• 
• 

Published on November 22, 2007

n The Nation

Democrat Party spokesman Ong-art Klampaiboon said Sudarat was a senior politician and should refrain from using the old dirty tactic of putting blame on other parties.

"This is not right and she should not have said so," he said in response to Sudarat's statement to the media on Tuesday.

"I understand that the EC intends to eradicate or exterminate us in the political arena to help the Democrats form the next government and make Abhisit [Vejjajiva] the next prime minister," Sudarat's statement said.

Ong-art said the Democrats had nothing to do with the EC's decision and Sudarat, as one of the 111 executives, could do what she wanted to protect her rights if she felt the EC's decision violated her rights, but not to attack the Democrats.

"If she wants to attract media attention and public sympathy, she can do so without having to throw guilt on us," he said.

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has refused the group of 111 permission to use Lumpini Park to attack the EC. Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin said Lumpini Park was not among the 12 areas that the EC had assigned as an election campaign points. The BMA also needed to see what issues the group wanted to address in the campaign.

BMA Environment Office director Chanchai Witoonpanyakit said he had not seen the request from the group but he personally believed it was not appropriate that the group used the location to attack others.

"We cannot give permission because the group is not a political party but wants to use the park for political purposes," he said.

Ong-art also defended a commitment made by Abhisit Vejjajiva, his party leader, to implement the party's urgent operation plan within 99 days.

"Abhisit is committed to these plans and that is why he is putting his 15-year political career at stake. We have researched and found that our plans can materialise in 99 days; we are not day-dreaming," he said.

Meanwhile, Suwat Liptapanlop, a leader of Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana Party, said he had decided to end his political activities in response to the EC's suggestion. "I am ready to accept the rule of law. I hope they do not change the interpretation of the law after this," he said.

Adisorn Piengket, another of the 111 executives, said his group would complain to the National Human Rights Commission against the EC's decision to ban the former executives from involvement in election campaigning.