BANGKOK, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Thai government Spokesman Surapong Suebwonglee said Tuesday the government would not interfere with the mandated process of selecting new election commissioners.

    However, he said, the selection process must be complete prior to the upcoming general election set for Oct. 15.

    Surapong commented after Tuesday's historic Criminal Court ruling sentencing all the three remaining election commission (EC) members to an immediate four-year jail term -- without suspension -- for mishandling the controversial April 2 and April 23 general election polls.

    Surapong said that after learning the court ruling, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra inquired of the secretary general of the Office of the Council of State regarding the next step to be taken.

    The spokesman said the secretary-general pointed out that when incumbent EC members cannot function, the senate must select the new commissioners by reporting to the Supreme Court and asking it to nominate candidates from which the senate will then make its selection.

    "The government won't interfere with the process," Surapong said. Enditem

    Related: Thai election commissioners sent to Bangkok Remand Prison

    BANGKOK, July 25 (Xinhua) -- All the three Election Commission (EC) commissioners were sent to Bangkok Remand Prison Tuesday afternoon after the Criminal Court of Thailand sentenced them to an immediate four-year jail term without suspension for mishandling of the controversial April 2 and April 23 general election polls.

    The Criminal Court refused to grant bail for the three Election Commission members after the morning sentence on ground that "if they were released, they would cause more damages to the new election."  Full story>>

    Thai election commissioners sentenced guilty in historic case

    BANGKOK, July 25 (Xinhua) -- The Criminal Court of Thailand on Tuesday sentenced all the three remaining Election Commission (EC) members to an immediate four-year jail term without suspension for mishandling of the controversial April 2 and April 23 general election polls, which were later nullified by the Constitution Court.

    The judges also stripped the three, namely, EC chairman Wasana Permlarp and two commissioners Prinya Nakchudtree and Veerachai Naewboonnien, of the right to vote for 10 years.

    All the three commissioners though accepting the court's verdict, vowed to fight the case in the Court of Appeal. Full story>>

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