IN BRIEF
Secret ballot row: Ministry says election was transparent, will cooperate if UN wants to investigate
Foreign Minister Kantathi Suphamongkhon yesterday said his ministry will cooperate with the United Nations if it wants to investigate whether the Election Commission (EC) violated the UN's Covenant of Civil and Political Rights.
The Asian Network for Free Elections has complained to the UN that the EC's controversial configuration of voting booths on Sunday breached the covenant.Kantathi downplayed the allegation, saying he had noticed the change in the way booths were arranged but the election was transparent. In its complaint, the network alleged the EC violated Article 21 of the UN Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees the right to vote in privacy, as well as Article 25 of the covenant. - The Nation. Foreign affairs: Ministers appointed to allay global fearsThaksin Shinawatra yesterday put senior Cabinet members in charge of explaining the political turmoil to the international community, Government Spokesman Surapong Suebwonglee said. Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai and Foreign Minister Kantathi Suphamongkhon will be responsible for allaying international concerns about the political crisis, Surapong said after yesterday's Cabinet meeting. "The premier is concerned about tourism because the number of visitors has decreased as a result of the rallies," Surapong said. - The Nation. Election Commission: PollWatch growls at electoral watchdog The Election Commission (EC) stands accused of violating Articles 104 and 47 of the Constitution by failing to protect basic human rights and favouring selected candidates, and now faces the prospect of being forced to cancel last Sunday's election results. PollWatch yesterday petitioned the National Human Rights Commission and the Office of the Ombudsman to take legal action against the EC. PollWatch said the EC had failed to ensure voter privacy with Sunday's modified configuration of polling booths, violating Article 104 of the Constitution. PollWatch asked the two bodies to put the case to the Constitution Court. - The Nation.
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