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Published on March 22, 2008

Chart Thai Party leader Banharn Silpa-archa yesterday lashed out at remarks by Election Commission (EC) member Sumeth Upanisakorn that he said could be prejudicial and lead to the dissolution of his party.

"I reprimand Sumeth for making comments he should not have made. It's as if he wants to sway the EC to rule in favour of my party's disbandment," he said.

He was reacting to remarks on Wednesday, when Sumeth said the EC might not have a choice but to petition the Constitution Court to rule whether to disband the Chart Thai and Matchima Thipataya parties.

Sumeth aired his views in light of a legal dispute in which the EC could drop the charges or was required to seek a judicial review on the two parties linked to electoral fraud.

The EC-appointed investigative panel recommended that charges be dropped on grounds the two parties had no involvement in campaign violations committed by party executives.

The EC on Tuesday instructed its advisory panel to study relevant legal issues before forming a decision. It gave the panel until April 4 to report its findings. On the following day, Sumeth invoked two key provisions to back his stand on the mandatory court ruling.

Banharn said Sumeth had rushed to form his judgement even before EC legal advisers could sift through the pertinent issues. He added that Sumeth had made it appear like a foregone conclusion on the Chart Thai's dissolution.

"I have been in politics for more than 30 years and I am certain the litigation still has a long way to go before completion," he said.

He added that it would be an injustice to dissolve his party in spite of clear evidence confirming its innocence. At every meeting and campaign rally, the party opposed cheating and even demanded its executives sign a pledge to abide by electoral rules, he said.

"In my long experience, I thought I had seen it all, including a heavy downpour, meaning rampart vote-buying, but I don't know who I am fighting in this legal battle on party dissolution," he said.

Banharn said he was reluctant to allege a conspiracy, although he had heard that his joining with the People Power-led coalition might lead to his party's demise.

He said the country would plunge into deep turmoil if coalition parties were to be disbanded one after another in order to leave the opposition Democrat Party as the sole survivor in the political system.

"I also don't see a snap election to escape party dissolution as a solution," he said, adding that in his opinion, the only way for the country to move forward is to allow the government to complete its four-year term.

His comments were part of a speech at the party convention, held at Impact Muang Thong Thani.

Key party figures showed up in force. Cabinet members under the party quotas outlined their mission statements on what they plan to accomplish through the coalition government.

Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kachornprasart said he and Chart Thai ministers would do their utmost to implement party policies.

Agriculture Minister Somsak Prissananthakul pledged to tackle the problem of the rising cost of fertiliser. Tourism and Sports Minister Weerasak Kowsurat said he envisioned the community to have a greater role in the development of the tourist industry and sports affairs.

The Nation