Ch่อ-Ramadan Lead Pattani Students in 5km Run Urging Senate Fraud Case

On September 13, political activism in southern Thailand gained strong momentum as Pannika Wanich, executive board member of the Progressive Movement, alongside list-MP Ramadan Pungdot of the People's Party, traveled to Pattani province. They participated in a 5-kilometer run alongside students from Prince of Songkla University (PSU) Pattani Campus and local residents. The primary objective of the event was to campaign and pressure the Election Commission (EC) to officially file charges in the controversial Senate election fraud case involving 229 individuals, with participants wearing and displaying stickers bearing clear prosecution demands.

The running route kicked off from the courtyard behind the Prince of Songkla University Pattani Campus, proceeding through Charoen Pradit Road, passing the Clock Tower roundabout, and making its first checkpoint stop at the new Pattani Election Commission Office. The procession of students and citizens then continued along Makrut Road and Pipit Road, stopping at their second checkpoint at the Pattani Central Mosque before concluding the run at the Nai U Boy coffee shop. At the destination, a public discussion forum was held to deliberate on the critical significance of the Senate fraud case ahead of the EC's scheduled voting session on September 14.

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During the discussion forum, student representatives and local citizens raised pointed observations regarding political representation in Pattani. They noted that while the province is allocated two senators, neither has ever functioned as a genuine voice for the local populace. One senator previously served as a civil servant in Satun province, while the other held an executive position at Prince of Songkla University, yet neither has ever spoken up or advocated for the rights and grievances of Pattani residents, highlighting a severe disconnect between appointed officials and the local community.

Pannika Wanich addressed the forum by broadening the scope to Thailand's broader systemic challenges, noting that many citizens mistakenly believe the Senate fraud case is a distant issue detached from their daily lives. She stressed that if the country allows individuals with overwhelming evidence of wrongdoing to evade justice and walk free without entering the judicial process, it signifies a total breakdown of the rule of law, forcing ordinary and impoverished citizens to abide by strict legal bounds while the wealthy and powerful act with absolute impunity.

"If we allow blatant cheating to happen without expressing our opposition, this brazen corruption will inevitably spread into every sector. We can already witness this in various fields, such as local government exam corruption, or past oil-smuggling tycoons who never faced justice. On September 14, citizens must monitor this closely. Do not let shameless cheating dominate the country, and do not let a brazen regime hijack Thailand."

Pannika Wanich

The Progressive Movement executive concluded by emphasizing that such blatant malpractice has already infiltrated multiple institutional arenas, citing localized civil service examination corruption and historical embezzlement scandals where primary masterminds continue to evade legal accountability. She urgently called upon all citizens to closely monitor the Election Commission's decision on September 14 to prevent shameless corruption from capturing and destroying Thailand's collective future.

Source: Matichon Politics