TRT booklets, VCDs on fraud case
The Thai Rak Thai Party launched a campaign yesterday to inform members about its electoral fraud case, with executives giving away VCDs and booklets defending the party.
The group started from Victory Monument and went to Mor Chit Bus Terminal and Chatuchak Park, handing out 2,000 sets of the VCDs and booklets. Acting deputy leader Pongthep Thepkanchana also joined the campaign. The Constitution Tribunal's ruling on the electoral fraud case, which could lead to the party's dissolution, is due on May 30. Acting party leader Chaturon Chaisang said the campaign was not a political movement and that the tribunal had allowed the party to publicise information used in its defence during the hearings and closing statement. "The booklets and the VCDs should make people understand the details of the case clearly since its beginning. It should benefit the party, as it must help people's understanding. Moreover, it should be a good case study," he said. He said the campaign should not be seen as going against Council for National Security announcements that prohibit political activities. It would not put pressure on the tribunal, either. Thai Rak Thai spokesman Kuthep Saikrachang said the party did not intend to pressure the tribunal but it needed to clarify the situation to its members because some prominent administrators had mentioned the case in a leading manner. He said the clarification had been done via three channels: the VCDs and booklets, the party's website (www.thairakthai.or.th) and its acting executives and former MPs taking trips to provinces to make merit and visit people. The party has scheduled merit-making trips to Lamphun on May 19 and Maha Sarakham on May 26, Kuthep said. Chaturon said he was not sure if he could join both trips. The party's greatest support is the North and the Northeast. Part of the closing statement filed to the tribunal and published for distribution said: "The party has greatly contributed to the country and people. It also has as many as 14,394,404 members. The party's dissolution could make them lose their membership, although they had nothing to do with the allegations. Foreign countries then might lack trust in Thai politics." Last month, the Democrat Party launched a similar campaign, selling a testimony book set comprising three books for Bt100. The venues also included the Victory Monument and Mor Chit Bus Terminal. - Kesinee Jaikawang, The Nation
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