FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
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Prawit insists firing of Somchai ‘not an emotional act’

Prawit insists firing of Somchai ‘not an emotional act’

Junta number two General Prawit Wongsuwan insisted on Monday that the recent dismissal of an election commissioner had not been an emotional act, but one based on evidence that the person in question had made remarks that would cause confusion.

“He was causing confusion over the election. So, what else could we do? We [dismissed him] to prevent further confusion,” said Prawit, who is a senior member of the National Council for Peace and Order and a deputy prime minster.
He was referring to Somchai Srisuthiyakorn – the recently fired member of the Election Commission (EC) – in response to mounting concern that the military-led regime was abusing its absolute power to interfere with independent agencies.
Since the new organic law paved the way for the dismissal of all current EC members, Somchai had often challenged the regime over any moves that could result in a delay in the planned general election.
This eventually led the head of the junta, Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, to use the sweeping power available to him under Article 44 to sack Somchai prematurely, although the new election commissioners had not yet been selected.
Prawit said that everything was still following the road map and he wanted all officials to stick to that statement.
Somchai has continued to speak out even after his controversial dismissal.
He wrote on Facebook last week that the election would not take place within 150 days after the organic laws becoming effective.
However, government legal expert and Deputy PM Wissanu Krea-ngam yesterday countered Somchai’s statement, saying that what he claimed was impossible and that Somchai had no authority to interpret the issue.
“The election will happen within 150 days after the laws are enforced,” he said. “This has nothing to do with the red and yellow cards.”
Wissanu was referring to the EC’s authority to ban permanently or temporarily those general-election candidates found to be involved with electoral fraud.
In part, this authority could also reschedule the election if any irregularity occurred.
Wissanu said the EC could issue yellow and red cards after the national election, but he omitted to clarify whether it would affect the announcement of the election results and the establishment of the next government.

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