EC: Free, fair poll not possible
Saying a fair and transparent election was not possible amid the current conflict, the Election Commission said it must be postponed one way or another.
Saying a fair and transparent election was not possible amid the current conflict, the Election Commission said it must be postponed one way or another.
Please join us on our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/bangkokpostlearning
EC chairman Supachai Somcharoen: ''It is not hard to predict that the election will not be smooth, fair and transparent under the current circumstances.'' PATTARACHAI PREECHAPANICH
9:45
As of 9:00, there were no protesters present for the last day of party-list registration at the Thai-Japanese stadium. Last night, rally leaders indicated that they would increase pressure once again after the New Year.
EC hints at poll date intervention
Commissioners flee deadly stadium clash
POST REPORTERS
Clashes that claimed the life of one police officer and injured scores more yesterday could force the resignation of several election commissioners and threaten to derail the Feb 2 election.
The newly-appointed Election Commission (EC) members yesterday for the first time stressed publicly that the scheduled poll could not be held under the current circumstances.
''It is not hard to predict that the election will not be smooth, fair and transparent under the current circumstances,'' EC chairman Supachai Somcharoen said at a press conference shortly after the ballot numbers for party-list candidates were drawn.
The EC urged the government to postpone the Feb 2 polls following the clash between police and anti-government protesters outside the Thai-Japanese Stadium in Din Daeng where candidacy registration was being held.
Ballot numbers for party-list candidates were successfully drawn yesterday, but only because of extraordinary security measures. PATTARAPONG CHATPATTARASILL
The violence forced the evacuation of commissioners and election officials from the stadium by helicopter.
The commissioners then met and announced their stance on the political situation.
The EC said the commissioners would use their personal judgement to resolve the situation if the government did not heed its call to postpone the election.
An EC source said that at least three out of five commissioners might resign if the poll is not delayed, which would render the EC unable to perform its duty.
At least three commissioners must be present to legally convene a meeting.
In another option, three of the commissioners might vote to postpone the election regardless of whether the law gives them the authority to make such a decision.
The EC said it had warned ''concerned parties'' that violence could erupt if they persisted with plans to hold the Feb 2 election.
''The elections will not take place unless both parties and other stakeholders hold talks and reach an agreement. The EC is ready to act as a go-between.'' the commissioners said.
Riot police try to arrest a protester at the Thai-Japanese stadium after he and other protesters tried to sneak into the compound at about 3pm yesterday. NATTAPOL LOVAKIJ
EC member Somchai Srisutthiyakorn said the statement is a message to the government, the warring parties and the public at large.
''After the registration of constituency candidates ends on Jan 1, the EC will hold a meeting on Jan 2 and make a decision,'' he said.
Mr Somchai called on the protesters to disperse and let the EC settle the issue with the government. EC member Prawit Rattanapien said the commission could not hold a fair and transparent election amid the conflict.
The EC statement drew fire from the government and protest groups led by the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC).
Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Phongthep Thepkanchana said the Feb 2 election was set under the constitution, which requires a new election within 60 days of House dissolution. He noted the election date has been issued under royal decree.
''The postponement of the election will do nothing but escalate violence since there will be no government to deal with the problems and carry out concrete political reform,'' he said.
PDRC spokesman Akanat Promphan said the EC proposal was unacceptable because it would only prolong the caretaker government's stay in power.
Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra declined to comment.
''I haven't seen the details and can't make any comment,'' she said.
สามารถฝึกอ่านออกเสียงและดูคำแปลได้ที่ : http://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/learning-from-news/386853/ec-free-fair-poll-not-possible
