The embattled Elec-tion Commission (EC) yesterday came under intense pressure after an investigative panel implicated the Thai Rak Thai Party in major electoral fraud that could see the party dissolved and its leader Thaksin Shinawatra banned from politics for five years.

The EC, in hot water since the Constitution Court nullified the April 2 snap election earlier this week, now must respond swiftly to its panel's recommendation that Thaksin be charged for "hiring" small parties to contest the April 2 vote.

The offence, allegedly committed to get around an electoral rule requiring candidates running without opposition to receive at least 20 per cent of all votes cast, is punishable by the party's dissolution. Article 69 of the Constitution also bans executives of the dissolved party from forming a new party or holding office in another party for five years.

The panel's report, containing damning details, bank transaction evidence as well as compelling testimony from witnesses, was submitted to EC chairman Vasana Puemlarp on Monday. Vasana left for Sydney, Australia last night, saying he wanted to visit his son who is studying there. He is scheduled to return on Tuesday.

The report implicates key Thai Rak Thai figures, dealing Thaksin another severe political blow. It contains explicit details about how Thai Rak Thai leaders allegedly approached the heads of the small parties and devised a scam to change official information on party membership registration in order to allow unqualified candidates to run as Thai Rak Thai "competitors" in the April 2 election. The report details various occasions when money was paid to the parties' leaders and the candidates.

Talking to reporters over the phone while he was resting at his fruit orchard in Chanthaburi, Vasana said he could not comment as he had not yet read the report. "Please do not ask me about work. It is not convenient as I am upcountry. Wait till I'm back at work. I have not read the investigation files,'' he said.

Thaksin declined to comment on what has been labelled "TRTgate".

The panel's findings sent the Thai Rak Thai Party into turmoil. Deputy spokesman Pimuk Simarot said the findings were just a preliminary investigation and the EC had yet to further investigate and conclude the case. Deputy leader General Thamarak Isarangura and deputy secretary Pongsak Raktapongpaisal, who were implicated in the alleged fraud, are preparing information to defend the party.

"Our party is not involved in the allegation," Pimuk said. "The allegation is directed at individuals. The people accused must clarify themselves."

EC secretary-general Ekachai Warunprapa asked how the panel's findings were leaked to the media.

Ekachai said he could not confirm whether what was leaked to the media was in fact the findings of the panel. The EC is expected to discuss the case on Tuesday.

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said the commissioners must meet and discuss the case as soon as possible.

Asked to respond to Vasana's allegation that he had evidence that the main opposition party had paid small parties to boycott the election, Abhisit said he did know where Vasana was able to find any evidence.

General Trairong Inthratat, a specialist attached to the Army, said he was ready to give a statement to the EC if summoned. He said it had been alleged money for small parties was handed out outside the defence minister's office at Sanam Luang. The ministry has already told the EC's panel that according to security officials no MP candidates from small parties entered the compound.

Trairong however refused to say whether he went to the Thai Ground Party's headquarters. Witnesses who gave statements linking him to the alleged fraud gave conflicting testimonies, he said.

"I am just a toy being used to link Thai Rak Thai Party executives, especially the defence minister [to the alleged fraud]. This is a mess."

Caretaker Senator Sak Korsaeng-ruang said the EC must take immediate action against Thai Rak Thai leaders implicated in the alleged fraud discovered by the EC's panel because the case has solid evidence, including witnesses. "The chief investigator in the case is a Supreme Court vice president. I do not believe that anyone can influence or meddle in the case,'' he said.

Sak said the EC cannot try to dispute the findings by saying key witnesses reversed statements. "Investigators normally believe that the first statements by witnesses carry more weight because they have not yet been forced to reverse their statements,'' he said.

Sak said society is waiting for the EC to explain why it dissolved only small parties and had so far let large parties off the hook.

Atthayuth Butrsripoom

Bancha Khaengkhan

The Nation