Man throws fermented fish paste at election watchdog for second time
Political activist Sonthiya Sawatdee said he couldn’t give a hoot about facing any legal action after he lobbed the offending bag at Bangkok’s Election Commission office
Sonthiya Sawatdee demands a vote recount in Thailand (Image: Amarin TV)
A bloke in gym gear armed with a tennis racket caused a right stink outside the Election Commission office in Bangkok.
He hurled bags of fermented fish paste at the building in protest on Thursday, claiming he was unhappy with the agency’s performance during Thailand’s general election.
The bizarre outburst unfolded while most reporters were inside covering political activist Sonthiya Sawatdee, who had turned up to submit a petition urging the Election Commission to act according to the law over a separate complaint.
No one actually saw the moment the bags were thrown. Instead, journalists heard a loud bang before being hit by a stomach-churning stench.
Speaking afterwards, he admitted he had previously thrown bags of fermented fish paste at the same office in 2023 and said he was not afraid of facing legal action this time.
He insisted he was ready to accept responsibility for what he had done, arguing that the organisation had failed to resolve issues in the past and continued to create new problems, according to local news outlet Thaiger.
The Election Commission is not an institution that citizens can rely on, he said. The protester also questioned why a vote recount was necessary, arguing that the commission could not even carry out its basic duties properly.
His plan initially was to chuck the bags inside the office, but the thoughtful chap changed his mind out of concern that reporters at the scene might be affected.
Instead, he targeted the exterior wall at the front of the building. Cops and security guards at the government complex in Chaeng Watthana later escorted him away from the area.
Meanwhile, the row over ballot recounts continues. Over 300 students and residents gathered at Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi in Pathum Thani’s Constituency 7 this past weekend, calling for a recount after concerns were raised about the conduct of the election vote-counting process.
Demonstrators blasted election officials for a lack of transparency after student observers were reportedly denied entry to watch the process, despite claiming they had the legal right to be there.
Tempers flared further when footage emerged appearing to show CCTV cameras inside the counting venue covered with dark fabric or plastic bags.
Protesters said the move sparked suspicions of misconduct, particularly as the cameras allegedly remained obscured even after ballot boxes were sealed and counting was already under way.
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