Political Committee to Summon EC Officials Over Chonburi Lawsuit

Matichon•Politics•1d ago

Reader Briefing

Thai political committee summons Election Commission officials over lawsuit against citizens demanding vote recount in Chonburi.

•A Thai Senate committee is investigating the Election Commission's (EC) lawsuit against citizens who demanded a vote recount in Chonburi's Constituency 1.
•The committee will summon the EC Secretary-General, Khun Sa-wang, and the Chonburi EC Director to clarify the situation.
•The controversy stems from concerns about potential lack of secrecy in elections due to barcodes on ballots, enabling vote tracing.

Overview

•The article was published on February 16, referencing ongoing events.
•The Senate Committee on Political Development, People's Participation, Human Rights, Liberties, and Consumer Protection is scheduled to convene on February 17 at 10:00 AM.
•The Senate Committee plans to summon Mr. Sa-wang, Secretary-General of the EC, and the Director of Elections for Chonburi Constituency 1.
•The summons is in response to the EC filing a lawsuit against citizens who participated in a call for a vote recount in Chonburi's Constituency 1.
•Concerns have been raised by Mr. Noraset Prachakorn regarding the potential for vote tracing due to barcodes on ballots, which could compromise election secrecy.
•Mr. Noraset Prachakorn stated that vote traceability negates secrecy and can lead to vote buying, pressure, and control of citizens.
•The lawsuit by the EC against citizens is seen as potentially undermining the democratic process.
•The committee will hear explanations from Mr. Sa-wang, the Chonburi EC Director, Ms. Koomklao Songsomboon, Head of the Legal Division of the Human Rights Lawyers Association, Mr. Noraset Na Nongtoom, a lawyer from the Human Rights Lawyers Association, and affected individuals.

Full article content is available on the original source.

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Source: Matichon (Original)

Key Quotes

Noraseth Prachakorn

"The question is, where is the secrecy? A secret ballot doesn't end at the polling booth, but means no one can retroactively check. As soon as it's known who voted for whom, vote buying, pressure, and control will happen. If the people's vote is not secret, the election is ruined."

คำถามคือ ความลับอยู่ตรงไหน การเลือกตั้งโดยลับไม่ได้จบแค่ตอนเข้าคูหา แต่ต้องหมายถึง ไม่มีใครตรวจสอบย้อนหลังได้ด้วย เพราะทันทีที่รู้ได้ว่าใครเลือกอะไร การซื้อเสียง การกดดัน และการควบคุมประชาชน จะเกิดขึ้นทันทีพอการออกเสียงเลือกตั้งของประชาชนไม่ใช่ความลับ เท่ากับการเลือกตั้งครั้งนี้พังเรียบร้อย

Key Entities

Organization

Political Committee(กมธ.การเมือง)

The Senate Committee on Political Development, People's Participation, Human Rights, Liberties, and Consumer Protection, investigating the EC's lawsuit.

EC(กกต.)ℹ️

The Election Commission, which has filed a lawsuit against citizens in Chonburi.

Thammasat University(มหาวิทยาลัยธรรมศาสตร์)ℹ️

University where Mr. Parinya Thewanarumitkul is a law academic.

Human Rights Lawyers Association(ศูนย์ทนายความเพื่อสิทธิมนุษยชน)

Organization providing legal representation and whose representatives will be summoned by the Political Committee.

Person

Sa-wang(แสวง)

Secretary-General of the Election Commission (EC) who will be summoned by the Political Committee.

Chonburi EC Director(ผอ.กกต.ชลบุรี)

Director of Elections for Chonburi Constituency 1, to be summoned by the Political Committee.

Mr. Noraset Prachakorn(นายนรเศรษฐ์ ปรัชญากร)

Member of the Senate Committee who raised concerns about election secrecy and the EC's lawsuit.

Mr. Parinya Thewanarumitkul(นายปริญญา เทวานฤมิตรกุล)

Law academic from Thammasat University whose question about EC ballot handling prompted further discussion.

Ms. Koomklao Songsomboon(น.ส.คุ้มเกล้า ส่งสมบูรณ์)

Head of the Legal Division of the Human Rights Lawyers Association, to be summoned by the Political Committee.

Mr. Noraset Na Nongtoom(นายนรเศรษฐ์ นาหนองตูม)

Lawyer from the Human Rights Lawyers Association, to be summoned by the Political Committee.

Place

Chonburi Constituency 1(เขตเลือกตั้งที่ 1 จ.ชลบุรี)

The electoral district in Chonburi where citizens demanded a vote recount, leading to an EC lawsuit.