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Published on September 29, 2007

A complaint against Newin was filed with the EC's Buri Ram provincial office after his speech.

EC member Prapan Naikowit said it would investigate whether people who attended the rally had been hired to do so, and whether Newin had said anything that broke the law.

Newin claimed the current election law did not ban politicians whose election rights had been suspended from making a political address.

Apichart said he had received the CD that contained Newin's speech to constituents. He understands that the CD has been distributed widely.

He said if Newin's speech were linked to the People Power Party, the party could face dissolution.

"We have to see whether the party backed Newin to go on stage to address constituents as part of a political campaign,'' he said.

Noppadon Pattama, legal adviser to deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, warned the EC against interpreting the law with intent to destroy the People Power Party.

He said the party had scrutinised the law carefully and believed Newin had the right to make a political speech on-stage.

Meanwhile, Apichart said the EC was ready to hold the general election on December 23, saying the rumours about the PM's resignation or a Cabinet reshuffle will not cause the poll to be postponed.

He said the commission expected to announce the election results on December 28.

The Nation