Somchai accepts sacking, but says he is now free to speak out

Somchai showed up at the EC office yesterday to pack up his belongings after the chief of National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), General Prayut Chan-o-cha, issued the termination order on Tuesday evening using the absolute power afforded to him by Article 44.
Somchai said he planned to finish packing up tomorrow, drawing the curtain on four years in the role.
He believes his straight comments in public may have upset the powers-that-be, and they were the reason he was removed from office.
Leaving his workplace yesterday, he told reporters: “Now that I’m not in the EC, I will be able to give more diversified and broader comments than before, when I could only talk about elections and political party activities.
“Will my comments lead the NCPO to come after me? I believe I know what I’m talking about. I’ve never lied or said anything rude or provocative,” he added.
Mixed reactions came after the dismissal. Some analysts viewed it as a threat to independent agencies that should be free from political influence. Others felt it was a personal matter between Somchai and the ruling junta. Political scientist Trakool Meechai said that such an exercise of absolute power could lead people to think the NCPO was interfering with independent agencies. 
The move reflected the junta’s power and emphasised that it could be used arbitrarily, he said. Trakool added that this may create an uncomfortable atmosphere, especially as the election was fast approaching.
Former EC member Sodsri Satayathum, meanwhile, said it should not “creep out” independent agencies. They still had to function and carry out their duties based on the law, she added.
Somchai had been commenting on the election road map that could cause tension between the EC and the ruling regime, she said. So, the junta may have decided to end that by dealing directly with the problematic person, she said, adding that the matter was between the NCPO and Somchai, not the agency.
Somchai had been particularly critical of the junta’s election road map in recent times after the entire panel was dismissed under the new law. This led to the dismissal order on Tuesday, which stated that his comments had “caused confusion among the public”. There was also a claim of conflict of interest given that Somchai had applied for the position of EC secretary-general. 
Somcahi said two of his remarks could have upset those in power. 
First, he answered a question asked by Prayut if it was lawful for the NCPO to support a political party, and Somchai had said that for a person it would be okay, but for the NCPO it was not appropriate. 
Second, he opined that a petition to the Constitutional Court for a review of the MP election bill would definitely affect the road map to the election. This contradicted those in power who said it would not do so.
Prior to that, Somchai appeared to have a good relationship with the regime – but the pro-democracy camp labelled him and his colleagues as the electoral commissioners who had not even once managed to hold an election. Somchai opposed the holding of the February 2, 2014 election, causing negative sentiment among pro-democracy activists.
The EC also served the junta in holding the charter referendum in 2016. Following the junta’s security policy, the agency put harsh restrictions on any campaigns that pro-democracy activists viewed as intrinsic to free and fair voting. 
Despite the current circumstances, Somchai said yesterday he would not withdraw from the contest for the secretary-general position, although he was fully aware he had little chance of success. He said he would go back to working with the watchdog People Network for Election in Thailand. 
Somchai also appeared to be more friendly with anti-junta activists after Tuesday’s dismissal. He greeted Sombat Boonngamanong, who went to the EC office to request registration of a new political party called “Krian” (“Troll”), and indicated that he could be an adviser to that party.
On Facebook, junta critic Attukkit Sawangsuk said he wanted to invite the sacked commissioner to join a recently suspended discussion critical of the regime. Somchai responded: “Will you dare to invite me? I want friends. LOL.”