Protests demand ECT prosecute 229 senate selection fraud suspects

Protests took place in several provinces over the weekend to demand that the Election Commission of Thailand (ECT) prosecute 229 individuals accused of fraud during the 2024 Senate selection ahead of the ECT’s ruling on the case.

On Friday (11 September), in Khon Kaen, a group of activists gathered at the Ratchadanuson Park in Khon Kaen city where they play a game of bingo and gave speeches before marching to the ECT office in Khon Kaen.

Activist Nattaporn Artharn gave a speech saying that the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has gathered evidence on the 229 suspects and all the ECT has to do is to refer the case to court. The group is calling on the ECT not to stall the case.

Activists submitting their petition at the ECT’s Phitsanulok office.

On Saturday (12 September), the Northern People Democracy Network (NPD) staged a protest in which they walked 229 steps to the provincial ECT office in Phitsanulok to file a petition demanding the prosecution of the 229 suspects.

Oat, one of the members, said that the group also filed a petition with the ECT office in Phetchabun on Friday (11 September). The group wants every suspect to go to trial and prove their innocence in court. They found the ECT questionable and are concerned that the ECT might not refer every suspect to court.

Sunday’s protesters marching through Ha Yaek Lat Phrao intersection. 

On Sunday (13 September), iLaw staged a protest march from its office in Bangkok‘s Lat Phrao district to the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC) to demand the ECT prosecute all 229 suspects.

Speaking to the media ahead of the march, iLaw director Yingcheep Atchanont questioned the independence of the ECT, noting that 4 out of 7 election commissioners were appointed by the incumbent Senate. He reiterated that the civil society is demanding that the ECT refer the case to the Supreme Court so the case can be heard by a neutral organization. 

Yingcheep said that iLaw has the case file, and if the ECT refuses to prosecute any of the 229 individuals, information about that individual will be released to the public. He stressed that they would prefer not to do it, but it would be necessary if the ECT leaves anyone out.

Protesters marching past the Victory Monument.

While stopping in front of the Century shopping mall near the Victory Monument, police officers negotiated with the organizers for a route change to avoid having a protest march pass by Sa Pathum Palace. Protesters instead marched to the Phayathai BTS Station, where they dispersed and met up again at the Siam BTS station. They then marched through the Siam shopping district to the BACC, where an event was taking place.

Opposition politicians like People‘s Party leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, deputy leader Sirikanya Tansakun, and a number of MPs including Parit Wacharasindhu and Chayaphon Satondee joined the march. Former election commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn, former senator Ruengkrai Leekitwattana and sitting senator Wuttipong Pongsuwan also joined the march.

Participants in DRG’s activity running past a bus stop on Phayathai Road. (Photo: Kotcharak Kaewsurach)

At around 14.29, the Democracy Restoration Group (DRG) staged an event where they ran from the Chamchuri Square shopping mall to the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC), where a mass protest was taking place to demand that the Election Commission of Thailand (ECT) prosecute the 229 individuals suspected of Senate selection fraud. 

At the BACC, they perform a symbolic act of protest by dropping clothes into a basket before joining the rest of the protesters.

The march from iLaw arrived at the BACC at around 15.00, where they joined the gatherings. The event featured performances, speeches, and activities from other civil society groups. 

At the end of the protest, participants stood holding pictures of the suspects in the shape of the number “229”. The other side of the card they were holding says “Prosecute the senators.”

Of the 229 individuals being accused of collusion and fraud, 138 are sitting senators. 50 are former senator candidates and individuals on the reserve list. 21 are Bhumjaithai Party executives and MPs, including Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and several of his Cabinet ministers. 20 others are family members of candidates and Bhumjaithai MPs, MP assistants, and local politicians connected to the Bhumjaithai Party.

An iLaw representative presenting a board showing connection between senator candidates and politicians implicated in the Senate Selection fraud case. (Photo: Kotcharak Kaewsurach)

During the event, iLaw representatives gave a presentation on the case, including details of financial transactions made between senator candidates in exchange for votes and about meetings held at several hotels ahead of the national-level selection where candidates are given instructions on how to vote, as well as records of phone calls between candidates and Bhumjaithai politicians. They cited the joint investigation committee formed by the ECT and the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), which proposed that all 229 individuals be prosecuted, including Bhumjaithai Party members because they were participating in a plot to win seats in the Senate and were recruiting candidates and giving them notes for voting.

Yingcheep said in his speech during the event that, if the ECT does not prosecute the suspects, these senators will stay in office and there will not be anything anyone could do. They will then be appointing election commissioners, Constitutional Court judges, as well as board members in other independent bodies that should be holding the government accountable.

Yingcheep said that the only way of fixing the system is to amend the junta-backed 2017 Constitution. The problem is that constitutional amendments require approval from at least a third of the Senate. He noted, however, that there is hope in that 21 million people voted in favour of a new Constitution in the 8 February referendum.

If the ECT does not prosecute the senators, the so-called “Blue seantors”, or those aligned with the Bhumjaithai Party, would be in control of the constitutional amendment process. A new constitution that comes out of this process will not be better, he said, and the people will have no choice but to vote against it. If the ECT refers the case to court, the majority of senators would be suspended. He said that this could be a way towards a new constitution where everyone is heard. 

Protesters in front of the BACC holding cards saying “Prosecute the senators” in the shape of the number “229.” (Photo: Kotcharak Kaewsurach)

Meanwhile, in Chiang Mai, people are camping out in front of the ECT‘s provincial office ahead of tomorrow’s meeting where the ECT will rule whether to refer the Senate selection fraud case to court. The gathering began at 16.00 and featured a free mic session, music from North Gate Jazz, and other activities.

Nutchapakorn Nammuang from the Constitution Advocacy Alliance (CALL) said during the event that Monday (14 September) will be another watershed moment in Thai politics, and the people are gathering to tell the powers that be that the elites are doing something that is not right. If the Senate lacks legitimacy, it would affect other positions appointed by the Senate, including the ECT and the Constitutional Court.

Protesters in Chiang Mai camping out in front of the provincial ECT office.

The Senate and the ECT have been put in the spotlight over the past few months as the opposition People‘s Party and the legal watchdog NGO iLaw release evidence of vote buying, vote rigging, and collusion during the 2024 Senate selection. Citing leaked official documents and witness testimony, they alleged that a number of senator candidates and high-ranking Bhumjaithai Party executives are involved in a plot to ensure that candidates aligned with the party are selected.

The ECT will meet on Monday (14 September) to rule whether to prosecute the suspects and refer the case to court. Meanwhile, the civil society has been pressuring the ECT to prosecute all 229 suspects, saying that the ECT is required by law to refer a case of suspected election fraud to the Supreme Court if there is reasonable evidence and that, since appointment of election commissioners are approved by the Senate, the ECT should not make a decision regarding the case and should simply refer it to court so the evidence can be heard during trial.