Public asked to send information on EC candidates
Caretaker Senate Speaker Suchon Chaleekrua yesterday asked the public to send information it may have on candidates for the new Election Commission.
There are 42 names to fill five commission spots. The Supreme Court will narrow the field to 10 names. The Senate votes for the final five. Suchon was positive about the overall look of the candidates. The public could send information to post office box 45, Parliament Bangkok 10305. Senders' names would be kept confidential. Information can also be sent via the Upper House website (www.senate.go.th). Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva expressed confidence the court would pick people with integrity to sit on the EC. "I suggest that the public take part in checking the election and do not think that it is exclusively the responsibility of the five commissioners,'' he said. Caretaker Senator Chirmsak Pinthong said he was content with the names but it remained to be seen who the final five would be. "The work of the EC requires a unanimous vote. If there are one or two questionable commissioners, it is hard to get the work done,'' he said. He was worried the selection process was being rushed. "If we rush we may not get people who are free from political connection and influence,'' he said. Chirmsak called for a restructuring of the whole EC. He said the previous commission had appointed staff loyal to it. "If there is no restructuring of the whole system, the selection of new commissioners is just a whitewash,'' he said. He was worried there would be bloc voting in the Senate similar to that for the National Counter Corruption Commission candidates, he said. The Nation
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