Thai election monitor fumes over being barred from Thai referendum
By Pravit Rojanaphruk, Senior Staff Writer


Election Commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn displays the fraud-proof features of ballots to be used in the forthcoming referendum on April 11.

BANGKOK — After waiting months for official accreditation, the head of a nonpartisan domestic election monitoring group said he was dismayed to learn Monday that no Thai organizations would be granted status for the upcoming charter referendum.

Pongsak Chan-on of We Watch said allowing foreign organizations but barring Thai groups such as his made no sense and amounted to discrimination.

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/politics/2016/06/27/thai-elections-monitor-fumes-barred-thai-referendum/


-- Khaosod English 2016-06-28

"Pongsak Chan-on of We Watch said allowing foreign organisations but barring Thai groups such as his made no sense and amounted to discrimination"

Yea, not nice when you feel discriminated against, is it? But it happens in other countries too, so it's okay.

"Pongsak Chan-on of We Watch said allowing foreign organisations but barring Thai groups such as his made no sense and amounted to discrimination"

Yea, not nice when you feel discriminated against, is it? But it happens in other countries too, so it's okay.

Not in nations with normal governments of the people. I'd use a more specific word to describe the present state but we can't use specific words to describe the current small group of people controlling this nation.

Come and vote, but please don't watch how we count up the ballots. It makes us nervous and we might lose count.

Election Commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn displays the fraud-proof features of ballots to be used in the forthcoming referendum on April 11.


Pongsak Chan-on of We Watch said allowing foreign organizations but barring Thai groups such as his made no sense and amounted to discrimination.

I thought it was made clear already that foreign organizations weren't allowed to observe either, it has been made clear that NOBODY will be allowed to see what's really going on here, so where is the discrimination?

And what is that about 11 April, I thought the referendum was in August.

If the gov can't take it seriously, no one else will either. No one is excited about this coming event. Most would say 'Whatever.' It's hard to care when there is little sincerity in anything in Thailand. Whatever happens anything can still happen after that just as anything can happen any day now. Comedy days in Thailand.

I am watching these events with great interest. One the one hand we have jut had a referendum in the UK which is probably one, if not the most significant political event in my lifetime. The referendum was fought hard (some say nasty) but open discussion was allowed before the event. The vote counting was all above board, the votes were counted as quickly as possible and the results announced as soon as they were known. Although there has been plenty of discussion after the vote (and will be for years) not one person has queried the validity of the count.

On the other hand let's discuss the Thai referendum due to be held in August. Just about everything that could be diametrically opposed to the British referendum is in position. Although the Thai referendum might not be as constitutionally important as the UK vote nevertheless it sets to plot out the direction of Thai politics for the foreseeable future. Discussion pro or against the vote is absolutely forbidden. After the vote who will oversee the counting? All potential observers both foreign and Thai have been forbidden to go anywhere near the process. Can the Thai people trust the authorities to give a true and honest account of how the Thai people have voted. The answer to that is obvious.

no Thai organizations would be granted status for the upcoming charter referendum

That simply isn't true.

EC and CDC will be closely monitoring the election process.

Why don't you Trust Me, We're Thai?

no Thai organizations would be granted status for the upcoming charter referendum

That simply isn't true.

EC and CDC will be closely monitoring the election process.

The EC and the CDC are Government facilitators for the referendum. They in no way can be considered as impartial observers.

no Thai organizations would be granted status for the upcoming charter referendum

That simply isn't true.

EC and CDC will be closely monitoring the election process.

The EC and the CDC are Government facilitators for the referendum. They in no way can be considered as impartial observers.

I agree but wanted to bait someone else to say the obvious.

"Pongsak Chan-on of We Watch said allowing foreign organizations but barring Thai groups such as his made no sense and amounted to discrimination."

According to the full article ANFREL has applied to observe, but there is no indication that it has received permission. I doubt that it will.

With no observers other than government organizations, the only result that might have credibility is one rejecting the draft constitution. Perhaps the junta doesn't realize this (they seem pretty out of touch) or perhaps they don't care.

Um, have I missed something? To my knowledge, int'l observers are barred as well.