EC plans probe of Thaksin speech

VIDEO DISCS

EC plans probe of Thaksin speech

Chairman says ex-premier's remarks designed to sway votes

Published on December 9, 2007

The Election Commission (EC) will on Tuesday launch an investigation into a campaign speech by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra that was distributed in the Northeast on video CDs, chairman Apichart Sukhagganond said yesterday.

"I have listened to Thaksin's speech and found it inappropriate as his remarks were designed to sway votes," Apichart said, referring to Thaksin's five-year ban from the electoral process.

The EC will determine whether any political party was involved in the distribution of the VCDs, which is tantamount to acting in defiance of the Constitution Tribunal's May verdict, he said.

People Power Party deputy secretary-general Noppadon Pattama dismissed the allegation that the party was linked to the VCDs.

"My party is not behind the distribution of the VCDs. I don't know anything about this, and it is possible that Thaksin's remarks were taped before the enactment of the Royal decree on the general election," he said, hinting that the speech was a collation of remarks made following the disbanding of the Thai Rak Thai Party and before the activation of the electoral process.

He said Thaksin had no position in or any involvement with the PPP, hence no one should presume a party-Thaksin linkage.

Noppadon also urged the EC to carefully examine the remarks, which were made before the start of campaigning. The EC should not rush to fault Thaksin or the PPP, he said.

In regard to Thaksin's interview in Hong Kong calling for the formation of a national-unity government, he said the PPP agreed with the idea although it was unaware that Thaksin would air his views.

"I think Thaksin's stand is in line with the Royal advice of His Majesty the King, but its implementation will depend on the reactions of other political parties," he said.

The PPP will strive to achieve national reconciliation and refrain from vengeful politics, he said.

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said Thaksin's idea was similar to that of former prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh.

"At this juncture, the focus is on campaigning, and a hasty debate on the coming government will confuse the public," he said.

The general election would be meaningless if every party joined the government, he added.

One way to forge reconciliation is to sway votes by offering policy options instead of mud-slinging and bickering, he said.

Puea Pandin Party leader Suwit Khunkitti said the divisiveness between pro- and anti-Thaksin groups would not end with the general election and the subsequent formation of a government but by due process.

The key to ending the turmoil is to launch judicial proceedings in cases involving Thaksin as soon as possible in order to let the courts pass judgement on his controversial legacy, he said.

In a separate development, National Human Rights Commission chairman Saneh Chamarik said his commission had dismissed a complaint against the EC filed by the 111 banned politicians on the grounds that it lacked jurisdiction.

The 111 former executives of the disbanded Thai Rak Thai Party claimed that the EC had violated their basic rights by banning them from involvement in campaign activities.

Saneh said the EC had announced the ban as a reply to an inquiry made by the PPP and not as a regulation to be enforced, which might fall under his commission's purview. If the 111 politicians and parties concerned disagree with the EC, they are entitled to petition the Constitution Tribunal for a judicial review, he added.

The Nation