Supporters rally in Buri Ram against EC

PPP red cards spark big protest

Supporters rally in Buri Ram against EC

POST REPORTERS

Buri Ram _ The People Power party (PPP) has taken the Election Commission (EC) to task as nine candidates, three of whom were red-carded, lodged a complaint against the provincial election committee in Buri Ram and its poll fraud investigator for alleged abuse of authority over the disqualification of three winning PPP candidates.

The move has increased concerns of a new round of post-election political turmoil as 10,000 PPP supporters in Buri Ram rallied outside the office of the provincial election committee yesterday to protest against the disqualification of the three candidates. They demanded the removal of provincial EC staff before dispersing later in the afternoon.

The main targets of the protest were Kasem Wattanatham, chief of the provincial election panel, and Pol Col Sangworn Phupaijitkul, the province's poll fraud investigator who is also the deputy chief of Buri Ram police.

Both were accused of framing PPP candidates of election fraud so that they were barred from seeking re-election.

Rangsikorn Thimatrueka, a PPP candidate in constituency 2 who has been endorsed, said he doubted the transparency and neutrality of Mr Kasem and Pol Col Sangworn.

''They were against PPP candidates and even tried to plant false evidence to have the PPP candidates disqualified,'' he claimed.

The PPP saw all three winning candidates in constituency 1 _ Pornchai Srisuriyanyothin, Rungroj Thongsri and Prakij Poladej _ red-carded for alleged vote buying in the run-up to the election.

The EC yesterday issued a yellow card to PPP candidate Thanathorn Lohsunthorn who contested the election in Lampang's constituency 1 and ordered re-elections. It is the fourth yellow card to be handed out to a PPP candidate.

In Bangkok, PPP leader Samak Sundaravej yesterday lashed out at the Democrat party for speculating that some 50-60 PPP candidates would be given yellow or red cards. More than 60 of the PPP's winning candidates have yet to be endorsed.

Speaking on Parliament Radio, Mr Samak said the Democrats' speculation suggested ''something unusual''.

He maintained that an alleged campaign to prevent the PPP from rising to power was real.

''We have so many obstacles to overcome. I rushed to form a government because a dirty hand has tried to intervene,'' he said.

He also lambasted the Democrats for failing to observe political etiquette, saying the party should have congratulated him rather than expressing a wish to form a government after the election.

PPP secretary-general Surapong Suebwonglee said he is confident the formation of a coalition government would not be affected, even though 65 winning PPP candidates were yet to be endorsed.

''We are just suspending political activities. The four parties will proceed with the formation of the government. The Chart Thai and Puea Pandin parties will announce their decision in due time,'' he said.

However, one of the PPP's key allies, the Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana party, appeared to have second thoughts about joining the PPP-led coalition yesterday.

Party leader Gen Chettha Thanajaro said the party was ready to review its decision to join a PPP-led coalition government if the EC rules against PPP candidates en masse.

''If other parties defect to the Democrats, we are ready to review our stand. We are waiting for the EC's rulings,'' Gen Chettha said.

Chart Thai's Somsak Prisanananthakul yesterday refused to discuss the formation of a government with the PPP, citing the number of candidates that had yet to be endorsed by the EC.

He said the party and its ally, Puea Pandin, would not hold any political talks for the time being.

Prime Minister Gen Surayud Chulanont said yesterday the rally in Buri Ram did not warrant the enforcement of martial law.

Wirat Chinwinitkul, an assistant judge at the Supreme Court, said the process of selecting judges to rule on a petition against the PPP is under way.

The names of the judges chosen to hear the cases against the PPP would only be made known two days before the hearing on the petition takes place on Jan 15, Mr Wirat said.