Democrats to face music

All Democrat Party members will be held accountable if found to have committed a constitutional offence by holding stocks of firms that enjoy state concessions, party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday.

Abhisit was commenting on a move by the ruling People Power Party (PPP) urging the Election Commission to remove 28 Democrats and 33 senators from office for allegedly breaching the rule forbidding ownership of shares in telecom, media and other firms that hold government concessions.

"If there are issues that need to be clarified, they must be subjected to the checks. Whether right or wrong, we have to deal with it in a straightforward manner,'' he said.

Abhisit said the move was aimed at pressuring the Democrats to amend the Constitution.

"They have been using this method. But it is no use to struggle to amend a law to change wrong to right. We are confident the independent agencies will work with righteousness. If we have done something wrong, we are in the wrong,'' he said.

"I told my people to go on the attack after several of our members were 'executed'," Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said during a press conference to launch six measures to help citizens cope with the economic downturn at Government House yesterday.

Abhisit expressed concern the country would head towards greater political turmoil because the government is seeking to change the Constitution in favour of vested interest groups.

"It is really dangerous. They should amend it only on a fundamental basis. If they do not wait for the result of the House committee on constitutional review, they will create conflict and suffer the consequences,'' he said.

Democrat Party secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban alleged the PPP had ulterior motives in accusing the Democrats and senators of violating the Constitution, as they want to show that the charter needs to be changed.

"The shares that we and the senators hold are normal stocks that are traded by anyone,'' he said.

Suthep said he would consult with legal experts on whether holding such shares is unconstitutional.

He said if his case were sent to the court, the court would see whether he had intended to commit any wrongdoing, because he holds shares worth only Bt50,000 and is not sitting on the company's board.

"I will not be the big fish to die in shallow water, as they [the rivals] expect,'' he said.

Article 48 of the Constitution prohibits political office-holders from holding shares in telecom and media companies, while Article 265 bars them from holding stakes in companies that enjoy government concessions.

Election Commission secretary-general Suthipon Thaweechaiygarn said the agency's Legal Division was checking whether the PPP had lodged the complaint in the correct legal jurisdiction, because Article 91 of the Constitution stipulates there are several jurisdictions under which MPs and senators can be checked.

He said if the commission found it did not have jurisdiction on this issue, it would transfer the case to the House Speaker and the Senate Speaker.

Suthipon added that the PPP should have directly filed the complaint with the two Speakers.