Thai election commission meets over alleged fraud by Thaksin

[dr dave soul monsta]

Thailand's Election Commission was to meet Tuesday to determine if outgoing Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra tried to buy votes and whether his party committed other alleged fraud in the run-up to last week's general election.

The commission was considering two complaints that were filed by Thaksin's opponents before Thailand's April 2 election but put off until after polls were tallied.

Thaksin emerged from weeks of anti-government protests as the winner of the elections, but surprised the country by announcing he would leave office, bowing to demands for him to step down.

Critics accuse him of corruption and abuse of power and have threatened more protests unless Thaksin leaves parliament, where he maintains a seat as a legislator, and drops out of politics entirely.

The People's Alliance for Democracy, the group that led mass protests to oust Thaksin, submitted a petition before the general election calling for a probe into possible violations by Thaksin during his campaign.

It alleged that Thaksin tried to buy voters' favor with cash, T-shirts and headbands, and promised to reward poor villagers with low-interest loans if he was re-elected.

Thaksin could lose his parliamentary seat if the commission decides against him. However, a preliminary finding released Sunday indicated there was no conclusive evidence showing Thaksin had violated electoral law.

A final ruling initially expected on Monday could be delayed further, said Ekkachai Warunprapha, the commission's secretary-general, who said Tuesday the body ''might ask for more witnesses'' to testify in the case.

Thaksin's opponents have accused the commission of favoring the ruling Thai Rak Thai party by delaying the release of the investigation's findings until after the polls, which were boycotted by the three main opposition parties.

In a separate complaint, the opposition Democrat Party has alleged that Thaksin's party hired people to run as candidates, paying each of them between 100,000 baht to 3 million baht (US$2,500-$77,500; euro2,100-euro63,600).

Critics allege Thaksin's party was trying to avoid a technicality of electoral law that requires unopposed candidates to win a minimum of 20 percent of votes from their district for the result to be valid.

Thaksin named his longtime friend and deputy prime minister, Chitchai Wannasathit, to serve as acting leader until a new government is formed early next month.

Thaksin was scheduled to fly to England with his family later this week for a vacation around the Thai New Year holiday, which starts Thursday.

[OhmyNews]