Pheu Thai claims to have information that would destabilise govt

The party is taking advantage of the political sentiment surrounding the Bangkok Bank of Commerce (BBC) embezzlement case against Saxena by making a revelation that could link politicians in the government camp to the scandal.

Pheu Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit said politicians of great influence and clout - not part of the government but belonging to coalition parties - were believed to have been involved in the case.

The case will test the government's political courage and integrity on whether it will take action against the suspected politicians, he said.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who at the time of the bank's collapse was in the opposition during the Banharn Silapa-Archa government, played a leading role in exposing the scandal on the House floor that led to the police pressing embezzlement charges against those involved.

"The public and society will see if the government is sincere in bringing about the truth. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Suthep must ensure the safety of Saxena. This case is under the media spotlight both locally and internationally. If anything happens to Saxena, the justice system will be affected,'' Prompong said.

The Pheu Thai Party is gathering information and will seek approval from its senior officials to reveal it to the public within the next week.

A source from the ruling Democrat Party yesterday described the opposition's move as an attempt to discredit the coalition, but with no real impact in terms of destabilising the government.

The source, who requested anonymity, said that even though there were certain cases that could be linked to some government figures, the statute of limitations on most of them had expired.

Meanwhile, Jatuporn Promphan, a Pheu Thai MP and leader of the red-shirt movement, yesterday called on police to use the tape that recorded Suthep's speech in Parliament that linked the "Group of 16" and some Democrats as having involvement in the BBC case as evidence in their investigation.

"This will make Suthep and the Democrats realise that they cannot change their stance to bring the culprits to justice, even though the politicians involved in the case are now on the government side,'' he said.

He accused the government of ordering the police not to let Saxena talk to the press.

When asked whether Saxena could give a press conference concerning the case, Abhisit said everyone had the right to do so. Asked why police did not let Saxena talk to the press, the PM said he would ask Saxena whether he had been prevented from doing so.

Abhisit said police would probe further into whether any politicians had any involvement in the case.

Democrat Party spokesman Buranat Samudharak, meanwhile, said his party would not interfere in the police investigation in the BBC case because it had vowed to uphold the legal and justice system.

"The party is willing to provide the police with any information, no matter who it involves, and they will be brought to justice in a straightforward manner,'' he said.