A Democrat ally is behind blockage in Songkhla : TRT
The Thai Rak Thai Party alleged on Monday that a radio talk show host seen as close to the Democrat Party was the organiser for the blockade of a candidacy registration centre in Songkhla on Sunday.
"Community radio host Chalee Noppawong na Ayutthaya is close to Democrat deputy leader Trairong Suwankhiri, and his crony MajGeneral Khattiya Sawasdipol," Thai Rak Thai deputy spokesman Jatuporn Phromphan said. Jatuporn said Chalee mobilised a crowd of Songkhla residents in an attempt to prevent aspiring candiŽdates from small parties to contest a second round of voting. The Election Commission has called for byelections in conŽstituencies where lone Thai Rak Thai candidates failed to muster 20 per cent of the eligible votes. Its decision to allow additional candidates to contest the repeat vote was seen as a ploy to overcome the 20 percent rule. Jatuporn said Thai Rak Thai deputy leader Bhokin Bhalakula was reviewing whether to initiate legal proceedings. He also stated he had evidence to suspect supporters of anti-Thaksin campaigner Sondhi Limthongkul of being involved in the attempted disruption of the candidacy registration. Former Democrat MP Jua Rachasee said authorities should not draw a hasty judgement against Songkhla residents. Residents were exercising their democratic right to protest what they viewed as favouritism toward the Thai Rak Thai Party, Jua said. They wanted to vent their frusŽtration after learning that a smallparty candidate switched to run in constituency 4 after helping a Thai Rak Thai candidate to secure vicŽtory in the first round in constituency 5, he said. The Nation
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