Eligible voters' lists have been vandalised at 10 polling units in eight provinces ahead of the Aug 7 charter referendum, but that is not unusual, Election Commission chairman Supachai Somcharoen said in Rayong on Friday.

There were more than 100,000 polling units nationwide, and only 10 had been affected. This was not unusual, and had occurred prior to previous general elections and referendums. Sometimes political canvassers wanted the lists to plan election fraud, he said.

Mr Supachai warned, however, that offenders were liable to harsh punishment under the referendum law which provides for a maximum 10-year prison term and/or 200,000 baht fine. They could also be prosecuted for obstruction of officials doing their duty and destruction of government property, he said.

He did not think the incidence of vandalism would expand and affect the Aug 7 referendum. Security authorities had taken precautions, he said.

In the past week, eligible voters' lists were torn by young children in Kamphaeng Phet province; torn and burnt in Khon Kaen and Satun; and "lost" in districts of Bangkok, Chaiyaphum, Kalasin, Kanchanaburi and Suphan Buri provinces.

Source:
courtesy of BANGKOK POST

by Mongkol Bangprapa

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