The unattributed hoardings have popped up all over town causing confusion with their use of the word "abhisit" - the given name of Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva.

The advertising also employs the same shade of blue used by the party.

Scores of people called the Democrat headquarters to complain.

Party election spokesman Thepthai Senpong said yesterday the advertising had nothing to do with his party.

They were the campaign for an as yet unknown credit card, he asserted.

The billboards appear at many busy areas of the city including the Lam Salee flyover and Lak Si junctions.

The advertisements had caused misunderstanding, Thepthai said.

Their campaign slogan is "Under 'rabob abhisit', the people will rule". Abhisit means privilege and rabob means regime or pattern.

"If the billboards belonged to the party, it was legally bound to use its party identification and name," he said.

According to Thepthai, callers who weremisled into thinking the signs were political advertising, criticised them for using the word 'rabob'. It has been employed by government critics to indicate the "Thaksin regime".

He added if the signs were Democrat advertising, the Election Commission (EC) could count the billboard rent as an election expense.

The party, however. would not take legal action against the credit company.

But, the EC could take action if it believed the advertising violated election laws, he said.

Meanwhile, a Bangkok Deputy Governor and Democrat Puttipong Punnakan said yesterday the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) had no power to order the signs removed. However, the Consumer Protection Bureau could.

But, the BMA would check to see if they were structurally sound and did not constitute a danger.

Puttipong learned the campaign had been planned in three stages. The second would use the word "hua" (pre-determined) and the third would feature the word "grand sale" - and reveal the product and the company behind it.

Kornchanok Raksaseri

The Nation