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Political Committee Urges EC to Retract Lawsuit Over Chonburi Ballot Box Inspection

Political Committee Urges EC to Retract Lawsuit Over Chonburi Ballot Box Inspection

Thairath•Politics•5h ago

Reader Briefing

A Thai Senate committee has intervened in a dispute between the Election Commission (EC) and villagers over alleged irregularities in ballot box handling in Chonburi, urging the EC to withdraw its lawsuit.

  • •A Senate committee on Political Development convened to mediate a dispute between the Election Commission (EC) and citizens regarding a lawsuit filed over ballot box inspections in Chonburi.
  • •The EC sued citizens who allegedly interfered with the process of checking ballot boxes, claiming standard sealing procedures were followed.
  • •Citizens presented evidence of some ballot boxes lacking proper seals, leading to conflicting accounts and an investigation into the procedures.
  • •The committee urged a compromise for the organization's image and suggested the EC consider withdrawing the lawsuit.

Overview

  • •On February 17, 2026, the Senate Committee on Political Development convened at Parliament.
  • •The Committee summoned the Election Commission (EC) and citizens involved in the Chonburi election incident to clarify issues.
  • •Nuamrasate Prachakorn, Senate member and committee chairman, stated that information received showed completely conflicting facts between the EC and the citizens.
  • •The EC, represented by Deputy Secretary-General Korchit Charoenintr, confirmed the EC did not intend to harass citizens, but acted to prevent officials from being sued for dereliction of duty.
  • •The EC's lawsuit was filed out of concern that inaction would lead to officials being accused of dereliction of duty (Section 157).
  • •Marisa Pitsaiya, a lawyer from the Human Rights Center, stated that withdrawing the lawsuit would benefit the EC's image and facilitate a solution.
  • •The Chonburi EC will consider withdrawing the lawsuit and report the results to the central EC.
  • •The legal team will discuss with their clients to determine the strategy for fighting the case and proving the truth.

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Source: Thairath (Original)

Key Quotes

Noraset Prachakorn
"From listening to the information, it was found that both sides still have entirely conflicting facts."
จากการรับฟังข้อมูลพบว่าทั้งสองฝ่ายยังมีข้อเท็จจริงที่ขัดแย้งกันอย่างสิ้นเชิง
Korchit Charoenintr
"The EC did not intend to harass or sue citizens, but had to proceed for fear that if they remained silent, officials would be sued back for dereliction of duty under Section 157."
กกต. ไม่ได้มีเจตนาจะกลั่นแกล้งหรือฟ้องร้องประชาชน แต่ที่ต้องดำเนินการเพราะเกรงว่าหากนิ่งเฉย เจ้าหน้าที่จะถูกฟ้องกลับในข้อหาละเว้นการปฏิบัติหน้าที่ตามมาตรา 157
Marisa Pitsaiya
"Although the charge is 'state offense,' where investigators can proceed with the case even if the report is withdrawn, if the EC expresses its intention not to pursue, withdrawing the lawsuit would benefit the organization's image and facilitate a joint solution."
แม้ข้อหาที่ถูกแจ้งจะเป็น “อาญาแผ่นดิน” ซึ่งตามกฎหมายพนักงานสอบสวนสามารถทำคดีต่อได้แม้จะมีการถอนแจ้งความ แต่หาก กกต. แสดงเจตนารมณ์ไม่ประสงค์เอาความด้วยการถอนฟ้อง ก็จะเป็นประโยชน์ต่อภาพลักษณ์องค์กรและช่วยให้หาทางออกร่วมกันได้ง่ายขึ้น

Key Entities

Organization

Committee on Political Development(กมธ.การเมืองฯ)
A Senate committee tasked with political development and public participation.
Election Commission (EC)(กกต.)ℹ️
The official body responsible for organizing and overseeing elections in Thailand.
Human Rights Center(ศูนย์สิทธิมนุษยชนฯ)
An organization providing legal representation for the villagers in the dispute.

Person

Villagers(ชาวบ้าน)
Citizens involved in the dispute concerning ballot box inspection in Chonburi.
Noraset Prachakorn(นายนรเศรษฐ์ ปรัชญากร)
Senator and Chairman of the Committee on Political Development, who mediated the dispute.
Korchit Charoenintr(นายครรชิต เจริญอินทร์)
Deputy Secretary-General of the Election Commission (EC) who provided clarification.
Marisa Pitsaiya(นางสาวมาริสา ปิดสายะ)
A lawyer from the Human Rights Center representing the villagers.

Place

Chonburi(ชลบุรี)ℹ️
The province where the disputed election irregularities and lawsuit occurred.

Law

Section 157(มาตรา 157)
A legal provision concerning malfeasance or dereliction of duty by officials, cited by the EC as a reason for their action.