No army's influence on EC over disqualifying of PPP MPs

Last week, 20,000 people protested in Buri Ram after the EC issued red cards to three People Power Party candidates. The Provincial Election Commission chairman also received a death threat.

Army chief General Anupong Paochinda said the Army leaves security matters in Buri Ram in the hand of the province's governor and related officers. It also leaves decisions on election results to the EC.

Nobody could dictate to the EC, he said.

Council for National Security caretaker chief, Air Chief Marshal Chalit Pookphasuk, commanderinchief of the Royal Thai Air Force, suggested that the Buri Ram Governor should take responsibility if he could control protests in the province.

General Somjet Boonthanom, head of the Office for the Council for National Security, is scheduled to visit the province today to see if the military can help protect the provincial Election Commission.

Chalit said the Buri Ram Governor and his deputies including the Buri Ram Police Chief had responsibility to maintain law and order in the province.

"The Buri Ram governor is in charge of keeping peace in the province. He must take full responsibility for this duty. If he cannot, he must consider his position," he said.

Supreme Commander General Boonsrang Niumpradit, also a CNS member, said he was confident of the EC's justice and neutrality as it must protect its reputation.

Declining to comment on the formation of the next government, Boonsrang said this was for politicians to take care of. The military would accept a government if it assumed power legally.

Admiral Satirapan Keyanon, commanderinchief of the Royal Thai Navy and a CNS member, said it was down to politicians whether violence would happen. He added that all people should respect the rules and the laws as well as democracy.

by Panya Thiewsangwan

The Nation