ID :
132673
Tue, 07/13/2010 - 09:48
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/132673
The shortlink copeid
Elections chairman officially advises Attorney General ask Constitution Court to dissolve Democrat Party
BANGKOK, July 13 - Thailand's Election Commission (EC) president Apichart Sukhagghanont, in his capacity as political party registrar, signed letter to the Office of Attorney General (OAG) requesting the state prosecutor to ask the Constitution Court to dissolve the Democrat Party for receiving an unlawful Bt258 million donation, according to Prapan Naikowit, an EC commissioner.
Mr Prapan said the move was done as directed by Friday's joint OAG and EC working group decision that the ruling Democrat Party should be dissolved, the elections agency political party registrar must quickly inform the attorney general without waiting an EC commissioners' vote as they had earlier decided the case.
The EC found the Democrats violated the Political Party Act by failing to report the funding.
The joint working group was set up after the attorney general's office concluded that the evidence presented in the case filed by the EC was insufficient to support a request to the court.
The process was to be completed by Tuesday in time for the mandate of the joint EC-OAG committee as it was given 30 days to complete its work.
Deputy Attorney-General Waiyawut Lortrakul said prosecutors drafted a 100-page party dissolution document and sent it to Attorney General Chulasing Wasantasing for consideration and approval.
Mr Waiyawut said if no corrections are made, the lawsuit will be forwarded to the court Tuesday afternoon, the due date of 30 days for the case consideration as stated by law.
Over 40 party executives including party leader and Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva could also be banned from politics for five years if the ruling is accepted.
The Democrat Party has been accused of violating the constitution by receiving a Bt258 million donation, exceeding the legal limit, from TPI Polene Plc, the country's third largest cement manufacturer, founded by former Matchimatipatai Party leader Prachai Leophairatana.
TPI Polene is alleged to have donated to the Democrats through the advertising company Messiah Business and Creation.
The ruling party has also been accused of misusing a Bt29 million allocation from the EC political party development fund.
The elections agency resolved to dissolve the party, saying the two actions could be considered as concealed acts which violate the Political Party Act.
The case was forwarded to the attorney general to determine whether to file it in court for final ruling. (MCOT online news)
Mr Prapan said the move was done as directed by Friday's joint OAG and EC working group decision that the ruling Democrat Party should be dissolved, the elections agency political party registrar must quickly inform the attorney general without waiting an EC commissioners' vote as they had earlier decided the case.
The EC found the Democrats violated the Political Party Act by failing to report the funding.
The joint working group was set up after the attorney general's office concluded that the evidence presented in the case filed by the EC was insufficient to support a request to the court.
The process was to be completed by Tuesday in time for the mandate of the joint EC-OAG committee as it was given 30 days to complete its work.
Deputy Attorney-General Waiyawut Lortrakul said prosecutors drafted a 100-page party dissolution document and sent it to Attorney General Chulasing Wasantasing for consideration and approval.
Mr Waiyawut said if no corrections are made, the lawsuit will be forwarded to the court Tuesday afternoon, the due date of 30 days for the case consideration as stated by law.
Over 40 party executives including party leader and Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva could also be banned from politics for five years if the ruling is accepted.
The Democrat Party has been accused of violating the constitution by receiving a Bt258 million donation, exceeding the legal limit, from TPI Polene Plc, the country's third largest cement manufacturer, founded by former Matchimatipatai Party leader Prachai Leophairatana.
TPI Polene is alleged to have donated to the Democrats through the advertising company Messiah Business and Creation.
The ruling party has also been accused of misusing a Bt29 million allocation from the EC political party development fund.
The elections agency resolved to dissolve the party, saying the two actions could be considered as concealed acts which violate the Political Party Act.
The case was forwarded to the attorney general to determine whether to file it in court for final ruling. (MCOT online news)
