Thai polls candidates file complaints
Many anti-military candidates have turned to the Election Commission with claims of irregularities, including bungled tallies and vote-buying, during the recent ballot that has left the junta-ruled kingdom in limbo.
BANGKOK: Several anti-military candidates in Thailand lodged fresh complaints with the Election Commission over bungled tallies and alleged vote-buying following a controversial ballot that has left politics in the junta-ruled kingdom in limbo.
A military-backed party and its main rival led by an exiled billionaire have both claimed the right to lead the government in the wake of Sunday’s polls, with official final tallies delayed for weeks.
Candidates from at least two parties issued fresh complaints with the commission yesterday over alleged irregularities they claim could skew final vote counts.
A member of the anti-junta Future Forward party accused the pro-military Phalang Pracharat of currying favour among local officials by gifting them cash and gifts.
“It’s against the law, it can be seen as vote-buying,” said Future Forward spokesman Pannika Wanich.
Another Future Forward candidate reported voter intimidation inside a Bangkok polling station.
“There was a military officer standing inside the polling station to see whether military officials have voted for the party he wanted,” candidate Chris Potranan said in a complaint filed yesterday.
A member of the anti-junta Pheu Thai party also lodged objections over allegedly dodgy counts in his Bangkok constituency.
“Our observers at polling stations reported inaccuracies in tallies as counting was conducted in a dark area,” Pheu Thai candidate Trirat Sirichantharopas said.
The Election Commission has received more than 180 complaints, 40 of which were filed in the immediate aftermath of the poll.
On Thursday the commission unexpectedly released the latest popular vote tallies, before quickly taking them down and re-posting revised numbers.
The tally showed more than 2.1 million invalidated votes, but election officials did not respond to questions about the ballots.
The regional election monitor ANFREL said the haphazard release of the results “reflects poorly” on the commission. — AFP