Political tension rose yesterday after the Election Commission (EC) continued to re-fuse to quit as suggested by the three top courts - and called for a meeting of political parties on Monday to organise the new election.

The move came after the Constitution Court yesterday issued a joint verdict ordering a new royal decree to organise the new general election, within 60 days of the verdict taking effect.

Chat Thai chief Banharn Silapa-archa called a meeting of his party, which decided not to attend the EC meeting even though it has vowed to contest the next general election, deputy party leader Somsak Prissanananthakul said.

"If the EC organises a new election, the country will enter another political crisis,'' he said.

The Democrat Party will meet to decide its stance today, spokesman Ongart Klampaiboon said.

EC chairman Vasana Puemlarp had tears in his eyes and was overwhelmed when 1,000 supporters gathered and urged him to fight on.

They carried banners "Vasana and Thaksin must stay on", and "The EC is not wrong. 16 million voters want the EC to keep on working.'' The supporters were welcomed on the 10th floor of the EC's headquarters.

Downstairs, outside the EC office, a separate group of protesters called for the Election Commis-sioners to stand down.

Vasana has so far refused to go. He said on Tuesday he was "not a street dog", after a ruling by the Constitution Court on Monday that nullified the election on grounds that it violated the charter.

Vasana said yesterday he had incriminating evidence that he would later reveal on who committed wrong in the April 2 election.

"I have evidence that is not just written words but CDs, and tapes. I will play them when the time is right. The evidence is not made up. They forgot that today we have hi-technology. Who met whom, who did what and one day you will know," he said.

He challenged the Democrat Party to sue him, saying that he has both witnesses and evidence, which showed that a large party from the opposite side hired small parties to boycott the election. "If you want to sue, go ahead so we can prove the truth in the court,'' he said.

He said he had written the truth and given it to his two children to publish a book and distribute at his funeral. His supporters shouted and pleaded with him to expose the secret now.

"I cannot tell you today. Because of rules and protocols, I have to keep it secret, confidential. Today, I have been made a scapegoat but later you will know who is behind the scene,'' he said.

Vasana said he would take calls from his supporters not to resign into consideration. He regretted he had lost the integrity and honour accumulated through his work at the EC.

"Since I joined the civil service, I have never asked for interest from anyone. I never abused my power or exploited my power for personal gain. I am hurt that I am branded as thick-skinned," he said.

Suriyasai Katasila, co-ordinator of People' Alliance for Democracy warned that if the EC refused to step down, it encounter another scenario of no-votes and people tearing up ballot papers.

"The public has lost faith in the EC, thinking that it is a part of Thaksinomics," he said.

Asked why the EC commissioners were defying the courts' suggestion to quit, EC commissioner Prinya Nakchudtree said the judges' call was not a verdict, and any decision to quit was up to each commissioner.

Atthayuth Butsripoom

The Nation