EC will brief parties on poll rule over monarchy

Bhum Jai Thai produces document to reject the claim it published photos of His Majesty the King without approval

The Election Commission will hold talks with political parties about its new rule banning mention of the monarchy in any way during election campaigning, EC secretary-general Suthiphon Thaveechaiygarn said yesterday.

The meeting between EC members and party representatives will be held on May 2, he said.

Suthiphon said political parties had recently consulted the EC about the new rule and its advice was that it was improper to mention the monarchy during election campaigning as the institution was above politics.

"Moreover, the EC regulations used for the general election of 2007 still require more clarity. We have to invite the political parties to help improve the rules," he said.

He said the new rule was not yet in effect, adding that it would come into force when a royal decree on the election date was issued.

A source from the EC said the new rule resulted from agreement among election commissioners that political parties were increasingly taking advantage of the monarchy for their political benefit.

Prapun Naigowit, the EC member in charge of election management, suggested the measure, according to the source.

A working group was then set up to amend the EC's existing election regulations to ensure that political parties did not use the monarchy for their political advantage, said the source, who requested anonymity.

Meanwhile, the coalition Bhum Jai Thai Party yesterday produced a document from the Royal Household Bureau to reject an allegation that the party had His Majesty the King's pictures published without permission.

House Speaker Chai Chidchob, who is a senior Bhum Jai Thai figure, showed reporters a letter dated April 1 from His Majesty's Personal Affairs Division, a unit within the Royal Household Bureau.

The letter, signed by Royal Household Bureau deputy secretary Dissadhorn Vajarothai, said Bhum Jai Thai could publish and distribute 1 million copies of the King's photo for distribution because "that picture attached in the letter seeking permission has been widely available".

Earlier, Tourism and Sports Minister Chumpol Silapa-archa, who is leader of the coalition Chart Thai Pattana Party, had said that at the previous Cabinet meeting, the prime minister produced a letter from the Office of His Majesty's Principal Private Secretary saying that a political party Chumpol did not name had claimed to get royal permission for publishing the King's photos.

Bhum Jai Thai spokesman Supachai Jaisamut said Transport Minister Sophon Saram, as a Bhum Jai Thai member, had given a |similar explanation to the Cabinet |at its weekly meeting yesterday.

Sophon also produced a copy of the letter from His Majesty's Personal Affairs Division. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and other Cabinet members appeared to be clear about the matter, according to the spokesman.

"Bhum Jai Thai does not want this matter to be politicised. The party has never tried to draw the monarchy into politics," the spokesman said.

He also said the party would consult with the Election Commission about its new rule that would ban mentioning the monarchy in any way during election campaigning. "We will ask the EC what can be done and what cannot," he said.

Bhum Jai Thai leader Chaovarat Chanweerakul, who is also the interior minister, yesterday supported the party's policy of defending the monarchy and denied it was trying to cite the institution for political advantage.

"I wonder why it is now improper to defend the monarchy. Since when was defending tantamount to insulting? I ask the mass media if you agree with our policy of defending the monarchy. If you disagree, please let us know and we will change it," Chaovarat said.