Members of the first Election Commission, outgoing senators, and retired and active senior court judges have emerged as possible nominees for the five election watchdog seats after the last three members were jailed earlier this week.

Judges in the Supreme Court, at a general meeting to begin the selection of 10 nominees on August 10, have come up with a number of possible candidates to serve as commissioners, a source said yesterday.

The likely candidates include former Supreme Court chief justice Udom Fuangfoong and senior court judges Wicha Mahakhun and Kasem Virawong, according to the source. Udom said his friends in the judiciary had informed him that he could become a candidate.

Thammasat University vice rector Somkit Lertpaithoon, a former Constitution drafter, said yesterday that the People's Network for Elections in Thailand (P-Net) coordinator Somchai Srisutthi-yakorn and outgoing Bangkok Senator Kaewsan Atibhoti could be good candidates as they were knowledgeable and experienced in the electoral process.

Members of the first highly respected EC, Yuwarat Kamolvej, Sawasdi Chotipanich and Gothom Arya, had also been raised as possible candidates.

Yuwarat said yesterday he could work for the EC again to oversee the October 15 poll and election of a new Parliament - if a good team was selected with him.

"The new EC's main mission is to hold a fair election which will lead to a government forming as soon as possible, as per the note of His Majesty the King," he said.

Yuwarat said teamwork would be crucial for the new body, as its members would have a limited time to hold the election. During the selection period, potential members should take time to talk together to make sure their attitudes fit well with each other.

If he was asked to be a member of the team, he said he would prefer to have other members from the first EC team, including Sawasdi and Gothom.

He also wanted a former president of the Supreme Court, who is a legal expert, to help the team.

Nobody has contacted Yuwarat yet to be a candidate. But he has been working with the Thai Rak Thai government recently, which could be a factor, he said.

The new EC should stay only until the election was finished and the Parliament functioning. After that, a new EC selection process could be started, he said.

"The Senate and the House of Representatives are twins; we need both so that the Parliament can open. Therefore, the new EC should complete the endorsement of senators too," he said.

Although members of the EC are allowed to hold office for only one term, the Constitution has a transitory provision that gives an exception for members of the first Election Commission, and would allow them to be commissioners for another period.

The first EC held office for three and a half years - only half of the seven-year term designated for the electoral body according to the charter - before the second EC took office in 2001.

Gothom Arya, now chairman of the National Economic and Social Advisory Council and a director of Mahidol University's Institute for Peace Studies, has declined to work for the EC again. However, he plans to take part in activities to promote democratic elections.

Supreme Court secretary Wirat Chinwinitkul yesterday said those interested in becoming commissioners should begin informing the judges immediately as applications will close on Wednesday.

The Supreme Court judges will select 10 nominees on August 10, he said.

Wirat said the only selection criteria would be political neutrality and honesty.

However, the court wasn't authorised to consider the length of EC's term. That was the prerogative of the Senate, he said.

The Senate will select five of the 10 nominees to form the new EC.

Senate Speaker Suchon Chaleekrua said he would ask the prime minister and the Cabinet to propose a royal decree for a special parliamentary session after the Senate receives the 10 nominations so that it can appoint a committee to verify qualifications and check on the candidates.

He expected the Senate could work on both the selection of the EC and the National Counter-Corruption Commission (NCCC) at the same time.

Suchon said the Senate would discuss letting all the senators undertake verification, But this was likely to make the process more difficult and slower.

Suchon said the selection deadline had not been set, but the Senate would have to follow relevant laws. After it selects the five commissioners, it will need another 15 days to re-check their qualifications before forwarding the nominations to the King for endorsement.