EC impartial, Vasana insists
A boy joins the People’s Alliance for Democracy rally at the Election Commission’s head office yesterday.
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Despite being branded as "partial" by anti-Thaksin Shinawatra protesters, the chairman of the Election Commission (EC) Vasana Puemlarp, has denied the accusations and said that anyone determined to be carrying out their duties without impartiality would be investigated and dealt with accordingly.
Vasana appeared outside his office yesterday morning as 5,000 demonstrators of the People's Alliance for Democracy marched to the commission chanting protest slogans aimed at the organisation and calling Vasana a "coward" for failing to show up earlier to receive their petition letter.
He reportedly asked his staff to tape individual speakers at the protest in order to gather any potentially libellous material.
One protest leader, Somkiate Pongpaiboon, alleged EC members had supported corrupt politicians and "shamelessly" increased their own salaries. He also accused the EC of failing to bring Thaksin to task over vote-buying allegations and alleged the EC had colluded with the Thai Rak Thai Party to print counterfeit ballot papers.
Chamlong Srimuang, along with other protest leaders, said Thaksin had used tax payers' money to manoeuvre himself back into politics through a fraudulent election.
"That's why there must be no election on April 2," he said, adding people must unite to oust "the tyrant".
Vasana said only the third demand in the petition letter - which called for a postponement of the election - was of interest. Other demands included a request for the commissioners to resign due to their lack of neutrality in the task of overseeing the election.
Responding to the petition's accusation that Thaksin had abused his position to influence the elections, Vasana said the commission would investigate the matter.
When asked by reporters whether a postponement of the election was likely, Vasana said it could not be ruled out, but the matter had yet to be considered. He said it was not up to the commission to set the election date and any changes would have to be approved by cabinet before being endorsed by HM the King.
Some 200 people calling themselves the "Network of People for Thailand" led by former Democrat MP Suraphong Towijakchaikul also visited Vasana yesterday morning to offer him their support.
Suraphong said he would campaign for people to use their vote in the election and added he would urge the anti-Thaksin People's Alliance for Democracy to end its protest.
Suraphong wasn't an MP in the last House term. He reportedly visited Thaksin to seek his support for an event at Montfort College, where the premier went to school, not long before the House dissolution.
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