Poll agency clears CNS for role in issuing classified order

General news - Thursday December 13, 2007

RACE TO PARLIAMENT

Poll agency clears CNS for role in issuing classified order

WASSANA NANUAM, MONGKOL BANGPRAPA & SUBIN KHEUNKAEW

The Council for National Security (CNS) was cleared yesterday of any wrongdoing for its role in issuing a document which contained an order to suppress a political party ahead of the Dec 23 election.

The five election commissioners yesterday voted 4-1 to dismiss the complaint filed by the Power People party (PPP).

Those who voted to dismiss the complaint said the plan had not been implemented and the PPP had sustained no damage from it.

At the same time, the CNS is protected by immunity under the interim charter installed after the Sept 19, 2006 coup, and also under the 2007 constitution.

CNS secretary-general Gen Winai Phattiyakul insisted the CNS had not lobbied for the ruling.

Gen Winai said CNS members are discussing the possibility of counter-suing the PPP over differences between the content of the council's classified paper and the one the party has which describes the PPP suppression plot.

The CNS would strictly observe its "normal" role during the run-up to the general election, he said.

Gen Somjet Bunthanom, chief of the CNS secretariat, said the CNS did not implement the plan in the classified paper.

In response to the EC ruling, the PPP demanded the EC release evidence justifying its decision to dismiss the case.

Party secretary-general Surapong Suebwonglee said that the EC should show the public any evidence supporting the CNS's claim that it did not implement the plan.

As copies of the classified paper have been sent to various government agencies, the presence of the classified paper with those agencies could be considered as an instruction from the CNS, said Mr Surapong.

At the same time, there was no evidence that the CNS had issued an order cancelling the plan. If the EC has a CNS letter ordering the plan be scrapped, it should then show it to the public. Otherwise the public will question the EC's ruling, he said.

On the CNS's plan to counter-sue the PPP, Mr Surapong said the PPP insisted on its right to defend itself against any unjust treatment.

Meanwhile, the EC has set up two committees to look into the distribution of VCDs of a Thaksin Shinawatra speech, and the alleged forgery of a signature on a membership application for Puea Pandin deputy leader Sitthichai Kwosurat by the PPP, said EC chairman Apichart Sukhagganond.

Both committees are expected to report their findings to the EC in one month, said Mr Apichart.

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