EU told to keep out of election

[buksida]

Surayud backs EC decision to reject monitoring offer and insists Thais must choose path.

The government yesterday reacted strongly to a European Union re-quest to become involved in supervising the next general election.

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont backed the refusal by the Election Commission to permit the EU to monitor the balloting.

"We have to uphold our principles and work procedures and under Thai law no outsiders can have control over the authorities," he said.

Surayud said Thai authorities were responsible for ensuring a free and fair vote. The EU wanted control beyond a status of observers and this was unacceptable, he added.

"I don't think EU involvement would help us to hold a better election. It is up to Thai people to choose the path we are heading on. If the Thais want a free and fair election, we will have to effect it ourselves," said the premier.

The EU was critical of last September's coup that overthrew the government of Thaksin Shinawatra. It also called on Thailand to hold an election to restore democracy as soon as possible.

Surayud went on to defend the December 23 election day as the most suitable date under the circumstances. The date allowed sufficient time for electoral preparations and the completion of the legislative process for three organic laws relating to the elections, he said.

Because of the New Year celebrations, the next possible date was January 13, which might not be as feasible because a long holiday might interrupt preparations and campaigning, he said.

"Besides, should the vote be completed before the year's end, the people will have a new government as a New Year present," he said.

He conceded, however, that the date could be adjusted if deemed necessary any time before the issuing of a royal decree on the matter.

National Legislative Assembly Speaker Meechai Ruchuphan also reacted strongly yesterday to the EU request to demand that Thailand sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to allow election monitoring here under its terms and conditions.

"The EU is interfering in Thailand's internal affairs. Are they the United Nations? Are they going to sign an MoU to allow us to monitor their elections?" he said.

Meechai said that EU officials could observe the Thai elections just like ordinary people do.

The EU's ambassador to Thailand, Friedrich Hamburger, will meet with the Election Commission on September 7 to discuss the terms and conditions for setting up a monitoring mission with or without an MoU, sources said.

The EU has sent missions to monitor elections in Cambodia and Indonesia but this would be the first time it would do so in Thailand.

Foreign Affairs Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram yesterday ruled out speculation that Thai-EU relations might deteriorate over the issue.

"I don't think Thailand's decision not to sign a memorandum of understanding on balloting monitors will impact on bilateral relations," he said.

He said it was "unreasonable" for foreigners to teach and check on how Thai voters marked their ballots.

In spite of the botched April 2 vote last year, the country could rectify mistakes by itself, he said.

Election Commission chairman Apichart Sukhagganond said European observers "were welcome to observe" the balloting under Thai law, although Thailand would not sign an MoU allowing a supervisory role.

Meanwhile, Prasong Soonsiri, a member of the National Legislative Assembly, said yesterday that the EU "could not force" Thailand to sign an MoU in regard to observing the election.

The EU plans to send some 120 election monitors, but Prasong said: "We have our own election laws and they can't interfere with it."

The Election Commission decided on Tuesday it would not sign the MoU, as requested by the EU.

However, Prasong urged the Election Commission to still allow observers from Europe to monitor the poll.

"We can say no, but it's not good," commented Prasong, who also chairs the special committee reviewing three draft organic bills required before the general elections.

Chatchawan Rakchart, a Thai election observer, said he believed the EU was particularly interested because the election would take place while the junta and its appointed administration was still in power.

"I'm not sure if the EC is impartial. If they are, they shouldn't have participated in drafting the constitution. The military is also interfering with politics and the election, as they can control things through martial law," he said.

Source: The Nation

Thought: Looks like Thailand has something to hide again.

[The understudy]

Hello there Buksida

You are rightOn my with your thought Thailand has something to hide againI If this election suppose to be true, fair and genuine why keeping the European Union @ Bay? They are just there I will be there to monitor the elections and not provinding any help to the offcials @ the scene. I will be there to cast my vote and monitor it for the western press for sure The elections will happen @ a very interesting time of year. Lets hope nothing unexpepackted happens duirng the castings of the ballotz or the time after.

The understudy

[tigger]

Hi Bucksi and the Understudy. I read this article in BP and I actually agree with the Thai's. This coming election has absolutely nothing to do with the EU. Furthermore, had they kept their noses out of English politics, England would ( in my opinion ) be a far better place. The EU has become a dictorial body, a supposed figurehead for Europe. Sorry, but far too many different cultures for one body to manage. What is good for one country does not mean that it is good for a neighbouring Country. Logic.....Get your own house in order before medling in someone else's. SOMETHING TO HIDE????? Look closer to home.!!!!!!!

PS.. I don't care how straight my Banana is.

[buksida]

Fair comments there tigger and agree with you however my "thought" was more targeted at the bureaucrats who are bound to screw up this election as they have the last few and make the country look like a laughing stock once again.

If Thailand has nothing to hide and this will be true democracy why not let EU observers "observe", they won't be interfering. Or are they afraid that their little bribery tactics in Issan and inter party backhanders will be revealed for Europe to smirk at?

SOMETHING TO HIDE????? Look closer to home.!!!!!!!

Not sure where "home" is these days

[tigger]

Bucksi
The EU will be granted just that... to observe. The article stated that initially the EU wanted to take a bigger interest. The Thai government has quite rightly rejected their involvement but not ruled out the observation element. I also agree that things will probably screw -up during this coming election. It takes a very, very long time to establish a true democracy and many a government has had to learn harsh lessons along the way. Let Thailand mature naturally, their own way. Is it not possible that EU intervention at this early stage of Thailands evolvement into a modern world could actually have a negative effect ? They cannot hide everything forever. Respect your view Bucksi and a very interesting angle.

[tigger]

P S Bucksi, I just got another Chilli mate.

PPS. When I said look closer to home I meant Europe as a whole ( or is it hole ) depending on where you are from. But I think you an me got alot in common, I'm not sure where home is either. Buy you a beer sometime and swap notes...

[Condoking]

The head of the EU "Fair Election Monitoring Department", or as the French insist on calling it "Le Departemente de election reasonable" is rumoured to be Italian so should bring with him a wealth of experience.

[dtaai-maai]

Bucksi
The EU will be granted just that... to observe.

Buksida, I've searched high and low for the fair comments you referred to in tigger's original posting, and I can't find 'em.

Tigger, however little things have changed, this is a 'military government' (I'm trying to be diplomatic and avoid the need for editing!). Christ knows the EU's far from perfect, but I don't remember too many times recently when the elected government of an EU country was summarily dismissed by the army. Whatever we thought of Mr T, he did get a few votes at some point. How legitimate they were may be open to question, but if there had been closer objective, neutral observation, surely that could only have been a Good Thing (to quote 1066 And All That). As I read it, the EU has been granted the same right to observe as anyone else - meaning you or me. How much do you think you'll see, should you choose to look?

As for the EU's effect on "English" politics, surely the UK wasn't forced to join at the point of a gun? If the EU has too many different cultures to manage, what hope for the UN in the long run? I'm a cynic myself, but I'm also an optimist with a positive outlook, and if you say "none at all" without justifying it, then I'm sorry I bothered!

[tigger]

dtaai-maai.

Obviously our opinions differ. Perhaps you could pop along and make sure everything goes splendidly. I stand by my belief that what is right for one country doesn't mean it's right for the next. Culture and peoples belief differ around the world. Respect it.

[dtaai-maai]

Ahhhhh, that clears that up then.