A second opinion needed on banned party executives

"Political participation is a basic right of every Thai citizen, hence any legal interpreations to curb this right should not be applied," he said.

Preecha said he and his three colleagues, Surakiart Sathirathai, Pinij Charusombat and Suranand Vejjajiva were among the 111 banned Thai Rak Thai Party executives who did not involve themselves beyond advising their new party.

"The party can choose either to heed our advice or ignore it," he said, voicing disagreement to an EC's opinion that banned executives could not be appointed as startegic advisers with duties overlapping those of existing party executives.

Surakiart and Suranand resigned their office in order to comply with the new guidelines but Preecha said the EC should hand down a second opinion before deciding his next move.

Preecha said he wanted the clarification from the EC instead of opting for a judicial review by the Constitution Court which would be lengthy.|

The Nation