Bangkok: Dr. Jetsada Tonawanik, the prime ministerial candidate for the Rak Chart Party, has issued a stern warning to the Election Commission, urging it to clarify the current electoral situation to prevent potential nationwide protests.
According to Thai News Agency, Dr. Jetsada emphasized that while the responsibilities of candidates and political parties are complete, the Election Commission faces a more challenging task. The commission is tasked with managing an election that has been criticized for its lack of transparency and fairness, particularly regarding alleged vote counting irregularities and rumors of an unprecedented scale of ballot stuffing in Thai political history.
Dr. Jetsada questioned the possibility of an excess of ballots, highlighting the unusual nature of the 'staggered ballots' issue. He noted that historically, discrepancies were minor, typically in the tens, and rarely in the hundreds. If such large discrepancies exist, it undermines the perceived fairness and honesty of the election process.
Dr. Jetsada urged the Election Commission to utilize its authority and tools promptly. If credible evidence of fraud is found, decisive actions are necessary. This includes issuing yellow cards to order re-elections in affected districts and issuing red cards to disqualify fraudulent candidates, requiring them to bear the costs of new elections. He also noted reports of corruption issues involving Cambodia, emphasizing that the law requires election results to be announced within 60 days and that swift action is essential to prevent public doubt and scrutiny.
The Rak Chart Party's candidate further elaborated that the Election Commission has the power to act if there are reasonable grounds or credible evidence suggesting the election was unfair. He advocated for the 'yellow card' approach to instigate new elections in specific districts without infringing on anyone's rights. However, he stressed that if clear wrongdoing is found, the commission must seek a 'red card' through the court to ensure accountability and necessitate a new election.
Dr. Jetsada also cautioned that public dissatisfaction with the election results could lead to protests and unrest, potentially providing a pretext for intervention to restore order. He emphasized the need for the government to move forward and for the administration not to be disrupted, given the current dangers the country faces.
He concluded by urging the Election Commission to act swiftly, warning that unresolved dissatisfaction with the vote count or election results could escalate into demonstrations and unrest, ultimately necessitating intervention to restore order and resulting in further accusations.