• 
• 

Published on September 7, 2007

The European Union yesterday insisted Thailand would have to sign a memorandum of understanding if it is to send observers to the general election scheduled for December 23.

Portugeuse Ambassador to Thailand Antonio Felix Machado de Faria e Maya, whose country currently holds the EU presidency, said a signed agreement on the matter was necessary.

"There is a need for a set of rules to establish the rights and obligations of each party, the observers and the local authorities as well," Faria e Maya told Deutsche Presse-Agentur.

He was speaking after meeting with Election Commission (EC) secretary-general Suthiphon Thaveechaigarn to clarify what the EU believes are misunderstandings over its offer to send observers to the election.

The European offer met with strong opposition from the Thai government because it required the signing of a MoU with the EU, which was viewed by some officials as interference in the country's internal affairs.

The EU's insistence on a MoU drew criticism from various national leaders, including an accusation by junta chief Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin that ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra might be behind the move.

The Portuguese ambassador said the ball was now in Thailand's court. "It's now up to the Thai authorities to decide whether or not to invite an observation mission from the European Union."

He said the Thai side was now studying the "technical and constitutional" implications of signing an agreement with the EU.

In a statement issued after the meeting, Faria e Maya said the EU officials would observe the election only at the invitation of Thailand and would not be allowed to give any instructions to the Thai authorities.

"EU electoral observers are mandated to observe, but not to monitor or supervise elections, or to give any instructions," the ambassador said.

A possible European Observer Mission (EOM) coming to Thailand in no way indicated the EU wanted to interfere in the internal affairs of the country, as was suggested by some media, he said.

EU Ambassador to Thailand Friedrich Hamburger said the EU normally needed about two months to organise an EOM. In recent years the EU had sent such missions to several Asian countries, including Bangladesh, Cambodia, East Timor and Indonesia.

"The European Commission does not act on behalf of deposed prime ministers from whatever country," Hamburger said. "This offer was made logically, to a friendly country that wants to go back to a democratically elected government."

EC secretary-general Suthiphon said the EU representatives had insisted a signed agreement was necessary.

"They brought the document, but did not show it to us. They told us they would give the EC time to decide whether we will allow the EOM or not," he said.

The EU representatives at the meeting said Thailand would benefit from having EU poll observers and would also get an evaluation report later, Suthiphon said, and the report would not affect the poll results.

The results of yesterday's meeting will be taken to the EC session on Tuesday, he said.

National Legislative Assembly (NLA) speaker Meechai Ruchuphan said the EU could monitor the Thai election but felt signing an MoU was unnecessary.

Meechai said Thai officials would not be against EU monitoring of the polls, but should oppose the signing of documents or spending state funds on the mission.

"We should also not be responsible for the cost of the monitoring by the EU. They are much richer than we are. The money should be given to the [local poll monitor] People's Network for Elections [Pnet]. They are lucky we don't charge them for allowing the monitoring."

The Nation