Police have fined a 70-year-old former tennis instructor, who threw a bag of fermented fish sauce at the headquarters of the Election Commission of Thailand (EC) in the Chaeng Wattana Government Complex yesterday.
Deva Sritawan said he acted in anger over what he described as the EC’s inefficiency in managing the general election.
He was fined 500 baht under the Public Cleanliness and Order Act. Some media outlets reported that an anonymous person paid the fine on his behalf.
He threw bags of fermented fish sauce at the wall in front of the EC building while reporters were interviewing petitioner Sonthiya Sawasdee, causing a strong odour to spread throughout the area.
Deva told reporters, after being fined, that he feels normal and not stressed. He confirmed this is not the first time he has expressed himself in this manner.
He questioned the transparency of the EC and asked why there had been no improvements and why the organisation continues to be allowed to remain “rotten and foul-smelling,” like fermented fish sauce, or ‘pla ra’ in Thai.
He revealed that he bought fermented fish sauce at a market in Muang Thong Thani and then walked more than seven kilometers to the EC office to carry out the act but denied that any political party or individual was behind him and said he has never participated in any political activities.
He said that if the EC cannot perform its duties to an acceptable standard, it should consider resigning.
“Everything was my own decision and I chose fermented fish sauce because I wanted the EC to be ‘rotten and smelly’ like the sauce.
The smellier the fermented fish sauce, the tastier it is, but the EC just stinks,” Deva said.
Deva added that he did not vote in the election on February 8th, because he feels disengaged from politics and does not side with any political party.
He vowed that, if any state agency acts dishonestly, he is ready to travel and protest in the same way again. “Any agency that does things wrong will definitely face me,” he said.
This is the third time Deva has used fermented fish sauce in a symbolic protest.
The first occurred in 2023 at the document reception room of the Election Commission office. On the same day, he also left a bag of fermented fish sauce with security guards at Constitutional Court Building A without throwing it.
The third incident occurred at the Embassy of Cambodia in Bangkok.
Regarding criticism from those who disagree with his actions, Deva said it was up to them.
