Election Commission names Phuket monitors

PHUKET: Kittipong Thiengkunagrit, director of the Phuket Election Commission (PEC), has confirmed which five Phuket residents will form the election committee charged with ensuring that polling in Phuket in the next general election will be free and fair.

K. Kittipong said that 15 people applied to be election monitors in Phuket.

The five chosen are: Phuket Vice-Governor Tri Augkaradacha; Phuket Labor and Social Welfare Office Chief Pradup Apai; Muang District Chief Veerawat Chanpen; lawyer Suepsak Tangvinit and retired government officer Uthai Sriwilai.

K. Kittipong said the five committee members will meet next Wednesday, July 11, to decide who will be the committee chairperson.

Dr Prapa Kayee completed serving her six-year term as PEC chair on January 31. By law she must step down and is not allowed to serve on the committee again.

K. Kittipong, as director of the PEC, is a government employee charged with ensuring that the election committee performs its duties corruption-free. As director, his position is separate from the self-governing committee.

A referendum on the new constitution will be held August 19 to pave the way for a general election, which Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont is aiming to hold on December 16 or December 23.