Bangkok: “Saeng” has issued a stern warning regarding the severe penalties for individuals misusing citizens’ names to apply for party membership. Saeng emphasized that party registrars found guilty of such fraudulent applications could face up to three years in prison, along with a fine imposed on the party leader. The Election Commission (EC) office is actively preparing to investigate these claims and urges the public to report any instances of such false memberships either to the EC or through a police report.

According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Sawaeng Boonmee, Secretary-General of the Election Commission, addressed incidents where individuals unexpectedly found themselves listed as members of political parties without having applied. He highlighted that this issue infringes on personal freedom and the right to choose. Mr. Boonmee insisted that all party membership applications must be voluntary and stressed the importance of verifying each application thoroughly. Applicants must meet specific qualifications, similar to those required for eligible voters, before their membership is entered into the party’s database. This database is accessible to the public for verification. If a breach is discovered during an investigation, strict penalties will be enforced, including fines for party leaders and potential imprisonment for those initially verifying the fraudulent registrations.

The situation has raised questions about whether public registration events by parties are being misused for membership applications without consent. Mr. Sawaeng stated that investigations are necessary to ensure fairness for both the party and the public. He explained that the EC is currently unaware of the extent of unauthorized memberships, as this issue lies between the party and its members. However, citizens who suspect their names have been wrongly used can verify their membership status and submit a complaint to the EC or file a police report for further investigation.