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Published on April 16, 2008

Democrat Party chief adviser Chuan Leekpai has warned against a hired movement aimed at creating political confrontation, which he says could lead to violence.

"These days, people are hired to call in radio and television programmes to send political messages that create polarisation," said Chuan, a former prime minister.

"Many people are unaware of the anonymous leaflets that have been sent to places attacking many respectable figures of the country, including privy councillors. I receive these documents almost every week. Things like this take a lot of funding, and ordinary people cannot afford it," he said.

Chuan said he experienced such a hate campaign himself when he was booed and jeered by a group of people when he went to the Election Commission (EC) office after being elected an MP.

He urged independent agencies and the courts to issue rulings on significant political cases with courage and in a straightforward manner, in order to prevent the country from falling into deeper political crises.

He referred to the EC, the National Counter Corruption Commission, the Auditor-General's Office and the Constitution Court.

"Society has high hopes that independent agencies and the courts will rule with righteousness and have the courage to make justice prevail. If lobbying is allowed to tamper with the justice system, the country will fall deeper into a vicious circle," said Chuan.

He said before the Thaksin was brought down by the coup of September 19, 2006, there was heavy interference among judges and public prosecutors.

Chuan pointed to a dire need for righteous verdicts, saying the country was facing two scenarios that would influence its political direction. First, the status of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, who is appealing a lower court's decision that convicted him of libel and sentenced him to two years' imprisonment without suspension.

Second is the disqualification of House Speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat.

One is head of the country's executive branch, while the other is head of the legislative branch, Chuan said.

"The People Power Party (PPP) has been criticised for pushing for the two persons who had problems with royal endorsement for the top executive positions of the country. The country is facing political uncertainty surrounding these two," he said.

Moreover, the possible dissolution of two coalition parties - Chart Thai and Matchima Thipataya - also worries many. "If these two parties are disbanded, it is inevitable that the PPP will encounter the same fate," he said.

If that is the case, the PM and other PPP executives will be deprived of their political rights, as happened with the Thai Rak Thai Party.

"How these problems will be solved depends on those independent agencies whose duty it is to rule on these cases," he said.

Chuan also warned against any constitutional amendments that are made out of self-interest, saying such a move would only create conflict.

The Nation