No more than 22 election observers expected nationwide for referendum
By Pravit Rojanaphruk, Senior Staff Writer


ANFREL observers monitor parliamentary elections of Tibet's government in exile in October in Dharamsala, India. Photo: ANFREL / Facebook

BANGKOK — Up to 22 regional elections observers will observe the Aug. 7 referendum, the chairman of the Election Commission said Tuesday.

While all Thai observers have been denied credentials to monitor the vote, chairman Somchai Srisutthiyakorn said both the Asia Foundation and Asian Network for Free Elections, or ANFREL, had been approved.

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/politics/2016/07/12/no-22-election-observers-expected-nationwide-referendum/

-- Khaosod English 2016-07-13

22 is a symbolic number representing the Catch 22 referendum.

22 observers spread over 76 provinces........sounds like a well thought out operation.

Stuff those ballot boxes seems fair.

We don't need more, trust us we are Thai!

22 observers spread over 76 provinces........sounds like a well thought out operation.

My 1st thought also. They will probably be assigned to specific hand picked by the junta areas. The other 54 area (the majority) will be unmonitored and do as you please. This whole referendum has been a sham and corrupted from the start.

Everyone knows that all is on the up and up in Thailand. Now where did I put the case for my rose-colored glasses?

These observers are not the choosing of the Thai junta but being fielded by the Asian Foundation and ANFREL. There complaint is that they have not been given enough time to round up a larger international team.

Read the article before assuming.

These observers are not the choosing of the Thai junta but being fielded by the Asian Foundation and ANFREL. There complaint is that they have not been given enough time to round up a larger international team.

Read the article before assuming.

They have simply been given permission by the junta and will no doubt be assigned to pre selected polling stations that will result in the comments " that was a free and fair referendum" and 22 is not much better than none.

ANFREL could have fielded more observers if only the accreditation process work faster. Reason pretty obvious. And good old Somchai try to play the good guy and blame that on bureaucracy.

Just when you think they can't get any more brazen they up the ante.

Hope they get the lowest voter turn out in history.

22 is a symbolic number representing the Catch 22 referendum.

Comment of the day!

Just when you think they can't get any more brazen they up the ante.

Hope they get the lowest voter turn out in history.

How many people was it that registered? Maybe it'll be one observer per voter...