Somchai reluctant to issue red cards

Somchai made the remarks in light of the speculation about being pressured to issue red and yellow cards. He was the only dissent voice when his four colleagues voted to nullify the balloting outcome in Buri Ram's constituency 1 last week.

"I am more familiar with working as a judge than doing my current work and I want to return to my old job if the judiciary would welcome me back," he said.

He said he did not have any conflicts with his colleagues and that he just felt uncomfortable to be in the job uncompatible with him.

He said should he leave his office, the EC could still function because the remaining four members constituted a quorum to rule on electoral fraud.

He spoke on the sidelines of a meeting to review reports on campaign violations in Phetchabun and Udon Thani.

EC member Sodsri Satayathum said none of the EC members pushed for the jurisdiction to issue red and yellow cards.

When the charter and the organic laws were being drafted, the EC wanted the Supreme Court to rule on the campaign violations but the National Legislative Assembly vetoed the idea, she said.

She said the EC's review of campaign violations involved the major parties and not just the People Power Party.

The case in Phetchabun linked to canvassers working for the Democrat Party, she said.

In regard to the case in Chiang Rai, People Power deputy leader Yongyuth Tiyapairat has scheduled to present his defence next Tuesday, she said.

The Nation