Junta’s EC as tourists

While the junta’s Election Commission has been doing little to maintain even a modicum of “fairness” in the junta’s election, it has found time for international tourism that has cost the taxpayer some 12 million baht.

Of course, the EC “defended the trips, saying that the members travelled abroad in order to inspect advance voting locations and ensure poll transparency…”, something it hasn’t managed in the country.

EC secretary-general Jarungvith Phumma is also reported to have cited Section 224(3) of the 2017 constitution as justification for the trips. That section reads:

where the result of an investigation or inquiry under (2) indicates, or an act is found with reasonable grounds for suspicion that an election or selection under (1) has not proceeded in an honest or just manner, or a referendum has proceeded in an unlawful manner, it shall have the power to suspend, withhold, rectify or cancel the election or selection or referendum, and to order the holding of a new election, selection or referendum in certain polling stations or every polling station….

If he is accurately cited, can we assume that there’s been cheating overseas?

Media “reported that seven commissioners took trips abroad, forcing the EC to postpone meetings this week, even though key issues were on the agenda.” They traveled to various places, “including including the United Kingdom, the United States, Switzerland and Singapore.”

Sounds like getting in for a bit of shopping while major issues confront the EC. Perhaps they feel better grabbing duty free rather than dealing with questions of how the Army, police and junta are acting in breach of the junta’s own election rules.