The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) on Friday voted to endorse two out of seven candidates vying for seats on the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in a secret vote.
The decision triggered criticism as those who were cast out were from NGOs and academic circles are widely seen as government critics. All seven were shortlisted among 29 candidates by a selection panel in August this year. Endorsed as NHRC members were Pittikan Sitthidej, former director-general of the Rights and Liberties Protection Department, and Pornprapai Kanchanarin, former ambassador to the Hague.
Ms Pittikan was endorsed by a vote of 149 to 20 with 10 abstentions while Ms Pornprapai received support from 152 NLA members with 14 votes against and 10 abstentions. The candidates are required to receive support from more than half of the NLA, which currently has 240 members.
The other five who failed to be endorsed were Somsri Harn-ananthasuk, coordinator of the People's Network for Police Reform; Pairoj Polpet, member of Thai PBS' board of governors; Jaturong Boonyaratanasunthorn, an expert on social welfare; Boonthaen Tansuthepweerawong, director of Peace and Human Rights Resource Centre; and Surapong Kongchantuk, member of Thai PBS' board of governors.
Under an organic law governing the NHRC, a fresh selection process will be held to recruit people to fill the remaining five vacancies and those who were voted out are not eligible to reapply. After the vote, Somchai Sawaengkarn called on the selection panel to revise the criteria to ensure a fair process.
According to Mr Somchai, a certain candidate applied to be considered for the NHRC seat in five fields, and this meant he was considered five times. Surichai Wankaew, a member of the selection committee, said on Friday he was dumbstruck that the NLA rejected five of the shortlisted candidates. He also said it was impossible to prove or disprove a speculation that political interference was at play in the NLA's review, although some of the rejected candidates were widely seen as government critics.
Mr Surichai also dismissed Mr Somchai's observation that candidates were being allowed to apply to several fields at the same time. He said this showed a lack of understanding about how human rights advocates work and their areas of expertise.
"The human rights issues are closely connected and have delicate details. It's not like other technical issues," he said.