Published on January 15, 2005

The Mahachon Party has pinned its hopes of dethroning Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on what it claims is evidence that the premier violated the law governing election campaigns.

“The party will next week submit evidence to the Election Commission (EC), and it is confident that Thaksin will be expelled from the race for committing a series of campaign offences,” Mahachon deputy leader Akapol Sorasuchart said yesterday.

Akapol said his party had damning evidence which proved that Thaksin had violated electoral rules.

On Tuesday Thaksin introduced Thai Rak Thai candidates amid celebrations around the China Street Fair in Chiang Rai, he said.

Under electoral law candidates are banned from organising entertainment to attract voters to campaign events, he said.

The premier also violated electoral rules by having the event televised on Channel 11, which constituted a manipulation of air time, he added.

“Prime minister or not, Thaksin is an election candidate, and he is obliged to observe the campaign rules just like the other candidates,” he said.

The Mahachon deputy leader said the Thai Rak Thai campaign might come to an abrupt end if Thaksin were to be found to have broken campaign rules.

Reacting to criticism that the ongoing football tournament, the Prime Minister’s Cup, might be a violation of campaign rules, Tourism and Sports Minister Sontaya Kunplome said he would consult with the EC on the issue.

The government-sponsored matches began last year before the general election was called and will proceed through to their finish, although prizes to winning teams may have to be suspended or modified, Sontaya said.

Critics viewed the monetary rewards as a possible violation of campaign rules, he said.

EC chairman Vasana Puemlarp said he was not in a position to comment on alleged campaign violations before he had had a chance to examine the evidence.

Democrat Party spokesman Ong-art Klampaiboon urged the EC to make impartial decisions on the campaign offences, saying its credibility would be at stake if it bowed to pressure from the ruling party.

Prime Minister Thaksin meanwhile downplayed speculation that his party was trying to defeat its coalition partner the Chat Thai Party in Suphan Buri.

Thaksin said Chat Thai leader Banharn Silapa-archa had made a hasty judgement about the perceived back-stabbing.

“I have no intention of back-stabbing Banharn,” he said. “My campaign speeches were distorted when conveyed to him. I plan to invite him to my rally and he will laugh after hearing my speech in full.”

The prime minister said he would find time to campaign for government spokesman Jakrapob Penkair, who is running for a House seat in Bangkok’s Constituency 30.

He also stated that he would step up campaigning between now and the February 6 election day.

“At the start of the campaign I spent most of my time working. From now on I will devote more time to swaying voters,’” he said.

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