Allegations of 'fixing' in nominations

The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has been asked to review the National Reform Council (NRC) selection process in some provinces where the nomination of candidates may be in violation of the interim charter and lacking in diversity. 

National Legislative Assembly (NLA) member Wallop Tangkananurak yesterday called on the NCPO to disclose the list of nominees in order to create transparency in the face of candidate-fixing allegations. 

Wallop said he believed the NCPO would have no problem revealing the list of NRC nominees at the provincial level and ones nominated by non-profit organisations to ensure transparency and justice.

He said the public harboured doubts over whether the selection of NRC nominees had been carried out in a fair manner since it had been done secretly. The NCPO should suspend the selection process and check complaints that some selections were rigged. 

NLA member Somchai Swangkarn called on provincial NRC selection panels to reveal their selection criteria. He said he had been informed that nominees covered the same group of people, such as chiefs and advisers of the Provincial Administrative Organisations and Tambon Administrative Organisations. 

It was believed that this selection process took place in several provinces including Phang Nga, Samut Prakan, Chon Buri, Chachoengsao, Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen and Ubon Ratchathani, he said.

Somchai also feared that the NRC nominees would not give diversity in terms of profession, age and sex.

He urged the Election Commission to suspend the selection process and look into the complaints first. 

Leaflets circulated in Phang Nga revealing the names of five individuals who have allegedly secured NRC nomination, and locals have called on the EC to check if this was true. 

NLA deputy chairman Peerasak Porjit admitted there were issues in the NRC selection process in certain provinces. For instance, a former senator complained that he was not included in the list of five nominees and questioned the criteria. Peerasak said he personally believed this former senator was qualified and should be selected. 

He also called on those who believe they have been unjustly overlooked to file a complaint with the NCPO. 

Former deputy Senate speaker Anan Ariyachaiphanit also called for a review the NRC selection process in some provinces that may be questionable. He said the junta should select all NRC members itself. 

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday urged critics to stop criticising the NRC selection process and dismissed claims that the NRC selection in some provinces was rigged.

Prayut insisted that all 77 NRC selection committee members did not select NRC applicants based upon personal connections or favour. He said the NRC nominees were picked through the biggest number of votes. The criteria clearly said that nominees must have knowledge and experience in the field they applied. 

He said names of the NRC members would be revealed once they were royally endorsed. 

Those who failed to secure a place on the NRC would be allowed to present reform ideas through Damrongdharma centres or provincial election agencies, which would forward their ideas to the NRC. Prayut said NRC selection would be completed by October 2 as scheduled. The council would take 10-12 months to complete its mission in accordance with the NCPO reform roadmap.

Election Commission secretary-general Puchong Nutrawong said the EC did not have the authority to look into the selection rigging complaint unless the NCPO ordered that.

He said he had not received such a complaint but only learnt about the allegation from the media. He said he would forward the complaint to the NCPO if he received it.