The Election Commis-sion (EC) yesterday moved to dissolve two small political parties that opposition politicians say ran candidates in the April 2 election to ensure the then-ruling Thai Rak Thai Party would not have to stand unopposed in some constituencies.

It also decided to take legal action against a commission official for altering documents in the case.

EC secretary-general Ekkachai Warunprapha said the commission would have a sub-committee further investigate high-ranking Thai Rak Thai Party officials accused of hiring the small parties within 10 days.

Ekkachai said a key witness gave conflicting statements and there was not yet any evidence incriminating Thai Rak Thai party members.

"This is not to buy time. If the result of the investigation cannot be reached within the deadline of 30 days [in which time the House must be reconvened] the EC will have to endorse the election result,'' he said.

The EC will recommend that the attorney general dissolve Pattana Chart Thai Party and the Thai Ground Party. Pattana Chart Thai Party leader Bunthaweesak Amornsin and directors Chawakarn Tosawat and Suksan Chaithet would likely face charges of violating criminal law and the Election Act for Senators and MPs, he said.

Thai Ground Party leaders Itthipol Chinarat, Thatima Pawalee and Panthamit Duangthip would also face the same charges.

Three MP candidates of Pattana Chart Thai who will face prosecution in connection with the case are Amnat Rodchuay, Direk Nusai and Wirat Trichot. All applied as candidates in Nakhon Si Thammarat.

Two MP candidates of the Thai Ground Party who will face charges in relation to the case are Uthai Namwong and Somnuk Wongrat.

The EC will also take legal action against other MP candidates of the two parties. The EC ruled on the case after a sub-committee headed by a former Supreme Court vice president investigated the accusations and found them to be true.

The investigation came after Democrat Party secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban accused high-ranking Thai Rak Thai Party officials of paying money to hire small parties to run in the election and accused EC officials of accommodating the wrongdoing by altering information in the EC's data base.

Earlier, the Thai Rak Thai Party accused the Democrat Party of leaking the results of the EC sub-committee's investigation.

Vichit Plangsrisakul, Surachai Baochanya, Kuthep Saikrachang and Wirat Tayangkanont - part of Thai Rak Thai's legal team - called a press conference to say the leak was part of a coordinated attempt to destroy the party.

Kuthep said the party believed the Democrats were behind the leak. "There were reports released to the media that the EC intended to dissolve the party,'' he said.

Vichit said the sub-committee only gathered evidence following accusations by Suthep, and its report was merely a primary investigation. He said no final position had been agreed.

"We wonder why this report has been revealed to the public when it is supposed to be confidential, because it is still under investigation,'' he said.

Vichit said he had asked high-ranking Thai Rak Thai officials if they had been involved, as suggested, and everyone had denied it.

Thai Rak Thai Party deputy spokesman Pimuk Simaroj insisted the party did not have a policy to hire small parties to participate in the election.  "We should draw a line between the party and individuals. If the party is to be dissolved, there must be evidence that it hired people to participate. If there are party members involved, the EC can take action against the individuals,'' he said.

Attayuth Butrsripoom

The Nation