An election watchdog group called the Free Fair & Fruition Election (FFFE) has urged voters to be vigilant on social media by sharing stories and photos if they find any irregularities ahead of the general election.
The group launched a campaign at Thammasat University's Tha Phra Chan campus Sunday calling on voters to post stories and photos on social media such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter if they find any irregularities or wrongdoings committed by politicians, parties and community leaders from now to the March 24 election day.
"The public's vigilance will be key in ensuring a free and fair election. Pictures should be taken and stories should be shared to the public as the Election Commission [EC] has been meddled by the military government and does not seem to be independent in doing its job," Nuttaa Mahattana, a core FFFE member, said.
Ms Nuttaa said the FFFE has sent its seven demands to the EC since December but only one, which is to include the logos of parties in the ballot paper, has received a proper response.
It other demands were: the EC should push for an amendment so candidates of the same party can get the same numbers; the EC should probe the connection between the military government and the Palang Pracharath Party; the Prayut Chan-o-cha administration should reduce its role to that of a caretaker government in the build-up to the general election to avoid the exploitation of resources in favour of a certain party; it should also refrain from interfering in the EC's work; and all bans on activities should be lifted and the NCPO's orders that violate human rights and press freedom revoked.
Ms Nattaa said although the NCPO has already lifted Order No 3/2015, which bans political gatherings of more than five people, and Order 57/2014, which prohibits parties from engaging in activities, no guarantee has yet been made that the poll will be free and fair.
"Political parties can now resume certain activities, but they are secretly followed everywhere by soldiers who claim to be peacekeepers. The ban on gatherings of more than five people has been lifted, but the NCPO still has the power to hold people in military barracks and temporarily suspend media licences due to 'misconduct'," Ms Nattaa said.
The FFFE has also formed a network of students from 24 universities to monitor 152 highly competitive constituencies.
