A former tennis coach, known for previous incidents, threw fermented fish at the Election Commission (EC) office, crying out of frustration and dissatisfaction with the 2026 election management. He declared he did not want a vote recount because it would waste the budget. Police have since taken him to Thung Song Hong Police Station.
On 12 February 2026, reporters reported from the Office of the Election Commission (EC) that a man dressed in sportswear and holding a tennis racket stormed in and threw a bag of fermented fish at the wall in front of the EC office. It was later identified that the man was Mr. Thewa from Pak Kret, a former tennis coach dressed in tennis attire and carrying a tennis racket. He had come to observe a press conference by Mr. Sonthiya Sawasdee, who was filing a complaint to demand a vote recount at the Chaeng Watthana Government Complex, Building B, in front of the EC office. After listening to the press conference, Mr. Thewa threw the prepared bag of fermented fish at the wall in front of the EC office.
Mr. Thewa said he did this because on 11 February, after following social media news, he felt he could no longer tolerate the situation. The last election had ballot problems, and now there were issues again. The EC should be an organization that the public can rely on, but instead it caused a foul smell. Since it was already foul, he spent 100 baht to buy fermented fish from the market to throw at the EC. He actually wanted to throw it inside the EC office but feared staining others, so he threw it at this spot.
When asked about the EC ordering a vote recount, Mr. Thewa said that if it made the process transparent, there would be no need to recount. But since different provinces appeared irregularly, the public could see clearly. People’s eyes are like pineapples—they're mature enough not to be fooled anymore. A recount would only waste more budget. When asked if he had a message for Mr. Sa-nguan Bunmee, Secretary-General of the EC, Mr. Thewa replied, “If you can resign, then just resign. If you can’t be relied on, then don’t stay in the position.” Reporters further asked if he understood the consequences of his actions. Mr. Thewa said, “It’s okay. I’m ready. Last time I was fined. No one is behind me to make me do this. I came by myself. I live in Pak Kret and just walked here to the EC. I’m almost 70 years old.”
The reporter added that after the incident, police took him to Thung Song Hong Police Station, and building staff cleaned the area. Mr. Thewa previously threw a bag of fermented fish at the EC on 20 July 2023, targeting the complaints reception room. This caused the EC office to close the reception door and restrict entry to the main door only for screening. However, Mr. Thewa still managed to enter the building.
