An Asian election monitor has on Tuesday criticized Thailand’s ballot-counting process, saying the run-up to the weekend’s vote was “heavily tilted” to benefit the ruling party linked to military – Junta party.
According to Reuters news reports, the Bangkok-based Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) has stopped short of declaring an outright fraud in Thailand’s election, where both opposition party and pro-junta party linked to self-exiled ex-premier have claimed victory.
An official of civil society group told a news conference, “The environment at large is heavily tilted to benefit the military junta.”
ANFREL official, Amaël Vier said, “A lot of people still express distrust towards the electoral process.”
When asked if the election went fair and free, another ANFREL official directly denied commenting, however.
ANFREL head Rohana Nishanta Hettiarachchie said, “So many things have to be considered together,” adding, “It is unfair to conclude that the whole process was free and fair or not.”
The country’s election committee was not available for comment. In fact, it has previously declined to comment over the accusations of cheating levelled against it.
The commission has blamed delays and irregularities in early partial results on “human error.”
Thailand has been non-stabilized by numerous street protests initiated by both supporters and opponents of Thaksin.