The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) yesterday ordered the reinstatement of three laws regulating elections, political parties and referendums.
Election Commission (EC) members led by chairman Supachai Somcharoen, right, make offerings to monks during a merit-making ceremony to mark the commission’s 16th anniversary at Chaeng Watthana Government Complex. TAWATCHAI KEMGUMNERD
The coup-makers said the suspension of the House of Representatives and Senate Elections Act was now lifted but elections would remain on hold until reconciliation and reform efforts are complete.
Likewise, the Political Party Act is now restored but political parties are still banned from engaging in political activities for the time being.
The Public Referendum Act is also reinstated, the NCPO said.
The announcement sought to clarify that none of these laws were abolished following the coup-makers' decision to scrap the 2007 charter.
In addition, the NCPO has also ordered that funding for political parties through the Political Parties Development Fund and the registration of political parties remain suspended.
In the same announcement, the NCPO said cases pending Election Commission (EC) or judicial review that were filed before the coup remain in place.
It has also authorised the EC to set a timeline for the submission of income and expenditure details from Senate election candidates.
The military junta has empowered the Supreme Court to consider cases concerning elections and the revocation of election rights related to the MPs and senators elections.
Meanwhile, the EC is considering seeking a legal amendment to allow the agency more time to scrutinise election fraud complaints against candidates contesting a general election.
Under the current law, the EC is required to endorse at least 95% of winning candidates within 30 days of the election to allow the House of Representatives to convene.
EC chairman Supachai Somcharoen said the EC is considering extending the deadline from 30 days to 60 days, at least.
He said the EC should not endorse winners if fraud investigations against them are not complete.
“The EC should take the issue of disqualifying candidates seriously,” he said.
If the EC later finds endorsed winners guilty of election fraud, it has to ask the Supreme Court to disqualify them.
The EC’s proposed 60-day time frame is likely to go ahead, after the NCPO yesterday issued another announcement extending the investigation period for local election complaints from 30 days to 60 days.
Thirawat Thirarojwit, an EC member for political party affairs, said yesterday the poll agency is also considering offering cash incentives to boost voter turnout and counter vote buying. According to Mr Thirawat, one proposal suggests paying travel expenses to voters.
Prawit Rattanapian, an EC member for public participation, said the agency is taking the opportunity to review its regulations to deliver fair and transparent elections while polls and political activities are suspended.
“We are preparing 16 projects to encourage the public to engage in our efforts. Public participation is a must because legislation alone cannot make good politicians,” he said.
The proposals are part of reform efforts to allow the organisation to better manage polls and prevent election fraud.
The EC marked its 16th anniversary yesterday. The current EC is the fourth since the establishment of the body under the 1997 charter.
Puchong Nutrawong, the EC’s secretary-general, said yesterday that the organisation had been helping the international community forge a better understanding as to why elections in Thailand are suspended.
He said he clarified the political situation in Thailand to a gathering of the Association of World Election Body in a recent meeting in South Korea.
He said the meeting had raised questions about the coup and why anti-government protesters demanded a delay in elections.