CNS senior officer to visit Buri Ram

Buri Ram Election Committee chairman Kasem Watanatham Sunday alleged that certain politicians were behind a protest by villagers against the EC on Friday. He vowed to take legal action against them.

An angry General Somjet Boonthanom, head of the Office for the CNS, said he would not allow influential persons to threaten EC officials who were working for the country.

Somjet said he would travel to Buri Ram Tuesday afternoon after the weekly meeting of the CNS to find out who had threatened officials.

The Buri Ram commission has issued red cards to three winning People Power Party candidates in Constituency 1.

On Friday, about 10,000 villagers held a protest at the office of the provincial EC, demanding Kasem and Pol Colonel Sangworn Phuphaijitkul, deputy commander of Buri Ram police, resign as EC officials.

Kasem earlier complained he and other EC officials had received death threats.

Somjet said he had coordinated with the Second Army Area and Provincial Police Bureau 3 to provide soldiers and policemen to protect the officials.

He said he would find out who was behind the threats and expose them.

"It's not good they used this method [of intimidation]. As the media would not like if it was threatened, similarly we will identify and expose these people," Somjet said.

"We will inform the public about who these influential people are and those who have abused their powers in threatening the EC.

"If we allow them to behave above the law, we might as well give away the country to such people."

The Nation