Officials’ Papers Found in Trash as Chonburi Recount Standoff Escalates
Tensions escalated further at the Chonburi Constituency 1 protest site after demonstrators said official election documents were found discarded in trash cans at the badminton stadium where ballot boxes had been stored, deepening public suspicions over ballot handling.
The discovery came as the provincial Election Commission (EC) director left the scene under police escort, while Deputy EC Secretary-General Chanin Noilek remained after protesters blocked him from leaving. Chanin later said he would stay until an official with the authority to make a decision on a recount arrives.
The standoff began after residents raised concerns over ballot boxes being kept at the badminton stadium rather than a secured official facility. Protesters cited multiple alleged irregularities, including ballot boxes that were not sealed with standard numbered cable ties, removed security seals, boxes appearing to have been opened without official signatures, and reports that green and pink ballot papers were mixed together.
Protesters also said a bag filled with plastic twine was found at the site, which they argued could indicate that ballot boxes had been opened before the official count and re-tied afterward. They further claimed large quantities of unused cable ties were discovered, contradicting officials’ earlier explanations that supplies had run out.
Anger intensified after election officials repeatedly declined to acknowledge any apparent irregularities, with Chanin insisting he lacked the authority to initiate a recount and urging protesters only to preserve evidence. The provincial EC director said recounts could be ordered solely by the central EC, a stance protesters said contradicted earlier statements suggesting local authority existed.
Demonstrators questioned why recounts were initiated in other constituencies where problems were identified on site, while no recount was ordered in Chonburi. They have since demanded intervention by higher authorities, including the Chonburi governor, to initiate a recount.
As the standoff continued, protesters began displaying ballot result documents from one of the poll stations in Constituency 10, saying the materials were part of the evidence supporting their call for a recount. Police remained at the scene as negotiations continued and the protest showed no signs of dispersing.
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ช่วยกันลงชื่อเรียกร้องให้มีการปล่อยตัวอาจารย์ Paul Chambers กันค่ะ
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Mandalay Airport and the oldest bridge of Sagaing have fallen down.
🙏🏻
Hope not many injuries and everyone is safe.
Pray for Myanmar 😞🙏🏻
#earthquake#Myanmar#myanmarearthquake