With the Constitutional Court on Thursday disbanding the anti-junta Thai Raksa Chart (TRC) Party, a case filed by the Election Commission (EC), many could now be wondering about progress on complaints lodged with the poll agency against the pro-regime Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP).
While the TRC was dissolved for undermining the constitutional monarchy over its nomination of Princess Ubolratana as a prime ministerial candidate, the PPRP is facing dissolution calls for alleged violations of the election law over a fundraising event and its nomination of regime leader and Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha as a prime ministerial candidate.
But none of the seven poll commissioners have been in the country this week to deal with these complaints, or other important matters related to the upcoming general election. They have been on overseas trips to the US, the UK, Germany, Switzerland and Singapore, which reportedly last for more than a week.
In taking the publicly funded, 12-million-baht journeys when the election is just two weeks away, the commissioners have failed, again, to prove their worth. Someone has to take them to task. If they can't be impartial as is alleged, at least they could be more responsible.
Since taking office six months ago following their selection by junta-appointed lawmakers, the commissioners have been accused of actions that favour the PPRP and its prime ministerial candidate, Gen Prayut. These include the redrawing of constituency boundaries, which has been seen as gerrymandering.
When Paiboon Nititawan, leader of the pro-regime People Reform Party, called on the EC last month to dissolve the TRC for nominating the princess, the agency made the quick decision to submit the case to the Constitutional Court, a move still questioned by many.
But its probe into a Dec 21 complaint over the PPRP's Dec 19 fundraising event has moved at a snail's pace. The party is accused of securing funding from state agencies -- members of whom allegedly attended the event -- and having eight of its executives, who were state officials at the time, help with fundraising.
Both actions allegedly violated the election law. EC secretary-general Jarungvith Phumma yesterday said the case will be brought up at a commissioners' meeting next week.
Additionally, there have been more complaints calling for the EC to seek the PPRP's dissolution. The party is accused of undermining the constitutional monarchy for nominating Gen Prayut, a coup maker, as a candidate for prime minister. Given that he has refused to quit as premier, they also allege his candidacy could violate the election law which bars state officials from acting in favour of any party.
Making decisions on whether or not to seek a party's dissolution must not be taken lightly. It requires a thorough and strong investigation by the EC and an in-depth discussion among the commissioners.
The job of "observing advance overseas voting", claimed as one of the commissioners' overseas missions, should have been left to Thai embassies in those countries. If the EC was needed there, its operational officers could have observed the voting.
In addition to these complaints, which need to be handled in a timely and transparent manner, the agency's job of arranging advance voting here on March 17 needs close supervision and direction from EC bosses. All of these important jobs should not be neglected or handled over dinner in any glamorous cities in overseas countries.
