• 
• 

Published on February 22, 2008

A police station chief based in Chiang Rai who had a conflict with canvassers for House Speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat prior to the general election on December 23 has been transferred in a Royal Thai Police reshuffle order, reportedly as a result of political intervention.

Colonel Ekkaphong Amorn-muneephong, now chief of Pa Sang Police Station in Lamphun, was the chief of Mae Chan District Police Station when he intercepted a motorcade of canvassers working for Yongyuth and searched the vehicles, leading to a confrontation and an exchange of angry words that made headlines in the press.

The officer is among 55 policemen moved to new posts in the transfer order. He refused to comment on whether his transfer was politically sanctioned or was linked to his confrontation with Yongyuth's rally.

Meanwhile, an Election Commission (EC) panel has questioned a police colonel formerly posted in Chiang Rai as an additional witness at the request of House Speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat, who is being investigated for alleged electoral fraud.

Colonel Kittisin Kongtha-weepan, currently superintendent of Mae Chai District Police Station in Phayao, was superintendent of Mae Chan District Police Station in Chiang Rai during the run-up to the general election in December.

He is believed to have inside information about relationships of the locals in Mae Chan.

The five-member EC panel will submit the additional testimony to the commission on Tuesday.

It submitted its investigation report and recommendation on the case to the EC last week.

The EC is also investigating a libel complaint against Yongyuth by General Somjet Bunthanom, director of the Defence Ministry's budget bureau.

Somjet accused Yongyuth of defaming the military in a interview with the press in which he said he was threatened by the military.

Yongyuth alleged soldiers pointed guns at the heads of his campaign workers.

The EC accepted to probe the case on January 24 and appointed an investigative panel chaired by Thawil Intornraksa. The panel summoned Yongyuth to testify on Monday.

The Nation