Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said yesterday he had no knowledge of suspected bloc voting in yesterday's Senate meeting to select members of the National Counter-Corruption Commission (NCCC) and the Election Commission (EC).

He said he only knew that the meeting took place yesterday.

"I am questioned on everything," Thaksin said. "I don't know why I'm questioned for everything. Now I'm getting used to it."

He said a meeting between Thai Rak Thai Party deputy leader and Labour Minister Somsak Thepsuthin and Senate Speaker Suchon Chaleekrua at a hotel earlier this month had nothing to do with bloc voting.

"Oh! Thais meet every day. They can meet without any problem," he said. "Some people meet and have quarrels, it depends. But people can meet."

Outgoing Yasothon senator Somboon Thongburan said the caretaker prime minister should order an investigation into whose money was being used to bankroll bloc voting in Senate meetings, because it had definitely happened in the past.

However, he had not heard of bloc voting for yesterday's Senate meeting to select members for the National Counter-Corruption Commission (NCCC) and the Election Commission (EC).

He called on the outgoing Senate to vote freely and fairly.

"This is the last job of the outgoing Senate, everybody should know what to do," he said.

People had shown little respect for the outgoing Senate, so he wanted the senators to prove that they were free from external influences.

On Monday, Somboon asked outgoing senators who had gathered at the Radisson Hotel on Friday to show their innocence, as such a gathering prior to a Senate session to select members of independent organisations raised suspicions of bloc voting.

Outgoing Surat Thani senator Manu Vanitchanont, who was at the Radisson Hotel meeting, said he had an appointment with a friend at the Hotel, but the friend cancelled and he accidentally met outgoing Buri Ram senator Karoon Sai-ngam as well as Somboon, so he joined them for dinner. Later, they met outgoing Buri Ram senator Surapong Painual and other senators.

He said there was no conflict between the senators meeting on that day. Outgoing Roi Et senator Kasem Malaisri, who was also there, was close to Somboon.

He said there were usually suspicions of bloc voting and benefits being exchanged every time members were selected for the independent organisations.

The Senate will today select nine members for the NCCC out of 18 candidates. Yesterday a panel was selected to check the background of nominees for the EC.

Hassaya Chatmontri,

Prapasri Osathanon

The Nation