EC will rule on 'campaigning'
Accusations that 10 Senate candidates have breached the Constitution by making speeches at anti-government rallies last month are now with the Election Commission (EC).
Karom Polthaklang and Suwit Thongnual, representing a lawyers' club, filed complaints with EC chairman Vasana Puemlarp yesterday. They accused 10 Senate candidates of breaking Article 129 of the Constitution and Articles 44 and 91 of the Election Act for senators and MPs when they attacked political parties and individuals to bolster their popularity. Seven of the candidates are running for Bangkok - the others are from Maha Sarakham, Udon Thani and Krabi. The two lawyers yesterday submitted video-tapes and three VCDs as evidence, but the EC insisted they be transcribed first. Meanwhile, Thai Rak Thai political analysts yesterday said there were about 100 Senate candidates related to incumbent politicians likely to be elected. They also suggested 40 former permanent officials, 30 businessmen and 30 non-governmental organisation representatives and academics would win seats in the Upper ouse. Meanwhile, Democrat Party senior adviser Chuan Leekpai urged voters today to vote for candidates who were free of political connections. He said the previous Senate had failed to function properly because of political interference. "The Senate started to have problems when Thai Rak Thai came to power and senators were accused of voting at its bidding in return for bribes. This damaged the reputation of good senators and the whole country,'' Chuan said. Associate Prof Withayathorn Thorkaew, of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, said around half the previous Senate carried out their role under the shadow of political parties. Another 20 per cent of senators played no role, while the rest worked to protect the public interest. He predicted that more than 70 per cent of new senators will be linked with political parties and only 15 per cent would be genuinely independent. Withayathorn said the law banning candidates from public campaigns did not stop political parties from running clandestine campaigns on behalf of their candidates. The new Senate would run at the orders of politicians, he said. Army commander-in-chief General Sonthi Boonyaratklin said he advised his men to vote for someone who respected the public interests and was free from political influence. "I wish to see senators who have ethics and morality,'' he said.
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