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Thai Election Official Is Pessimistic About Election Thai Official Is Pessimistic About Holding an Election
(35 minutes later)
BANGKOK — Like the antigovernment protesters trying to overthrow the Thai government, Somchai Srisutthiyakorn says he is against holding elections next month and does not think they will do anything to bring a resolution to the country’s increasingly violent political turmoil.BANGKOK — Like the antigovernment protesters trying to overthrow the Thai government, Somchai Srisutthiyakorn says he is against holding elections next month and does not think they will do anything to bring a resolution to the country’s increasingly violent political turmoil.
But Mr. Somchai is not a protester — he is one of five members of the country’s Election Commission whose mission, according to Thai law, is to arrange, provide support and promote elections.But Mr. Somchai is not a protester — he is one of five members of the country’s Election Commission whose mission, according to Thai law, is to arrange, provide support and promote elections.
“The Election Commission must arrange elections,” Mr. Somchai said in an interview this week. “But we must be sure the election benefits society.”“The Election Commission must arrange elections,” Mr. Somchai said in an interview this week. “But we must be sure the election benefits society.”
Mr. Somchai said that he and the four other commissioners are in agreement: they do not oppose elections but want them held at an unspecified “suitable time.”Mr. Somchai said that he and the four other commissioners are in agreement: they do not oppose elections but want them held at an unspecified “suitable time.”
Mr. Somchai’s lack of enthusiasm for the Feb. 2 elections, which were endorsed by royal decree last month when the government dissolved Parliament, underlines the depth of divisions in Thai society after two months of debilitating protests in Bangkok.Mr. Somchai’s lack of enthusiasm for the Feb. 2 elections, which were endorsed by royal decree last month when the government dissolved Parliament, underlines the depth of divisions in Thai society after two months of debilitating protests in Bangkok.
In the latest act of violence, Kwanchai Praipana, a prominent government supporter, was shot and wounded in northern Thailand on Wednesday, a day after the Thai government declared a state of emergency in Bangkok.In the latest act of violence, Kwanchai Praipana, a prominent government supporter, was shot and wounded in northern Thailand on Wednesday, a day after the Thai government declared a state of emergency in Bangkok.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has been under intense pressure over the last two months as antigovernment protesters have become increasingly aggressive in their campaign to banish her, scuttle elections and overthrow her government.Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has been under intense pressure over the last two months as antigovernment protesters have become increasingly aggressive in their campaign to banish her, scuttle elections and overthrow her government.
But equally challenging for her government has been resistance from inside government agencies. In addition to the Election Commission’s efforts to put off the elections, the Constitutional Court recently ruled against the government in two key cases and the National Anti-Corruption Commission has announced that it is pursuing two large investigations against members of the ruling party that could ultimately lead to party members being banned from politics or the party being dissolved.But equally challenging for her government has been resistance from inside government agencies. In addition to the Election Commission’s efforts to put off the elections, the Constitutional Court recently ruled against the government in two key cases and the National Anti-Corruption Commission has announced that it is pursuing two large investigations against members of the ruling party that could ultimately lead to party members being banned from politics or the party being dissolved.
Critics and more dispassionate analysts in Thailand have been struck by what they describe as an Election Commission reluctant to hold elections.Critics and more dispassionate analysts in Thailand have been struck by what they describe as an Election Commission reluctant to hold elections.
“There seems no historical case — worldwide — of an official body in charge of holding an election that actively and aggressively opposed an election from every possible angle, at every possible moment,” said a recent commentary in the Bangkok Post, an influential English-language daily.“There seems no historical case — worldwide — of an official body in charge of holding an election that actively and aggressively opposed an election from every possible angle, at every possible moment,” said a recent commentary in the Bangkok Post, an influential English-language daily.
Government supporters say Mr. Somchai, the commissioner, sympathizes with the protests, offering as evidence a photo of him on the Internet posing with two people at one of the protest sites in Bangkok.Government supporters say Mr. Somchai, the commissioner, sympathizes with the protests, offering as evidence a photo of him on the Internet posing with two people at one of the protest sites in Bangkok.
Mr. Somchai says he happened to be at shopping mall last week situated in the middle of the protests and “it’s common for people to take photos with me.”Mr. Somchai says he happened to be at shopping mall last week situated in the middle of the protests and “it’s common for people to take photos with me.”
Mr. Somchai has also been criticized for his adversarial comments toward the government. Last week he said that in order to get Ms. Yingluck, who is Thailand’s first female prime minister, to meet with him he will propose a rendezvous at the Four Seasons hotel in Bangkok. It was a reference to rumors — denied by Ms. Yingluck — that she met a real estate mogul there for a tryst.Mr. Somchai has also been criticized for his adversarial comments toward the government. Last week he said that in order to get Ms. Yingluck, who is Thailand’s first female prime minister, to meet with him he will propose a rendezvous at the Four Seasons hotel in Bangkok. It was a reference to rumors — denied by Ms. Yingluck — that she met a real estate mogul there for a tryst.
Mr. Somchai says with a smile that he made the comment to “get someone’s attention.”Mr. Somchai says with a smile that he made the comment to “get someone’s attention.”
But the governing party did not take it as a joke. The comments about the Four Seasons are listed as evidence in impeachment proceedings started last week by the governing party against Mr. Somchai. The proceedings are seen largely as symbolic because the lengthy process is likely to take months, presumably after elections are held.But the governing party did not take it as a joke. The comments about the Four Seasons are listed as evidence in impeachment proceedings started last week by the governing party against Mr. Somchai. The proceedings are seen largely as symbolic because the lengthy process is likely to take months, presumably after elections are held.
To his detractors, Mr. Somchai exemplifies a Bangkok-centric mind-set that discounts the wishes of people in the country’s populous northern provinces, who by most accounts are eager to cast their votes next month.To his detractors, Mr. Somchai exemplifies a Bangkok-centric mind-set that discounts the wishes of people in the country’s populous northern provinces, who by most accounts are eager to cast their votes next month.
In the interview, Mr. Somchai emphasized the awakening of the Bangkok middle class, which is “made up of educated people.”In the interview, Mr. Somchai emphasized the awakening of the Bangkok middle class, which is “made up of educated people.”
Thailand’s current deadlock, he said, “is a phenomenon of middle-class people in society who can no longer bear the political conditions of present day.”Thailand’s current deadlock, he said, “is a phenomenon of middle-class people in society who can no longer bear the political conditions of present day.”
The protests began in November when Ms. Yingluck’s party railroaded through the lower house of Parliament an amnesty bill that would have allowed her brother, the former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, to return home by wiping clean corruption cases against him. The bill was ultimately withdrawn after an uproar, but protests against the amnesty bill gained momentum in Bangkok and turned into a larger antigovernment movement. The government, protest leaders said, was more concerned about Mr. Thaksin, than the well-being of the country.The protests began in November when Ms. Yingluck’s party railroaded through the lower house of Parliament an amnesty bill that would have allowed her brother, the former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, to return home by wiping clean corruption cases against him. The bill was ultimately withdrawn after an uproar, but protests against the amnesty bill gained momentum in Bangkok and turned into a larger antigovernment movement. The government, protest leaders said, was more concerned about Mr. Thaksin, than the well-being of the country.
The protesters have raided government offices, shut down and occupied major intersections, and are calling for a hiatus of democracy and the establishment of an unelected “people’s council” to run the country. They are allied with the oldest political party in the country, the Democrats, who are boycotting the Feb. 2 elections.The protesters have raided government offices, shut down and occupied major intersections, and are calling for a hiatus of democracy and the establishment of an unelected “people’s council” to run the country. They are allied with the oldest political party in the country, the Democrats, who are boycotting the Feb. 2 elections.
But the protests have caused a backlash among government supporters in the north and northeast, who are angry at the attempts to block elections that their party would almost certainly win.But the protests have caused a backlash among government supporters in the north and northeast, who are angry at the attempts to block elections that their party would almost certainly win.
This schism in Thailand between northerners — who are grateful that the governing party represents their interests — and wealthier residents in Bangkok who resent the newfound power of the provincial masses is at the heart of the crisis. It is also at the heart of the debate over whether the country should proceed with elections.This schism in Thailand between northerners — who are grateful that the governing party represents their interests — and wealthier residents in Bangkok who resent the newfound power of the provincial masses is at the heart of the crisis. It is also at the heart of the debate over whether the country should proceed with elections.
Last month, protesters blocked the registration of candidates in several districts in southern Thailand, part of their campaign to block the elections.Last month, protesters blocked the registration of candidates in several districts in southern Thailand, part of their campaign to block the elections.
Sodsri Satayatham, a former election commissioner, says she recognizes the difficulty of the situation but that the Election Commission should have done more, including asking the military to help ensure that candidates can register.Sodsri Satayatham, a former election commissioner, says she recognizes the difficulty of the situation but that the Election Commission should have done more, including asking the military to help ensure that candidates can register.
“We cannot allow the violators of the law to do anything they want – and allow the country to go without any rule of law,” she said in an interview.“We cannot allow the violators of the law to do anything they want – and allow the country to go without any rule of law,” she said in an interview.
Ms. Sodsri says the Election Commission has no choice but to go ahead with the Feb. 2 elections.Ms. Sodsri says the Election Commission has no choice but to go ahead with the Feb. 2 elections.
“The law doesn’t allow postponement,” she said.“The law doesn’t allow postponement,” she said.
Mr. Somchai says he and other commissioners are facing “massive pressure” from antigovernment protesters and that the military has declined requests to help guard the election process.Mr. Somchai says he and other commissioners are facing “massive pressure” from antigovernment protesters and that the military has declined requests to help guard the election process.
“I am afraid that if the election goes ahead, there will be violence and it may lead to a coup,” he said. (His critics say he has it the wrong way around: putting off elections will create a power vacuum that could lead to a coup, they say.)“I am afraid that if the election goes ahead, there will be violence and it may lead to a coup,” he said. (His critics say he has it the wrong way around: putting off elections will create a power vacuum that could lead to a coup, they say.)
Mr. Somchai says he is aware that the Election Commission has the power to call upon the security forces to ensure that the elections take place on time. But the law, he says, is not paramount at a time of intense turmoil.Mr. Somchai says he is aware that the Election Commission has the power to call upon the security forces to ensure that the elections take place on time. But the law, he says, is not paramount at a time of intense turmoil.
“Our society today cannot only live by the law,” he said. “We also have to make sure the country survives.”“Our society today cannot only live by the law,” he said. “We also have to make sure the country survives.”