Fraud claims just slander, PPP rally told

General news - Thursday December 13, 2007

RACE TO PARLIAMENT

Fraud claims just slander, PPP rally told

EC should apply same standards to all parties

AMPA SANTIMATANEDOL & SUPOJ WANCHAROEN

Allegations of election fraud being investigated by the poll agency were no more than an attempt to slander the People Power party (PPP), secretary-general Surapong Suebwonglee told a campaign rally last night.

He urged the estimated 5,000 people who rallied at the King Taksin monument, or Wong Wian Yai, to give the party a majority in the new 480-seat lower house, to ensure a continuation of the policies of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

PPP loyalists loudly applauded the presence of Mr Thaksin's son, Panthongthae, at the rally. He stood beside Mr Thaksin's mother-in-law, Pojanee na Pomphet.

Former Thai Rak Thai executive and ex-deputy transport minister Phumtham Vejjayachai was also present.

Earlier yesterday the Election Commission (EC) decided to investigate whether the party was behind the distribution of VCDs of a speech by the former prime minister.

On Tuesday it agreed to inquire into whether the PPP approved the forging of Puea Pandin deputy leader Sitthichai Kwosurat's signature on a membership application. The party is also being probed for alleged vote buying in constituency 3 of Nakhon Ratchasima.

Mr Surapong called for fairness from the EC. If the PPP was dissolved, then other parties supported by former executives of Mr Thaksin's defunct Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party should also be disbanded, he said.

The EC should apply the same standard across the board.

He pointed to the Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana party, saying former TRT deputy leader Somkid Jatusripitak had drafted its policy statement, and another banned TRT executive, Suwat Liptapanlop, had helped introduce the party's candidates.

The Puea Pandin party should also be targeted as Surakiart Sathirathai, former deputy prime minister and foreign minister in the Thaksin administration, had been chairman of the party's advisory council.

Mr Surakiart promoted the formation of a three-party coalition government led by Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva. Hence, the Democrats should be dissolved as well, he added.

All parties with banned politicians involved in campaigning for elections could face a dissolution under election laws.

The PPP secretary-general urged Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont to closely supervise election-related agencies to ensure free and fair polls.

Outspoken party member Chalerm Yubamrung, standing on the party list, attacked Mr Abhisit and ridiculed his party's struggle to win votes in the northeastern region.

Having been only a PM's Office minister in the Chuan Leekpai government, Mr Abhisit was not capable of running the country as leader of the government.

Northeasterners would not vote for the Democrat party, which would win no more than five of the 135 seats in the region, he said.

Copies of a letter dated Dec 7 that Mr Thaksin wrote to the ''Missing Thaksin Club'' were distributed at the rally.

Anti-coup groups that took part in the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship's rallies also sold documents and books critical of the Council for National Security and Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda.

Bangkok Post