Some chiefs, known as kamnans, and the village heads are alleged to have strong political affiliations to certain politicians.

However, they argue that a new direct-election system would only prompt them to become more political.

The NRSA political reform committee proposed the direct election of kamnans, who currently hold their positions until they retire. Under the proposal, their terms would be reduced to five years.

The committee proposed that current village heads continue to serve until retirement but new village heads would be elected and serve five-year terms. The changes would be effected by amending related laws.

In Chiang Mai in the North, around 200 kamnans and village heads in the province handed in their petition to the governor.

Kamolsit Rojthanawipach, chairman of the Chiang Mai Kamnans and Village Heads Association, said the group petitioned the governor to oppose the NRSA proposal as it viewed that the shortened terms would not fit their responsibilities, which are like district chiefs’ assistants.

Kamnans and village heads need to deal with criminal offences in their responsible areas and this could be compromised if they are elected, he said. The shortened terms would also reduce their strengths as their work needed the benefit of experience acquired over a number of years.

In Petchaburi in the Upper South, chairman of Petchaburi Kamnans and Village Heads Club, Saksri Larpprasert, led around 400 kamnans and village heads to meet the governor.

The group said the reduced terms would prompt discontinuity of kamnans’ and village heads’ work in their responsible areas, especially suppression of crime, including drugs.

Petitions were also submitted in Tak in the West, Krabi in the South, Khon Kaen and Nakhon Ratchasima in the Northeast, and Kanchanaburi in the West.