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Published on March 25, 2008

In an open letter, the academics expressed opposition to the dissolution of a political party due to electoral fraud committed by any of its executive member.

Article 237 of the charter states that a political party can be dissolved if its executive member is found to be aware of electoral fraud. As a result, the party leader and all other executives will be stripped of their electoral rights for five years.

The open letter was signed by Assoc Prof Worajet Pakeerat, Assoc Prof Prasit Piwawattanapanit, Thapanan Nipitthakul, Piyabutr Sangkanokkul and Theera Sutheewarangkura.

"To disband a political party, there must be an essential need to protect the political system or when that party is no longer active in political activities. To dissolve a political party is tantamount to infringing on the freedom of gathering by citizens who are the true holders of sovereignty," the statement said.

It also said that to dissolve a political party as punishment for an offence committed by a single executive is like giving a convict's siblings the death sentence, which goes against the global trend in legal development.

The academics called on all political parties to also take part in amending the Constitution on other issues apart from the party dissolution.

The Nation