Court bid to scrap poll

Court bid to scrap poll
The Central Administrative Court yesterday accepted the suit filed by the New Aspiration and Pracharat Parties to scrap the December 23 elections on grounds that the advance election organised by the Election Commission was illegal.

Published on December 19, 2007


NAP secretary-general Sarawut Thongpen, NAP party-list candidate Surasi Patham and Pracharat Party party-list MP candidate Thanomsak Nualset alleged the EC had no jurisdiction to organise the December 15-16 advance election.

The suit said none of the concerned laws - Election Commission Act, the MP and Senator Election Act - allowed the EC to organise advance election which allows voters to exercise their ballot outside their constituencies. The Article 99 of the Constitution also does not stipulate advance elections outside constituencies.

They accused the EC of managing the election at whim and violating the law, thus making the advance polls invalid. To prevent further damage to the state, the group has asked the court to declare the EC's order to hold election on December 23 null and void. The group has also asked the court for an injunction, ordering the EC to suspend all election affairs until a verdict has been reached.

Meanwhile, PM's Office Minister Thirapat Serirangsan said yesterday that rumour mongers were to blame for fears that the election would be delayed.

The Nation