Protesters Spray Paint Election Commission Office in Chiang Mai
Activists in Chiang Mai spray-painted the Election Commission office on September 14, protesting charges filed against only 77 people in a senate election fraud case while politicians and executives escaped prosecution.
On September 14 at 3:45 p.m., activists from the Northern Community for Democratic Society and allied Chiang Mai residents gathered outside the Chiang Mai Election Commission office to protest the agency's announcement of charges in a senate election fraud case. The Election Commission said it was forwarding 77 people to the Supreme Court's election division, comprising 26 senators, 36 voters, and 15 others, while all politicians and cabinet members escaped prosecution. Most protesters expressed anger that charges were filed against only some individuals involved in the senate election fraud case and that no political party executives or politicians were charged despite evidence of their involvement revealed in earlier investigations. In a symbolic protest, activists painted their faces blue, arranged 229 coffee cups in a line along the street, and then threw blue paint at the sign of the Chiang Mai Election Commission office to express frustration over the partial prosecutions.
