"Sonthiya" submits petition to ECT to investigate Senator Nanthana over request to withdraw election case complaint

Today (4 March) 11:00 AM, at the Election Commission of Thailand (ECT) office, political activist Sonthiya Sawasdee submitted a letter to the ECT requesting an investigation and referral to the Constitutional Court to rule on the termination of Senator Nanthana Nanthavaropas's status as a senator, in accordance with Article 185 of the Constitution. This stems from her interview in which she requested the ECT to withdraw the complaint against senators who obstructed the election and deciphered ballot papers.

Mr. Sonthiya further stated that the ECT is an independent agency established under the Constitution. Article 185 of the Constitution prohibits senators from using their status or position to interfere with or obstruct official duties. "The actions of government officials for their own benefit, the benefit of others, and their political party, if violated, can result in their removal from office. Therefore, if ECT does not prosecute the six individuals, the ECT itself will face charges of neglecting its duty.

Mr. Sonthiya continued, stating that he wanted to address Mr. Somchai Srisutthiyakorn, the former ECT member, and his team, who are planning to conduct a mock election and decode the ballots today, despite the fact that the ECT is already facing lawsuits in the Administrative Court, the Constitutional Court, the Criminal Court, and even the local court, as some have mentioned. He further questioned their intention to hold a mock election and examine the QR codes and barcodes on the ballots, inviting international representatives and outsiders to observe. He also mentioned a suggestion from someone on Facebook, a doctor, to have the United Nations oversee the election in Thailand. He asked whether inviting international representatives to observe the previous election, which involved nearly 100,000 polling stations with only a few problems and others running smoothly, would be considered inviting trouble.

"Professor Somchai and his team have extensive experience in elections, but what they are doing today is like presuming the election was incorrect, even though the EC has already been sued in court." "But why not wait for the court's decision to determine whether ECT actions were correct? Mr. Somchai and his team have already judged it as wrong. And the idea of having the United Nations manage the elections in Thailand is idiotic. How could someone with a doctorate degree do that? The entire Thai nation wouldn't accept it. Those who believe there are problems with the election can always appeal to the ECT in court, and there are already cases underway. There's no need to invite foreign interference in our domestic affairs, which I disagree with. If there are problems with the election, let the decision be made according to the legal process. Whatever the outcome, we will accept it," Mr. Sonthiya said.

Mr. Sonthiya reiterated that by this Friday (6 March) or at the latest next week, he will submit a letter to the Prime Minister demanding that Ms. Treenuch Thianthong, the leader of the Palang Pracharath Party, not be appointed as a minister. He argued that during the recent election, the party leader and the executive committee did not provide any assistance to the candidates whatsoever. He will also file a petition to dissolve the Palang Pracharath Party based on these reasons.