'Not possible' for NCPO to run election: Prawit

[webfact]

‘Not possible’ for NCPO to run election: Prawit

WASAMON AUDJARINT,
OLARN LERTRATTANADAMRONGKUL
THE NATION 

 

Prawit

 

BANGKOK: -- DEPUTY PRIME Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan yesterday rejected the possibility that the ruling National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) and the Interior Ministry would organise the next general election instead of the Election Commission (EC).

 

Prawit, who is also defence minister, was responding to proposals from the political reform committee of the National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA), which suggested that the Interior Ministry take the EC's place to organise the poll under the NCPO's supervision. 

"This issue is not clear yet, but I don't think this will be possible," Prawit said after a Cabinet meeting. "The EC's title already suggests that it oversees elections. If it doesn't have the authority, how can it be an independent agency?" 

However, Prawit suggested that there could be a possibility that the EC would seek support personnel, such as reserve officer training corps students, to help to conduct the election. 

"But civil servants shouldn't be involved," he said. "Eventually, it's up to the EC on how it organises the election." 

After a two-day meeting, the NRSA's committee decided yesterday to revise its proposal, saying a general election could be carried out by the EC or the Interior Ministry under the EC's supervision. 

The panel also said everybody - "including the NCPO" - should "support" the EC in organising a free and fair election. The model should be tested in local elections, the panel concluded.

Committee member Wanchai Sornsiri said that the panel would also recommend that the NCPO and the government consider the idea of helping the EC in the upcoming elections. 

Surachai Liengboonlertchai, vice president of the National Legislative Assembly, said the assembly had to ensure that the proposals did not violate the approved draft charter while deliberating the bills. 

He said he had instructed the assembly's standing committee to study related clauses in the charter and gather recommendations from related sectors before deliberating the bills.

Meanwhile, NRSA member Nakorn Sukprasert proposed that a new organic law on the EC should authorise the commission to assign state agencies or set up a specific election panel to help organise specific votes or referendums. The new committee will be separate from the main agency, and only help to regulate elections. 

The committee could be comprised of experts from state agencies such as the Public Health Ministry, Education Ministry and military officers, the NRSA member said. He also suggested that the law also stipulate a penalty in case the committee gets involved in poll fraud.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Not-possible-for-NCPO-to-run-election-Prawit-30294681.html

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2016-09-07

[NongKhaiKid]

So only the EC can run elections but with a little help from their friends,    such as the Prayut Youth,   of course.

 

Look at the last two paragraphs and the proposal to allow the EC to set up a specific election panel to organize specific votes and referendums.   Amongst the   '  experts  '   they could call on would be military officers,   surprise surprise,   in fact anyone they're told to co-opt,  sorry I mean decide to co-opt.

 

We can be sure that when it comes to voting on anything the NCPO will happily take a giant pace to the rear and allow things to go as they will without any control or interference.    

[MaxLee]

The election that will never ever dever be....... 

[waldroj]

So, the little halfwit thinks "This issue is not clear yet"!

 

Then, maybe he should refer to the "people's" Constitution, because it is quite clear from this document that it's the responsibility of the Election Commission as defined in Section 224!

 

The only problem (barring some unforeseen national crisis), is that according to Section 222, the EC shall consist of seven members appointed by the King, with the advice of the Senate. And, of course as we currently have no Senate, this will mean an NCPO-endorsed EC under the Transitory Provisions!

 

One would assume that respective roles, responsibilities, and procedures will become much clearer to everyone (even the little halfwit) once the CDC has completed the first four organic laws under the Constitution, as required by Section 130 and Section 267, and these are submitted to the NLA for consideration and "approval".

 

As I've said before, this is the key driver to ending the whole convoluted process that began in May 2014. As Section 268 clearly states, Election of members of the House of Representatives under this Constitution shall be held within one hundred and fifty days as from the date the organic laws under Section 267 (1), (2), (3) and (4) have come into force.

 

One has to laugh at the little halfwit's observation that "The EC's title already suggests that it oversees elections. If it doesn't have the authority, how can it be an independent agency?" Let's just say there are a lot of 5's here!

[baboon]

"The only problem (barring some unforeseen national crisis), is that according to Section 222, the EC shall consist of seven members appointed by the King, with the advice of the Senate. And, of course as we currently have no Senate, this will mean an NCPO-endorsed EC under the Transitory Provisions!"

 

A senate isn't the only thing we don't have.

 

Mind you, all this talk could simply be a smokescreen to disguise the fact any election is essentially meaningless anyway...

 

[williamgeorgeallen]

Prayut Youth . another gem mined from thai visa today. classic.

but seriously does the good general really need any more power? he got it all with the last referendum. why does he need to 'oversee' elections that are just being held to make it look like a democracy?

[xineohp]

Yet again another classic example of an idea / proposal being mooted within the media to see how the public react.  This is the daily contradictory statement from this inept and embarassment for a DPM.

[mtls2005]

"I don't think it will be possible."

 

Oh come on, use your imagination. I'm sure you can figure it out.

 

Not sure why the press feels like Prawit can be held to a commitment he might make today, at some point in the future?

 

 

[elgordo38]

5 hours ago, waldroj said:

So, the little halfwit thinks "This issue is not clear yet"!

 

Then, maybe he should refer to the "people's" Constitution, because it is quite clear from this document that it's the responsibility of the Election Commission as defined in Section 224!

 

The only problem (barring some unforeseen national crisis), is that according to Section 222, the EC shall consist of seven members appointed by the King, with the advice of the Senate. And, of course as we currently have no Senate, this will mean an NCPO-endorsed EC under the Transitory Provisions!

 

One would assume that respective roles, responsibilities, and procedures will become much clearer to everyone (even the little halfwit) once the CDC has completed the first four organic laws under the Constitution, as required by Section 130 and Section 267, and these are submitted to the NLA for consideration and "approval".

 

As I've said before, this is the key driver to ending the whole convoluted process that began in May 2014. As Section 268 clearly states, Election of members of the House of Representatives under this Constitution shall be held within one hundred and fifty days as from the date the organic laws under Section 267 (1), (2), (3) and (4) have come into force.

 

One has to laugh at the little halfwit's observation that "The EC's title already suggests that it oversees elections. If it doesn't have the authority, how can it be an independent agency?" Let's just say there are a lot of 5's here!

He seems to be a man wearing many hats. Are they all made of tinfoil perchance. 

[debate101]

It must be remembered that the 2014 putch put a lid on a pot that was ready to boil over. I doubt the steam pressure has lessened in that time. If freedom of public speech were to return in any form, it would probably be an explosion.

 

The problem then is how to run a so-called election without freedom of speech, public debates, political gatherings, etc... I guess we are going to find out!

[debate101]

Long story short--it doesn't look like a public uprising is in the offing, and it is still probably a minority who are pissed, but boy are they pissed...