lonelywombat
April 24th, 2006, 08:41
EC slammed over'outrageous' idea
By-elections likely to leave seats empty
POST REPORTERS
The Election Commission stands accused of trying to twist the law by suggesting the new parliament should convene before there are any more by-elections to fill empty seats.
The by-elections in some southern constituencies yesterday were beset with problems. Voters lived up to their threats by tearing up ballots or taking them home without voting _ and the EC's staff even walked off the job at some polling units.
EC secretary-general Ekkachai Warunphrapha said if not too many constituencies were left with empty seats, new by-elections might not be held before parliament was opened.
The commission could forward to parliament the list of winning candidates already endorsed and a royal decree could later be issued for needed by-elections.
He admitted voter turnout was low yesterday and in about 10 constituencies the lone candidates were unlikely to win the required 20% of eligible votes.
Thammasat University vice-rector Parinya Thewanarumitkul said the EC must keep organising by-elections until all constituency MPs are elected. Opening the parliament without a quorum would be unconstitutional. The EC had no business deciding the charter should be sidestepped in this case.
The EC "absolutely" cannot put a brake on by-elections before a quorum is achieved, he said. Doing so would be a deliberate violation of the law.
"That's out of the question. It's an outrageous legal breach. The EC is duty-bound to arrange elections. Opening parliament is off-limits to it," he said.
Varin Thiamcharas, of the People's Network for Elections in Thailand (P-Net), said by-elections would be held in many constituencies following complaints of election violations in many areas. Certain parties had hired some parties to field candidates in the by-elections.
He defended the actions of some voters who tore up their ballot sheets, saying they had the right to vent their disapproval against the EC over the by-elections.
The by-elections saw 18 voters in various constituencies, all in the South, ripping their ballots in protest against the by-elections and caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Seven voters tore up their ballot sheets in Songkhla, five in Phuket, two each in Chumphon and Surat Thani, one each in Yala and Nakhon Si Thammarat.
Other forms of protest also took place at polling booths in several southern constituencies.
In Chumphon province, Sunthorn Rakwong, chairman of the network of People's Alliance for Democracy, said people signed their name to get the ballot paper but refused to use it. He said the low turnout for the April 2 general election was a clear sign that there were no suitable candidates for people to elect.
He accused the EC of being a political tool of Thai Rak Thai.
Manoo Khiewkhram, leading member of the network of the People's Alliance for Democracy in Phuket, said people were fed up with elections and did not want to cast ballots.
In Songkhla, five women vendors, all Muslims, tore up their blank ballot sheets in protest against Mr Thaksin. Sa-ard Jindewa, 66, Jinthana Jindewa, 45, Pranee Veerawong, 63, and Walai Yonprasert, 56, tore their voting papers in constituency 61, while Sumon Tula, 51, tore her ballot in constituency 62. All wore black.
"We don't like Mr Thaksin. We don't want Thaksinocracy and a corrupt prime minister. Why didn't he step down?" Mrs Jinthana said. She said she and the other vendors had not been paid for their audacious act. All were willing to do it to show the public that they were grassroots people who oppose Mr Thaksin leading the country.
Mrs Pranee said she and the other four vendors had the right to free expression.
"We tore up the ballot paper but we didn't do anything wrong. We are not afraid of being arrested. We don't like Mr Thaksin and don't want to see him return to power," she said.
The vendors received applause and flowers from cheering crowds.
The vendors were taken to Songkhla police station to hear the charges against them. They were later bailed by Ekkachai Isornthas, a leading member of the network of the People's Alliance for Democracy.
Two other voters joined the ballot ripping campaign in Songkhla _ Kriangsak Liewchanpattana, of Prince of Songkla University's faculty of medicine, and another male voter.
Dr Kriangsak said his action might attract the wrong kind of publicity but he felt it was incumbent upon him to do so. People could not trust the EC or the Administrative Court.
He was willing to be jailed, fined or have his election rights revoked for five years in exchange for the freedom of expression of 64 million Thais nationwide.
The academic, wearing black, was cheered on by about 30 members of the "We Love Songkhla" group. He was later charged by Hat Yai police and used his position to bail himself.
Pol Gen Ekkachai described the ballot tearing protest as having a destabilising effect on the country.
By-elections likely to leave seats empty
POST REPORTERS
The Election Commission stands accused of trying to twist the law by suggesting the new parliament should convene before there are any more by-elections to fill empty seats.
The by-elections in some southern constituencies yesterday were beset with problems. Voters lived up to their threats by tearing up ballots or taking them home without voting _ and the EC's staff even walked off the job at some polling units.
EC secretary-general Ekkachai Warunphrapha said if not too many constituencies were left with empty seats, new by-elections might not be held before parliament was opened.
The commission could forward to parliament the list of winning candidates already endorsed and a royal decree could later be issued for needed by-elections.
He admitted voter turnout was low yesterday and in about 10 constituencies the lone candidates were unlikely to win the required 20% of eligible votes.
Thammasat University vice-rector Parinya Thewanarumitkul said the EC must keep organising by-elections until all constituency MPs are elected. Opening the parliament without a quorum would be unconstitutional. The EC had no business deciding the charter should be sidestepped in this case.
The EC "absolutely" cannot put a brake on by-elections before a quorum is achieved, he said. Doing so would be a deliberate violation of the law.
"That's out of the question. It's an outrageous legal breach. The EC is duty-bound to arrange elections. Opening parliament is off-limits to it," he said.
Varin Thiamcharas, of the People's Network for Elections in Thailand (P-Net), said by-elections would be held in many constituencies following complaints of election violations in many areas. Certain parties had hired some parties to field candidates in the by-elections.
He defended the actions of some voters who tore up their ballot sheets, saying they had the right to vent their disapproval against the EC over the by-elections.
The by-elections saw 18 voters in various constituencies, all in the South, ripping their ballots in protest against the by-elections and caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Seven voters tore up their ballot sheets in Songkhla, five in Phuket, two each in Chumphon and Surat Thani, one each in Yala and Nakhon Si Thammarat.
Other forms of protest also took place at polling booths in several southern constituencies.
In Chumphon province, Sunthorn Rakwong, chairman of the network of People's Alliance for Democracy, said people signed their name to get the ballot paper but refused to use it. He said the low turnout for the April 2 general election was a clear sign that there were no suitable candidates for people to elect.
He accused the EC of being a political tool of Thai Rak Thai.
Manoo Khiewkhram, leading member of the network of the People's Alliance for Democracy in Phuket, said people were fed up with elections and did not want to cast ballots.
In Songkhla, five women vendors, all Muslims, tore up their blank ballot sheets in protest against Mr Thaksin. Sa-ard Jindewa, 66, Jinthana Jindewa, 45, Pranee Veerawong, 63, and Walai Yonprasert, 56, tore their voting papers in constituency 61, while Sumon Tula, 51, tore her ballot in constituency 62. All wore black.
"We don't like Mr Thaksin. We don't want Thaksinocracy and a corrupt prime minister. Why didn't he step down?" Mrs Jinthana said. She said she and the other vendors had not been paid for their audacious act. All were willing to do it to show the public that they were grassroots people who oppose Mr Thaksin leading the country.
Mrs Pranee said she and the other four vendors had the right to free expression.
"We tore up the ballot paper but we didn't do anything wrong. We are not afraid of being arrested. We don't like Mr Thaksin and don't want to see him return to power," she said.
The vendors received applause and flowers from cheering crowds.
The vendors were taken to Songkhla police station to hear the charges against them. They were later bailed by Ekkachai Isornthas, a leading member of the network of the People's Alliance for Democracy.
Two other voters joined the ballot ripping campaign in Songkhla _ Kriangsak Liewchanpattana, of Prince of Songkla University's faculty of medicine, and another male voter.
Dr Kriangsak said his action might attract the wrong kind of publicity but he felt it was incumbent upon him to do so. People could not trust the EC or the Administrative Court.
He was willing to be jailed, fined or have his election rights revoked for five years in exchange for the freedom of expression of 64 million Thais nationwide.
The academic, wearing black, was cheered on by about 30 members of the "We Love Songkhla" group. He was later charged by Hat Yai police and used his position to bail himself.
Pol Gen Ekkachai described the ballot tearing protest as having a destabilising effect on the country.