Senator accuses Democrats of violating charter

The Office of the Attorney-General is in charge of reviewing his petition to decide whether the case should be taken to court.

Citing press reports as evidence, Ruangkrai asked the Constitution Court to address three legal issues:

- Whether Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva and secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban resorted to unconstitutional means to form the coalition.

- Whether there is a case to dissolve to the Democrat Party.

- Whether Abhisit and his party executives should be barred from the electoral process for five years as a consequence of the party dissolution.

Ruangkrai accused the Democrats of plotting with banned party executives from disbanded parties to induce defection to the Democrat-led coalition. He also questioned whether the Democrats had colluded with coalition partners in fielding electoral candidates for next Sunday's by-elections to fill 29 House seats.

He contended the formation of the coalition and the electoral collusion to avoid a fair race were unconstitutional.

Based on press reports after the December 2 disbandment of three coalition parties, including People Power, Abhisit and Suthep admitted they had met barred party leaders and executives like Banharn Silapa-archa, Newin Chidchob and Somsak Thepsuthin to string together the coalition majority.

The senator argued that the Democrats had used unconstitutional means to grab power. He warned about the damage to democracy if the Democrats escaped punishment for manipulating the political system.

Reacting to Ruangkrai's remarks, Democrat deputy leader Jurin Laksanavisit said he was not concerned about the prospect of litigation.

Jurin said Ruangkrai simply had no case against the Democrats.

There was no constitutional ban on political parties selectively fielding electoral candidates, nor was there a requirement for parties to contest in every constituency, he said.

Under political precedents, the leading coalition party and its alliance partners often worked together in naming candidates and mapped out the campaign strategy, he said.

Jurin said the Democrats would contest nine of 29 vacant House seats.

He said he did not pay any attention to a prediction by fortune-teller Kengkaj Jongjaipra, who said the government would last only three to six months.

The government is determined to devote its full attention to getting the job done and will not be disheartened by disparaging remarks, he said.