Criminal record of Thai Senate candidates may be revealed

[webfact]

Criminal record of candidates may be revealed
KASAMAKORN CHANWANPEN
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE charter drafters are considering getting the Election Commission (EC) to disclose criminal records of Senate candidates as part of a “self-selection” formula to help voters.

Organic laws would be written in way that protects Election Commissioners from lawsuits, Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC) spokesman Chartchai Na Chiangmai said yesterday.

The development came after drafters reviewed the clause on the origin of senators, which has drawn controversy, mostly due to the fact they will be selected via indirect election.

This process requires three levels of election, from district to national, where candidates from 20 social groups will be chosen from different social or professional groups. The last 200 winners in all three levels would gain seats in the Upper House.

However, politicians, critics and the drafters themselves fear that this method may leave room for lobbying or vote fixing, and that would make it almost impossible for the process to be fair.

Chartchai said yesterday that vote fixing was possible because Thais were considerate people and prone to helping one another in all situations. He added that the only way to prevent irregularities would be for the CDC and the EC to work together.

He went on to say that any campaigning for Senate seats was prohibited and that candidates' background, including their criminal record, would be released only by the EC, either through its website or public notice boards.

However, Chartchai did not say whether these outlets would indeed reach the public, though he insisted that the EC would find a way to release the records closer to the election date. He also said a stage may be set up for candidates to present themselves to the public.

Apart from that, Chartchai |said yesterday that the charter drafters had been reading |comments related to the new draft and would consider them soon.

The comments had been divided into four key groups based on the commentators, he explained.

The first group includes those from the National Council for Peace and Order, the Cabinet, the National Legislative and the National Reform Steering Assembly. The second and the third are comments from government and private organisations and political parties respectively, while the last group covers opinions of the general public. .

The spokesman said drafters would compare the suggestions with what the CDC has included in the new charter, adding that they would not hesitate to include ideas proposed by the four groups 'if they were better'.

Once the first draft of the charter is ready, the CDC will hold an event to explain why it adopted one idea and not another, he said.

The drafters will hold a retreat in Cha-am in Phetchaburi from January 11 to 17 to finalise the first draft.

Every time an article was resolved, it would be publicised, he said, adding that the press was welcome to witness the meeting.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Criminal-record-of-candidates-may-be-revealed-30276140.html


-- The Nation 2016-01-05

[Pimay1]

Chartchai said yesterday that vote fixing was possible because Thais were considerate people and prone to helping one another in all situations.

Chartchai does have a way with words. vote fixing vote buying.

[chainarong]

What utter trash anyone with a criminal record should not be allowed to stand as a member of Thailand's parliament , in either house , also persons with a criminal shouldn't hold a position of influence in any government department either , Thailand is so out of whack in important areas , it is pathetic................................

[honoluludave]

Now wouldn't the release of a candidates criminal record be a huge loss of face? And we can not have that. So probably not going to happen

[oneday]

All candidates should be required to undergo a background check. If any criminal records exist, then those candidates should automatically be disqualified. This means records won't have to be disclosed, because voters won't be voting on them.

[technologybytes]

I would have thought that anyone incapable of avoiding a criminal record in Thailand is unsuited to politics anyway.

[JOC]

So a criminal record might prevent you from getting a visa, but not from becoming a senator ??

Makes sense.........................

[TheCruncher]

So a criminal record might prevent you from getting a visa, but not from becoming a senator ??

Makes sense.........................

I think people who need a visa also can't be elected senator in Thailand, regardless of a clean criminal record.

Edited January 5, 2016 by TheCruncher

[JOC]

So a criminal record might prevent you from getting a visa, but not from becoming a senator ??

Makes sense.........................

I think people who need a visa also can't be elected senator in Thailand, regardless of a clean criminal record.

Yeah, yeah........

I admit my post wasn't very clear, so here we go again:

A criminal record might prevent TheCruncher and JOC from getting a visa, but not Somchai from becoming a senator.......

Better now??

[theguyfromanotherforum]

All candidates should be required to undergo a background check. If any criminal records exist, then those candidates should automatically be disqualified. This means records won't have to be disclosed, because voters won't be voting on them.

where do u live

[trogers]

Why may? Should be a must. It's of public interest. Also add in the number of mia noi and gig...

[Srikcir]

The comments had been divided into four key groups based on the commentators ...

What will be the weight given to comments by each group?

Group 1 Junta 80%

Group 2 More Junta 15%

Group 3 Politicians 5%

Group 4 Thais -%

Looks like 95% happiness already.

[Baerboxer]

The comments had been divided into four key groups based on the commentators ...

What will be the weight given to comments by each group?

Group 1 Junta 80%

Group 2 More Junta 15%

Group 3 Politicians 5%

Group 4 Thais -%

Looks like 95% happiness already.

The PTP way is much easier:

One Man - 100%

[Krataiboy]

Chartchai said yesterday that vote fixing was possible because Thais were considerate people and prone to helping one another in all situations are raised in a culture where corruption and cronyism are endemic and money is all that matters.

[jaywalker]

All candidates should be required to undergo a background check. If any criminal records exist, then those candidates should automatically be disqualified. This means records won't have to be disclosed, because voters won't be voting on them.

Yes, otherwise it will be a Pandora's box with a bazillion defamation lawsuits.

[MZurf]

The comments had been divided into four key groups based on the commentators ...

What will be the weight given to comments by each group?

Group 1 Junta 80%

Group 2 More Junta 15%

Group 3 Politicians 5%

Group 4 Thais -%

Looks like 95% happiness already.

The PTP way is much easier:

One Man - 100%

Yes, because that justifies everything that happens today

You're so predictable it's pathetic.

[MaxLee]

Criminal record of candidates may be revealed

In other words, Flee while you can, and don't get caught..................

[Manu75]

How many innocent politician they found ?

[SOUTHERNSTAR]

What utter trash anyone with a criminal record should not be allowed to stand as a member of Thailand's parliament , in either house , also persons with a criminal shouldn't hold a position of influence in any government department either , Thailand is so out of whack in important areas , it is pathetic................................

I agree they are way behind the west where the politicians/bankers/businessmen = elites never gets to be prosecuted for their crimes, thus they never have criminal records to disqualify them. If you want examples Hillary Clinton for using a private server and lying about Bengazi (under oath), JP Morgan and friends for the 2008 crash, LIBOR rigging (and all the other market rigging which they have acknowledged and paid fines for), Bush and Tony Blair for lying to their people before Iraq invasion, Greek PM for selling out his people after the last referendum etc etc.

[skildpadden]

But how are they going to find politicians who are not criminals - it will be a very small senate.

[trogers]

How many innocent politician they found ?

One, dustman Somchai. The equal of Alfred Doolittle...

[gandalf12]

But how are they going to find politicians who are not criminals - it will be a very small senate.

What is the senate's name does anyone know?

[Gonsalviz]

Americans have a huge number of criminals in Congress but the stupid voters still elect them.

[Gonsalviz]

But how are they going to find politicians who are not criminals - it will be a very small senate.

What is the senate's name does anyone know?

Wutthisapha, Why does it matter?