Watchdog questions Rosana

Human-rights activist Rosana Tositrakul testified before the Election Commission (EC) yesterday, saying she hadn't violated election laws in the recent Senate election.
After two hours of questioning, Rosana said the EC asked her about the alleged posting [advertising] of her achievements on a website in contravention of election laws. She said the information had been on her employer's website until November last year and had been removed before the period in which advertising is prohibited for Senate elections. Rosana is among other well-known Senate candidates, such as Nitipoom Nawarat and Boonyord Sooktinthai, who participated in People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) rallies against the Thaksin government and who are still waiting for their election wins to be endorsed. Although the EC didn't ask her about the PAD rally participation, she said her criticisms delivered on PAD's stage were the truth, and concerned the government, not a particular political party. "I wasn't involved when websites posted news stories about me. I was just a source in news stories. Other winners with similar cases have been endorsed, so why haven't I?" she asked. She said the EC told her she would face further investigation because many more complaints have been made to the commission. Of the total 200 Senate seats, the EC has so far endorsed 163 winners of the April 19 election. Fifteen of 18 Bangkok senators have been endorsed. EC chairman Vasana Puemlarp said yesterday the EC hadn't invalidated any result of the election because investigations are not complete. By-elections therefore haven't been scheduled.
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