People can apply to the NCCC selection committee before next Tuesday for the five remaining spots, said Surapol Nitikraipoj, rector of Thammasat University and the selection committee spokesman.

Of the 13 candidates selected yesterday, four were among nine former NCCC nominees who had been endorsed by the Senate but failed to win royal approval in January. That batch of nominees was sent back by the Office of His Majesty's Principal Private Secretary on the grounds that the Senate had chosen them from a shortlist of only 17 candidates, after one candidate withdrew and was not replaced.

The four returning nominees are Sawai Janthasri, a Criminal Court senior judge, Wanchai Srinualnad, assistant police commissioner-general, Siwa Saengmanee, former director-general of the Provincial Administration Department, and General Kasemchart Naresseni, a former military inspector-general.

Surapol said those who were not selected yesterday would be considered again in the next round of voting.

The spokesman said the panel took about four hours to cast the ten rounds of votes. The selection panel had earlier agreed to a limit of 10 rounds because new votes tended to yield the same results, he said. Each candidate needs to receive at least nine votes from the 12 selection committee members to reach the shortlist of 18.

Surapol said new candidates would be asked to meet the selection committee on April 7 to introduce themselves. The selection committee would make a decision on the five remaining candidates on the same day.

Prapasri Osathanon

The Nation