Flurry of petitions to annul poll
A number of civic and citizens groups yesterday filed petitions seeking judicial intervention to invalidate the results of the April 2 election. In a key petition, Thammasat University law lecturers asked the Constitution Court to launch a review of what they said was a flawed electoral process. The lecturers' petition was submitted via the Office of the Ombudsman.
The lecturers cited four legal reasons for voiding the voting results. Firstly, they said, the Election Commission (EC) unfairly set the voting day to favour the Thai Rak Thai Party. Secondly, the EC failed to ensure the privacy of voters because booths were positioned in a way that allowed onlookers to view how ballots were marked. Thirdly, the EC found evidence of fraud - specifically, that a small party was paid to contest the polls. Finally, it failed to hold a formal review before endorsing the results. Lecturer Banjerd Singkhaneti said the EC had lapsed in its duties to such an extent that the election was tantamount to a referendum to whitewash the ruling party. Former senator Seri Suwanapanont petitioned the Administrative Court to nullify the election outcome, paving the way for new polls to restore democratic rule. Radio talk show host Chalee Nopawing na Ayutthaya launched a judicial inquiry at the Supreme Administrative Court seeking the cancellation of the Royal Decree for the April 2 election.
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