Thaworn Senniam, 59, deputy secretary-general of the opposition Democrat Party, was in the spotlight once again this week as his landmark April 18 lawsuit essentially led to the downfall of the three remaining members of the Election Commission on Tuesday. The decision paved the way for the judiciary to nominate new commissioners for the next general election.

Dubbed the little David who has killed the giant EC, Thaworn, a former public prosecutor for nearly two decades, says he filed the lawsuit against former EC chairman Vasana Puemlarp, and two other commissioners, as a private citizen after the party declined to take the trio to court.

"I took them to court as a Thai citizen with the right to vote and the obligation to pay taxes since I was damaged by the EC trio's illegal acts and dishonesty when they organised the April 2 and related polls. As you know, the Criminal Court has ruled that these guys [who earlier repeatedly declined to step down to help break the political deadlock] had helped the Thai Rak Thai Party in winning the inconclusive polls whose results were soon nullified by the Constitution Court.

"As a citizen, I was entitled to cast my ballot in a free and fair election and as a taxpayer I was damaged because the EC had wasted the public's money to the tune of Bt2.3 billion in organising that failed election," says Thaworn, a graduate of Thammasat University's Faculty of Law. Thaworn, a former MP from the southern province of Songkhla, started his career at the Attorney-General's Office in the 1970s. Later, he took

up assignments as a public prosecutor in several southern provinces, including Krabi and Songkhla, prior to entering the political arena.

"I was a young fan of the Democrats since my student days and a party member when I was studying at Thammasat. Back then, I loved the party's ideology and its unrelenting struggle against dictatorship as well as its platform on decentralisation since I believe that decentralisation can effectively empower the grassroots population. I guess all these ideals remain unchanged to the present day.

"Prior to joining the Democrat party, my younger brother, Winai, was already a Democrat MP for southern Thailand. I won my first election in 1995, then, I won in 1996, 2001 and 2005. My brother's first election victory was in 1992.

"As a former public prosecutor, I've had support and cooperation from many people in the area as well as those working for the EC in southern Thailand and in Bangkok.

"I also got some crucial documentary evidence leaked by key officials inside the EC headquarters who were unhappy with what had happened. Several EC figures in the South also cooperated by standing as witnesses to the charges I filed against the last EC trio. I also told the court that I was taking the legal action to protect democracy and was not looking to satisfy any personal desire for vengeance.

"For instance, when General Charupat Ruangsuwan tendered his resignation as an EC commissioner recently, I officially removed his name from the list of the accused," he says.

"Given that the Supreme Court would nominate new election commissioners, all rivals of the Thai Rak Thai Party should have fewer worries about the integrity of the next general election since the Supreme Court has a long-running record of impartiality.

"In addition, many Thai people should have gained from the historic court ruling against the EC trio on July 25. In my opinion, the court verdict is a big eye-opener for many voters who will go to the poll booths on October 15.

"I also hope the public will soon be disillusioned by Thai Rak Thai policies since household debt in rural areas has more than doubled in the past five years, the war on corruption has effectively failed, and the Thai Rak Thai have not implemented any meaningful education reforms as they pledged. It's also become obvious that the country's current leadership is in fact self-serving," says the opposition politician.

Nophakhun Limsamarnphun

nop1122@yahoo.com