday.

The minority senators said Suchon was relying on underhanded tactics by delaying the announcement about the closing date.

The Nation

[sriracha john]

Lest we forget, what with all this bomb hoax business:

Senators uncertain they can meet EC selection deadline

The Senate committee vetting the backgrounds of the 10 Election Commission candidates is unable to guarantee the process to select the five commissioners will be finished by Wednesday. Chairman Sawai Phramani said yesterday the panel's findings would probably be presented to the Senate today. A meeting would then discuss whether the Senate could finalise the selection process by Aug 30, as set by the Senate speaker. He was not sure the deadline could be met. He said his panel was still looking into the tax payment records of certain candidates and complaints about their performance while serving as judges. The panel is being pressed to hurry its task as the special Senate meeting, called to select the five new commissioners, is due to conclude on Thursday.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/28Aug2006_news02.php

[sriracha john]

EC nominees rebut allegations of bias

Two nominees for the new Election Commission (EC), regarded as "unfriendly" to the Thai Rak Thai Party, rebutted all arguments made by the public against them when they faced a Senate panel yesterday vetting their backgrounds.

Former senator Kaewsan Atibhodi said he dismissed all allegations against him, ahead of the Senate's final selection of five of 10 nominees for the EC.

He told the panel that his involvement with the People's Alliance for Democracy - the most forceful anti-government movement - to oust caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra had nothing to do with his will to work for the EC, he said.

Thaksin had lost his legitimacy to stay in office because he abused his power and was involved with corruption, Kaewsan said. Hence, he had the right to speak out about an illegitimate leader, he said.

Is he implying something about Thaksin's mother?!?!

Kaewsan countered an allegation that he had backed an anti-Thaksin academic to tear up a ballot paper as a symbolic rejection of the April 2 national poll, and therefore was not qualified for the EC post - supposed to strictly impose election laws.

He said he volunteered to be a legal consultant in the case as the tearing up of an unmarked ballot was not ruled to be illegal by the Supreme Court, following a similar case in Songkhla.

Another nominee, Nam Yimyaem told the panel he was politically neutral although he recently chaired an EC investigative panel that has asked the Constitution Court to dissolve the Thai Rak Thai Party.

A job he was asked to perform, btw, by the ousted TRT Party-controlled EC... who, btw, have been out on bail for how long now, Plus????

- The Nation

[Plus]

Four weeks? Judging by the date of my previous post you quoted?

[sriracha john]

Four weeks? Judging by the date of my previous post you quoted?

oh ok, thanks... whiteboard duly updated.

[John K]

The thought occurred to me today, seeing that some of the (assumed) pro TRT Senators are making phone calls to the nominees for votes in exchange for favorable rulings for the TRT, ......

Is it possible that the Senate panel would/could reject all candidates because they refuse to be bias?

[Jai Dee]

Registration of poll candidates deferred

Registration of poll candidates set between September 5 and 12 have to be postponed because the new Election Commission (EC) has yet to be appointed.

EC deputy secretary-general Prawing Khachacheewa (ประวิง คชาชีวะ) said the new poll commissioners will decide whether to move the general election further from October 15.

The new five members of the poll agency will be selected by the interim senate this week.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 05 September 2006

[sriracha john]

ahhh.. good to see this thread revived as it's going to be the specific area of concern in the coming week. The request to re-start the Senate for the selection is in the works.

sorry to have let this one go during your absence, Jai Dee... quite a few topic-related posts have become scattered throughout the numerous political threads. With so many things interelated, it will help to separate them, but it's no easy task.

[sriracha john]

From the "Oct. 15 election thread":

Back to the topic.

1. Could one of our distinguished politic analysts give us a quick sum'up regarding the process of selection of the EC members ?

I must confess : I've completly lost the the point among such a large thread.

2. Basically, if EC is not ready for 15/10, what could be the new election date ? Does the king need to sign another decree for such a purpose ? Or they can use the first one, and extend it ?

And if the EC is up and runing, could their members have an influence regarding the date of the poll ? Is it possible for them to say : 15 october is too short, we need XX more month in order to do our job properly ?

I'll attempt to respond to all your questions to the best of my ability.

1. As it stands now, there is no "Senate" as the Royal Decree authorizing their special session has expired. The controversy over that is detailed above with Senate Leader Suchon withholding the closing date from the Senators.

The Senate did complete the screening of the EC candidates and a new session to vote on their selection requires a new Royal Decree. The request for that new Royal Decree have been prepared (from today's BP):

Royal decrees for special senate session drafted

Two royal decrees, one to convene a special Senate session on Friday to select the five election commissioners and the other to end the session on Monday _ have been drafted and would be forwarded to the cabinet for acknowledgement today. Cabinet secretary-general Rongphol Charoenphanthu said caretaker Senate Speaker Suchon Chaleekrua had notified the Cabinet secretariat that the Senate wanted a special session to pick the new commissioners. Mr Suchon said the Senate secretariat would today start delivering copies of the report on the personal backgrounds of the 10 shortlisted candidates to the senators. Once selected, the five new commissioners will be given 15 days to resign from their current posts.

2. Once the EC has been selected, they will have to determine if any change will be needed for the Oct. 15 date. Every article I've read indicates this is most likely to happen as the timing is too close to their confirmation date. In order to change the Oct. 15 date, a new Royal Decree will need to be issued. What date will be chosen is open to speculation, but generally the dates I've seen referenced are between Nov. 15 and Dec. 15.

One of the interesting things I've recently read about the EC is that whichever 5 are ultimately selected, they plan to utilize the remaining 5 as EC-appointed staff members.

In other words, all 10 will ultimately end up working on the EC.

[Plus]

All ten working for EC is not enough - there are thousands of EC officials managing elections upcountry and serious clean up is needed. New EC commissioners will need time to assert their influence and put right people in place.

I suspect the new commissioners don't know themselves how long it might take to make the whole EC body ready. Not until they move into new offices and start working. Even then they might run into obstacles and postpone the elections again.

We are looking at December or even later if any of EC people on the ground decide to sabotage on a local level.

[slimdog]

All ten working for EC is not enough - there are thousands of EC officials managing elections upcountry and serious clean up is needed. New EC commissioners will need time to assert their influence and put right people in place.

I suspect the new commissioners don't know themselves how long it might take to make the whole EC body ready. Not until they move into new offices and start working. Even then they might run into obstacles and postpone the elections again.

We are looking at December or even later if any of EC people on the ground decide to sabotage on a local level.

Congratulations Plus, I was wondering how long it would be before someone realised that organising an election involves more than just 5 people.

Which brings me to one of the main problems, it's not a question of people on the ground sabotaging an election, the main problem for the new Election Commission is actually getting people on the ground..

At the last General Election (2005) 1.2 million people were employed by the Election Commission in order to run the elections. After nearly 7 months of continuous bad press, people haven't worked out that there might be a few people who no longer wish to have anything to do with the ECT. Getting rid of the old commssioners may have been great press, but it still leaves a bad feeling for all the other people employed by the ECT, not the least of which is that they have a great fear of ending up in Prison themselves. For the small amount of money that the ECT gives to the Provincial and Constituency commissions many are simply not interested.

There was an interesting article in the Nation about two weeks ago stating that in all 400 constituencies the EC has had great difficulty in getting sufficient people, in most instances the numbers who have applied are not sufficient by Law..

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/search/pag...amp;id=30011569

Adding to this is yet another court case involving the former EC, which is due to read its verdict next week, (15th September).

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/search/pag...amp;id=30011167

[Jai Dee]

New five EC members may be finalized tomorrow

The interim senate will vote five people to the Election Commission (EC) tomorrow if the royal decree calling for the opening of parliament’s extraordinary session is endorsed.

Interim senate speaker Suchon Chaleekrua (สุชน ชาลีเครือ) said the senate should be able to select all the five new poll commissioners in one day. The new EC is needed to supervise the general election scheduled for October.

The Supreme Court’s general assembly nominated 10 contenders for the five vacant seats on the EC in August. The new EC has to be appointed because Pol. Gen. Wasana Permlarp (วาสนา เพิ่มลาภ), Parinya Nakchatree (ปริญญา นาคฉัตรีย์) and Weerachai Naewboon-nian (วีระชัย แนวบุญเนียน) resigned as poll commissioners after having been sentenced to four years in jail for breaking the election law.

Gen. Jarupat Ruangsuwan (จารุภัทร เรืองสุวรรณ), another commissioner, quit a few months ago. The fifth EC member, Charan Buranapansri (จรัล บูรณพันธ์ศรี) had passed away.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 07 September 2006

[Jai Dee]

Interim senate speaker: the meeting concerning on selecting new election commissioners will be held tomorrow

Interim Senate Speaker Suchon Chaleekrua (สุชน ชาลีเครือ) indicated that the senators will have a meeting tomorrow to select the new Election Commission (EC) members, adding that the process of consideration will take only one day.

After the royal decree on the opening of a parliamentary extraordinary session was issued, every senator were informed to attend the meeting, which will be held tomorrow at 10:00 hours. Mr. Suchon said this meeting will take just one day as the senators earlier discussed on the qualifications of EC nominees and other related issues. Therefore, the senators in the meeting tomorrow will just acknowledge the result of the qualification-checking process from the committee.

The interim Senate Speaker has also requested units to trust on the neutrality of the operating officials and to give them an opportunity to fully work on their tasks.

As for the security measures, Mr. Suchon said that he has requested the senators to cooperate with the security officers before they will be allowed to enter to the Parliament.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 07 September 2006

[Jai Dee]

Mr. Rongpol: cancellation of the electoral royal decree is under the consideration of new election commissioners

The Secretariat of the Cabinet, Mr. Rongpol Charoenphan (รองพล เจริญพันธุ์), revealed that the new Election Commission (EC) members will consider whether the royal decree on the general election date will be annulled or not.

Mr. Rongpol said that His Majesty the King has already approved the opening of the parliamentary extraordinary session, which is effective from today. He has proposed the matter to interim Senate Speaker Suchon Chaleekrua (สุชน ชาลีเครือ) for further implementation.

As for the termination of the royal decree that sets the general election date to be on October 15th, the Secretariat of the Cabinet said there has not been any progress on this issue as people will have to wait for the new EC to consider it.

However, if this royal decree has been cancelled, a new election date has to be proposed at the same time.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 07 September 2006

[sriracha john]

Today is The Day:

Senate to pick EC members in one day

The Senate will today pick five election commissioners to manage the next general election - the first step towards breaking the ongoing political deadlock that has gripped the Kingdom.

Senate Speaker Suchon Chaleekrua said the Senate would choose five EC members by the end of today although the Royal decree approving the session allowed senators three days to complete the task.

The nominees, picked by the Supreme Court in August, are Wicha Mahakhun, Wasan Soipisut, Apichat Sukhakkanon, Udom Fuangfung, Somchai Jung-prasert, Prapan Naikowit, Kaewsan Atibhodi, Sodsri Sata-yathum, Sumet Oupanisakorn and Nam Yimyaem.

The session will begin with a report from an investigative panel. The Senate will then have a closed-door session to pick the five EC members, Suchon said.

Each nominee needs half of the 187 senators' votes, or 94, to become an EC member. If the first round of voting does not fill the five vacant seats, a second round will be held. The candidates who get the most votes will fill the remaining seats, regardless of the first round's results.

A source at the Senate said Apichat, Somchai, Sumet, and Prapan were likely to be selected. The last seat could go to Kaewsan, Sodsri or Wicha, the source added.

Weeks ahead of today's selection, three nominees were said to be out of the running because they were seen as being unfriendly to caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his Thai Rak Thai Party.

The recently-resigned senator Kaewsan had been against the government during his six years in Parliament. Former Supreme Court judge Nam chaired an EC investigative panel that asked the Constitution Court to dissolve Thai Rak Thai for hiring small parties to act as candidates in the April 2 poll. Judge Wasan had been involved in a case relating to Thaksin's alleged asset concealment in 2001.

The EC seats have been vacant since the last commissioners resigned after a court ruling in late July that saw them jailed for mismanaging the election on April 2.

The new EC selection has also extended the need for a caretaker government, which has been in place since the House was dissolved in late February.

Senator Maleerat Kaewka said today's EC selection would be different from previous selection rounds for other independent agencies, which involved bloc voting in favour of some nominees that allegedly favoured the government. She said she had not heard of any plans to allow bloc voting this time.

Senator Wallop Tangkananurak said he believed there had been attempts to keep Kaewsan and Nam from winning the seats although he had not heard anything specific.

Another source at the Senate said Kaewsan had a chance to win an EC seat despite his stance against the government.

"He was so outstanding as a senator that he won the hearts of his former colleagues in the upper house," the source said.

Kaewsan should get votes from independent senators and other upper house members with backgrounds in government service, the source added.

A Royal decree calling for a general election for October 15 came into effect on August 24, but Cabinet secretary-general Rongpol Charoenphanthu said yesterday he believed the new EC would not be able to meet the schedule.

A new election date would be set through an amendment to the election decree, but that would have to wait for the new EC to take responsibility for the move.

- The Nation

[sriracha john]

ELECTION COMMISSION

Panel reports on the 10 nominees

Would-be members of poll watchdog had their backgrounds and assets scrutinised

The Senate subcommittee charged with checking the personal histories of 10 nominees for five Election Commission positions will report to the Upper House today.

The following are taken from the panel report (compiled from information sent to it in the mail) and its website.

1. Wicha Mahakhun, chief justice of the Juvenile and Family Division of the Supreme Court was involved in a judges' protest in 1991. He was accused of encouraging other judges to join and causing judicial discord. The Judicial Commission dismissed him in 1992. Wicha and his wife Nualpan Mahakhun have Bt12 million in net assets.

2. Wasan Soipisut, head of the Supreme Court Labour Division, has never faced disciplinary investigation. However, former judge Wisut Sahacharmanop once accused him of an unfair verdict. The Senate panel found the complaint groundless but said Wasan refused to declare his assets and tax payments.

3. Apichat Sukhakkanon, chief justice of the Environment Division of the Supreme Court has never faced disciplinary investigation. But, complaints against him flooded the Senate panel. Apichat and his wife Suthasini Sukhakkanon declared Bt8 million in net assets.

4. Udom Fuangfung, senior judge of the Southern Bangkok Criminal Court, faced disciplinary punishment on May 20, 1974 for using abusive language against a witness. Udom was punished in the judicial protests of 1992. The Justice Ministry investigated him in 1980 over allegations he accepted a kickback. Udom and his wife Urairat Fuangfung have Bt29.8 million in net assets.

5. Somchai Jungprasert, chief of the Supreme Court judges' quorum, has never faced disciplinary punishment. The Senate panel found allegations that Somchai was assaulted as a result of a verdict groundless. Somchai was shot as he passed the scene of a robbery in his car. Somchai and his wife Rawiwan Jungprasert declared Bt317 million in net assets.

6. Prapan Naikowit, deputy attorney-general, faced no complaints against him. He has never faced disciplinary investigation or punishment. He declared Bt24.2 million in net assets.

7. Kaewsan Atibhodi, former senator and law lecturer, received the most complaints but they were anonymous. The panel ruled as groundless claims that he was biased because he participated in the People's Alliance for Democracy. He has Bt7.9 million in net assets.

8. Sumet Oupanisakorn, a senior judge of the Southern Bangkok Criminal Court, has Bt3.1 million in net assets. The Senate panel found a complaint against him by a 61-year-old convicted drug offender groundless.

9. Nam Yimyaem, former deputy Supreme Court president, faced a complaint of leaking information while chairing an EC subcommittee investigating claims the Thai Rak Thai Party hired small parties to contest the April 2 election. Nam and his spouse declared Bt66 million in net assets.

10. Sodsri Satayathum, a senior Supreme Court judge, has never faced disciplinary action. There were no complaints against her. She has Bt77.5 million in net assets.

- The Nation

[Jai Dee]

Senators today selects 5 new election commissioners from 10 EC nominees

The Senate will select five new Election Commission (EC) members from ten nominees today.

The Senate's meeting will only concern the selection of five EC members from ten candidates who have already passed the committee's qualification inspection process. Like other meetings that involve the appointment of positions in independent organizations, the meeting between the senators today will be divided into two phases. Firstly, the media will be allowed to observe the meeting, while the profiles and conducts of the candidates will also be reported.

In addition, reports on the selection process and the stance of political impartiality will also be disclosed. The second stage will be confidential as the meeting members will examine the EC nominees' profiles in a much greater detail. A classified report will also be provided to the senators for consideration.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere at the Parliament building is lively and the security measures have intensified.

Vehicles and people are being rigorously inspected before they will be allowed to travel inside the venue.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 08 September 2006

[Jai Dee]

HM the King signs decree to convene Senate

His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand has endorsed a royal decree allowing the Senate to convene an extraordinary meeting to select a new Election Commission (EC) on

Friday, the Royal Household Bureau announced on Thursday.

HM the King signed the decree on Wednesday, according to the bureau.

In Friday's meeting the Senate will vote on five new election panel members from among the 10 nominees after the Senate's 22-person panel completes investigating their personal backgrounds and qualifications.

The candidates hoping to be new commissioners (mainly judges) were nominated by the Supreme Court early last month to replace the former EC, of which three members resigned in disgrace after being jailed for mishandling April 2 election and following by-elections, one previously resigned, and another died.

The new Election Commission will be responsible for organising and supervising national elections--including the upcoming general election set for October 15

Inspecting the readiness of the parliamentary chambers Thursday morning, Senate Speaker Suchon Chaleekrue said he had ordered security to be tightened both inside and outside the parliament compound and said everything is ready for the meeting which is expected to begin at 12 noon Friday.

Mr. Suchon said he hoped that the EC selection procedures would be completed later on Friday, and that afterward the newly-chosen members must resign from their current posts and meet to select the Election

Commission chairperson from among their number, before their appointments are forwarded for royal endorsement.

The senate speaker denied rumours that some senators were moving against nominees accused of being biased against Mr.Thaksin and the Thai Rak Thai Party.

Source: TNA - 7 September 2006

[Jai Dee]

Thai Senate meets to select Election Commissioners

BANGKOK, Sept 8 (TNA) - Thailand's Senate began meeting Friday in its special session to select a new Election Commission (EC) panel to organise the country's next general election scheduled for October 15, a major step to break the political impasse which cast a cloud over one of the region's most dynamic economies for months.

The Senate will vote on five new election commissioners from among an approved list of 10 finalists following completion of the Senate's 22-member investigation panel review of their personal backgrounds and qualifications.

All the candidates were nominated by the Supreme Court last month to replace the former Election Commission, whose remaining three members resigned in disgrace in August after being jailed for mishandling the April 2 election and the following by-elections, Another EC member had previously resigned, while a fifth member is deceased.

The finalists are Kaewsan Atibhodi, former senator and law lecturer, Wicha Mahakhun, chief justice of the Juvenile and Family Division of the Supreme Court,Wasan Soipisut, head of the Supreme Court Labour Division, Apichart Sukhakkanon, chief justice of the Environment Division of the Supreme Court, Udom Fuangfung, senior judge of the Southern Bangkok Criminal Court, Somchai Jung-prasert,chief of the Supreme Court judges'quorum, Prapan Naikowit, deputy attorney-general, Sumet Oupanisakorn , senior judge of the Southern Bangkok Criminal Court, Nam Yimyaem, former deputy Supreme Court president and Sodsri Satayathum, a senior Supreme Court judge and the only female nomimee.

Less than three weeks after the royal decree calling for the next general election took effect on August 24, Cabinet Secretary-General Rongpol Charoenphanthu conceded on Thursday that new poll may need to be postponed despite already having been scheduled for mid-October as the new election body will have insufficient time to prepare for the poll.

He said the new commission will be consulted on any delay of the next poll.

Source: TNA - 8 September 2006

[slimdog]

Five EC members selected

The Senate Friday voted to elect the new five election commissioners as following:

1 Apichart Sukhakkanon, chief justice of the Environment Division of the Supreme Court

2 Somchai Jung-prasert, chief of the Supreme Court judges'quorum

3 Prapan Naikowit, deputy attorney-general

4 Sumet Oupanisakorn, senior judge of the Southern Bangkok Criminal Court

5 Sodsri Satayathum, a senior Supreme Court judge and the only female nomimee

The Nation