No right to monitor an election

Re: "A watchdog to bite voters", Letters, January 22.

I agree with Bangkok Dave that having red shirts "monitoring" the Bangkok gubernatorial voting would be intimidating to voters rather than ensure fairness.

The red shirts' track record has been rambunctious and bellicose. Hence, UDD chairwoman Thida's plan to set up 10,000 red shirts to monitor the Bangkok election would bode badly for Thailand's democracy.

People who did not vote for Pheu Thai in the 2011 general election accepted and welcomed the Yingluck government, as elected by the majority. Why can't the UDD learn to accept the outcome of the Bangkok gubernatorial election in the same manner if they should face defeat? After all, this is democracy.

The job of monitoring elections belongs to the Election Commission, according to the Constitution.

Vint Chavala

Lamphun