Phetchaburi: The Election Commission is confident today’s re-run of the Feb 2 general election in Phetchaburi’s third constituency will run smoothly.
The re-run will be carried out in all 32 polling stations of constituency in Nong Ya Plong district, where the election was called off on Feb 2 after being met with fierce protests by the anti-government People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC).
EC member Somchai Srisuthiyakorn said after visiting the constituency yesterday he had high hopes that the re-run would be a success and set the standard for re-runs to follow elsewhere. Mr Somchai is the election commissioner in charge of election management.
All concerned parties, such as the military and the police, have so far cooperated with the EC in the attempt to stage a successful Phetchaburi re-run and there were no signs of significant attempts to derail the poll, Mr Somchai said.
Provincial governor Monthian Thongnit echoed Mr Somchai’s statement, saying that from what he had learned from recent meetings with the parties taking part in arranging the re-run, he was confident there would be no major interruptions today.
Those caught obstructing the Feb 2 poll in Phetchaburi have been charged and released on bail on condition that they must not repeat their offences, he said.
They were well aware that their bail would be revoked if they did so, Mr Monthian said.
Somkit Boonyapo, 58, a school director who has served as the director of a polling station five times previously, said the PDRC only made a symbolic movement on Friday as the polling station committee was undergoing training.
Mr Somkit said the PDRC protesters didn’t interrupt the training, nor did they obstruct the transport of the ballot boxes on the same day. Therefore, he said, he was confident that today’s re-run would be successful.
However, Mr Somkit said if there were any confrontations between voters and the PDRC, he would have to assess whether they were likely to turn violent, and whether or not to once again call off the poll.
“[Today’s re-run] is likely to be peaceful as the EC has given clearer instructions and more security officers will be deployed at the polling stations,” he said.
Kanthima Songsuwan, 38, a polling station committee member in the failed Feb 2 poll, said the committee could not continue with the election then because the ballot papers and other equipment and materials had been blocked from being transported to the poll stations.