Bangkok: Lawyer Aun has raised significant concerns regarding election integrity and alleged corruption within the Ministry of Agriculture.
According to Thai News Agency, Lawyer Aun, whose real name is Mr. Patarapong Supaaksorn, has highlighted the issue of rigged ballots, noting that while the inspector general did not request information on this matter, it remains a critical concern.
Lawyer Aun further expressed his apprehension about the fate of "Bak Waeng," fearing it might mirror that of "Bak Siang" if a new election is not conducted. He believes the election's legitimacy is compromised, citing the QR code issue and numerous complaints that the Election Commission has yet to address adequately. Aun criticized the Election Commission's approach, likening their war room to a tactic used to fault citizens rather than resolving issues.
On February 13th, Mr. Phatarapong submitted a letter to the Ombudsman, urging the Constitutional Court to rule the election invalid over QR code/barcode discrepancies and ballot stuffing. He expressed dissatisfaction with the Ombudsman's focus solely on the QR code issue, suspecting potential hypocrisy due to shared origins with the Election Commission.
Mr. Phatarapong also scrutinized the political interest in the Ministry of Agriculture, questioning the motivations behind its desirability among parties. He pointed out alleged irregularities in the Department of Rice's procurement projects, accusing them of being rigged for personal gain. Concerns were raised over a project aimed at enhancing rice production efficiency, where bidding was allegedly conducted inappropriately, hinting at possible corruption within the ministry.
Despite changes in leadership, as Captain Thamanat Phromphao is no longer at the helm of the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Phatarapong expressed distrust toward the Bhumjaithai Party. He pledged to continue monitoring the situation, urging thorough investigations into these allegations to ensure accountability and fairness in both electoral processes and governmental operations.