Barkar Nash (Page 1,013)

Four recent petitions along with a request to dissolve the Move Forward Party (MFP) have been dismissed as groundless and no reason for dissolution by the Election Commission (EC), according to a source.

The dismissal of the petitions to dissolve the MFP was made while the eight-party coalition led by the MFP goes about forming a new government.

Election Commission (EC) secretary-general Sawaeng Boonmee, in his capacity as the registrar of political parties, did not agree that on March 5 Padipat Suntiphada, the MFP candidate in Constituency 1 of Phitsanulok, had contravened EC regulation 17 by mentioning the royal institution, said the source.

The petitions also dealt with the MFP’s desire to amend or abolish Section 112 of the Criminal Code, better known as the lese majeste law, said the source.

Sawaeng: ‘No merit to accusations’

Alleged manipulation by Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit and Pannikar Wanich, the leader and the spokeswoman of the Progressive Movement respectively who advise the party but are both considered outsiders, was also cited as an alleged violation of the organic law on political parties, said the source.

Although the EC’s latest decision appears to be good news for the party, analysts and legal experts say that’s not the end of the party’s problems.

Jade Donavanik, a legal scholar and former adviser to a constitution drafting committee, said the EC’s planned inquiry into MFP leader Pita Limjaroenrat’s alleged violation of Section 151 of the organic law on the election of MPs, for instance, will likely bring both advantages and disadvantages to the party.

As the Section 151 matter will have to be forwarded to the court as a criminal case, the EC will have the burden of proving Mr Pita had violated the law, while Mr Pita will have to defend his innocence, said Mr Jade.

Asked to assess evidence shown by Mr Pita pertaining to his holding of shares in iTV Plc as reported by the media, Mr Jade said the chance of Mr Pita winning the case is still fifty-fifty.

In a Facebook post, Mr Pita on Sunday said: “I’ve tried my best…What about you?” The new post was accompanied by his old message posted on Facebook on June 24, 2021 in which he described Thailand as being in a legal war.

Senator Seree Suwanpanont, in his capacity as chairman of the Senate’s committee on political development and public participation, said the EC has failed to state clearly what will happen next if it finds Mr Pita guilty.

At a meeting of the Senate committee scheduled for June 20, the committee will review the EC’s order regarding its inquiry against Mr Pita and discuss it in detail, he said.

On Friday, the EC decided to conduct the inquiry over whether Mr Pita had applied as a list-MP candidate despite knowing he may not have been eligible to run for a House seat.

On the same day, the EC dismissed all petitions asking it to probe whether Mr Pita’s holding of iTV shares made him ineligible to contest the election in the first place, reasoning they were lodged after the qualifications of election candidates were examined. This has upset some of the party’s critics.

Political activist Ruangkrai Leekitwattana, meanwhile, said he will formally appeal against the EC’s decision to dismiss his petition.

He said he lodged his complaint with the election regulator on May 10 and still believes a petition about the suspected ineligibility of Mr Pita could still be submitted even after the EC endorses Mr Pita as an MP.

More importantly, he said, the EC is responsible for forwarding the matter to the Constitutional Court.

Mr Ruangkrai said he has solid evidence to prove that Mr Pita has held 42,000 iTV shares since 2008 which made him ineligible to contest the election.

He also accused the EC of failing to answer several questions he raised about Mr Pita’s alleged ineligibility in the rejected petition and is now determined to seek a definite answer.

Continue Reading

Some traders are attributing the high price of eggs to a shortage of supplies at farms caused by the replacement of old hens and a rise in export demand.

Wanchai Rungmitcharatsaeng, 65, owner of an egg shop in Khon Kaen’s Muang district, said he’s been running his business for more than two decades, and egg prices today are the highest they have ever been.

As a result, most egg sellers have stopped selling the largest-sized eggs, known as No 0 eggs, due to concerns they may not sell as well as smaller and cheaper eggs, he said.

No 0 eggs now cost 145 baht per carton of 30 eggs wholesale, with each egg retailing at 6 baht, he said, noting in the past it was only about 140 baht per carton.

Meanwhile, the smaller No 1 eggs have a wholesale price of 135 baht per carton, with each egg costing 4.5 baht at retail, he said.

“The farms supplying the eggs to my shop claim now is the time for replacing old hens with younger ones and demand for export egg is high,” he said.

Egg prices have risen in the past few months, with 2–6 baht a carton each time, according to a source.

Kosol Nadam, 36, owner of an egg shop in Uthai Thani, also said egg prices are at the highest in decades.

Suthasin Amaruek, president of the Thai Egg Merchant Trade Association, asked why the prices of No 3, 4 and 5 eggs have also been on the rise in the past two to three months, even though these smaller-sized eggs aren’t needed for exports.

Continue Reading

Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt joined a Big Cleaning Day event organised by Srinakharinwirot University, where he highlighted the need for cooperation to maintain the environment.

The event took place at Swuniplex, a retail plaza on Asokemontri Road. Lecturers and students from the university, executive officials of Watthana district office and representatives of various networks and agencies took part.

In his speech, Mr Chadchart said the university is a role model for helping maintain the environment. More universities should take up a cleanup day project in other areas, he said.

“Bangkok cannot do it alone as we need allies to improve the capital,” he said. “I wish to expand the Asoke model throughout the capital.”

He said the event is in line with a 20-year national strategy and the nation’s sustainable development goals.

According to the university, each agency in the city should adopt sustainable development guidelines for academic activities.

The university was hosting the cleanup event for the third time, with the latest aimed at expanding joint cooperation with networks and agencies to promote rubbish management and road safety in Asoke and nearby areas.

Also, Mr Chadchart on Saturday evening presided over a housing development event at Chumchon Pracharuamjai 1 in Chatuchak district in a project to promote the development of communities along the city’s canals.

Public and private agencies organised the project to enhance the knowledge and understanding of canalside community development to create community participation in environmental care.

“It must be a sustainable effort that relies on everyone’s collaboration,” Mr Chadchart said.

Kajit Chatchavanich, permanent secretary for Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, said collaboration has led to community growth.

He said the project will eventually aim to aid 50 districts, in accordance with Mr Chadchart’s policy to develop Bangkok’s communities.

He also thanked members of the public and private sectors for their cooperation in the project.

When the city began to grow, several villages moved into the Prem Prachakorn Canal, which led to several issues, including ineffective draining. Today, Chumchon Pracharuamjai 1 is regarded as a success in the development of canalside communities in Bangkok.

Continue Reading

Political activist Srisuwan Janya is asking his supporters to join a new effort to establish a not-for-profit organisation after his old association had its licence revoked.

The Department of Provincial Administration last week issued an order to effectively dissolve the Association to Protect the Thai Constitution for failing to meet membership requirements.

Named Rak Chat Rak Phaendin (Love Nation, Love Motherland), the new organisation will fight against attempts to amend or get rid of Section 112 of the Criminal Code, better known as the lese majeste law, he said.

Other objectives include holding politicians, parties and civil servants accountable for acts of corruption and advocating full compliance with the constitution and law, he said.

The organisation will also monitor all elections to ensure their transparency, fairness and legality, he said.

Another important responsibility is ensuring the state remains free of abuses of power and is true to the constitution, he said.

And in cases where the state is accused of abuse of power, the association will act on behalf of affected parties in petitioning the court to take action, he said. Those who are interested in becoming supporters of the new organisation can apply in writing.

They must explain how their ambitions match the goals of the party and enclose a copy of their ID card, he said. It is unclear whether Mr Srisuwan went through a similar process when setting up his now-dissolved association.

Continue Reading

Continue Reading

The Election Commission (EC) is likely to endorse the first batch of MPs-elect this week, according to a source.

The Office of the EC has received reports from provincial poll directors and plans to forward partial election results to the six-member commission for approval on Tuesday, the source said.

This group of election winners, accounting for 70% of all candidates projected to win, faced no complaints, the source said, adding the authorities are expected to take their time with investigations into the rest of the candidates.

The source said the EC wants to endorse the results before the retirement of Commissioner Chatchai Chanpraisri, who is due to leave his post on June 28.

Under the current election rules, the EC has 60 days after an election to certify at least 95% of all winners.

However, the source said it is likely the EC may endorse all 500 MPs-elect closer to the deadline as several poll investigators have indicated they may not be able to wrap up investigations within 60 days.

In such a case, winners could be disqualified later if they were found to have violated election rules, the source said.

Meanwhile, poll officials on Sunday conducted a recount at 47 polling stations across 16 provinces.

The recount was ordered after the EC found the number of ballots did not match the number of people who turned out to vote.

While the number of votes received by candidates changed in the recount, the change was insignificant and did not affect the overall election result, according to officials.

In Bangkok, where the recount was ordered at six polling stations, Move Forward Party (MFP) candidates remained the winners even though the number of votes they received dropped.

Passarin Ruamwong, an MFP candidate for Bangkok’s Constituency 7, said she was satisfied with the result of the recount.

Ms Passarin received one less vote when compared with the original count, but overall she still won the election.

Thapanee Mahapatchara-arunmai, election director in Phetechaburi province, said the recount there was ordered at the sixth polling station because the number of party-list votes did not match that of those who cast votes.

The number of party-list votes there was 462 while the number of voters was 461.

Ms Thapanee said the numbers added up after the recount was conducted and the mistake was believed to be unintentional.

Continue Reading

The Election Commission (EC) is likely to endorse the first batch of MPs-elect this week, according to a source.

The Office of the EC has received reports from provincial poll directors and plans to forward partial election results to the six-member commission for approval on Tuesday, the source said.

This group of election winners, accounting for 70% of all candidates projected to win, faced no complaints, the source said, adding the authorities are expected to take their time with investigations into the rest of the candidates.

The source said the EC wants to endorse the results before the retirement of Commissioner Chatchai Chanpraisri, who is due to leave his post on June 28.

Under the current election rules, the EC has 60 days after an election to certify at least 95% of all winners.

However, the source said it is likely the EC may endorse all 500 MPs-elect closer to the deadline as several poll investigators have indicated they may not be able to wrap up investigations within 60 days.

In such a case, winners could be disqualified later if they were found to have violated election rules, the source said.

Meanwhile, poll officials on Sunday conducted a recount at 47 polling stations across 16 provinces.

The recount was ordered after the EC found the number of ballots did not match the number of people who turned out to vote.

While the number of votes received by candidates changed in the recount, the change was insignificant and did not affect the overall election result, according to officials.

In Bangkok, where the recount was ordered at six polling stations, Move Forward Party (MFP) candidates remained the winners even though the number of votes they received dropped.

Passarin Ruamwong, an MFP candidate for Bangkok’s Constituency 7, said she was satisfied with the result of the recount.

Ms Passarin received one less vote when compared with the original count, but overall she still won the election.

Thapanee Mahapatchara-arunmai, election director in Phetechaburi province, said the recount there was ordered at the sixth polling station because the number of party-list votes did not match that of those who cast votes.

The number of party-list votes there was 462 while the number of voters was 461.

Ms Thapanee said the numbers added up after the recount was conducted and the mistake was believed to be unintentional.

Continue Reading