New election in Maha Sarakham

Published: 26/11/2009 at 05:49 PM
Online news: Breakingnews

The Supreme Court's Election Division on Thursday ordered a new election in Constituency 1 of Maha Sarakham province as proposed by the Election Commission.

The EC proposed the new election after finding Khachit Chainikhom, a Puea Thai Party candidate in the Jan 11 by-election in Maha Sarakham's Constituency 1, had violated the Election Act.

Mr Khachit won the by-election and his election had been endorsed by the EC. However, a Puea Pandin candidate petitioned the EC, accusing Mr Khachit of breaking the election law.

According to the petition, on Jan 2 Mr Kachit went up on the stage for a northeastern-style singing and musical show, which is considered a form of entertainment. On the stage, Mr Khachit's candidacy was announced to constituents by Suthin Klangsaeng, a former executive of the dissolved People Power Party.

The EC found Mr Khachit to have violated Article 53 of the Election Act which prohibits use of any form of entertainment for campaigning, and proposed the Supreme Court's Election Division nullify the Jan 11 by-election and order a new election.

The court's order for the EC to held a new election will be forwarded to House Speaker and the prime minister for acknowledgement.

The EC has yet to set the date for the new election.

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george

Discussion 4 : 27/11/2009 at 12:04 PM4
That is what happens when the wrong person wins.

If it isn't a cooking show, it is singing.

How can there be a free,transparent and open election? It surprises me that Samak and Thaksin were ever allowed to win an election in the first place.

An event such as this must be a sobering wake-up call to the Democracy Movement. I just hope they can generate sufficient counter-measures to make sure they get credit for the votes they earn. This article clearly shows that the Democracy Movement is not wanted, via elections or otherwise.
Tony

Discussion 3 : 27/11/2009 at 01:59 AM3
How does anyone support ANY form of voter fraud?

Do we want this nation to degenerate to the depths the Philippines have where people are literally throwing money out of airplanes to win elections and gunning down the entire opposition? The poverty there is so stark that it makes Issan farmers look rich.

Handing money out, populist pandering, organizing entertainment - strips democracy of its dignity and gravitas and turns it into what it is currently in Thailand - a joke. Yes, TRT/PPP/PTP will win every time because they have a deeply rooted political machine in Issan - that has done a good job of winning elections, clinging to power, and little else.

They have run those provinces into the ground. What is their excuse over the last decade for not improving the people's condition - besides blaming it on someone else?
ricefieldradio

Discussion 2 : 26/11/2009 at 11:28 PM2
But earlier the EC found it quite acceptable for a Democrat MP to give away cash with his business card.

The real lunacy here is that the Puea Pandin candidate didn't just lose a close election campaign, he was trounced by the PTP by a huge margin.
Banlai

Discussion 1 : 26/11/2009 at 08:54 PM1
OMG Thailand!!! singing for the public on stage can be disqualified after winning the election. I am not a lawyer, but interpretation of an act should also be based on intension and its significance. it is such a waste of budget for election that the winer is known. The justice system has been ruined by the coup, PAD, Mr. Oxford-puppet, and red shirt. When will we be able to have a stable government like what we used to have before. Election please!!! and invisible hands should stop involving in the politic and call for reconciliation. I am sadden to see the country sinking further.

New election in Maha Sarakham