Dep PM Denies Meddling with Poll Panel

23/12/2009
Thailandoutlook

The deputy prime minister denies accusation of meddling with the poll panel in an attempt to throw out the unlawful donation case against his ruling Democrat Party.

Deputy Prime Minister in charge of national security Suthep Thaugsuban said the leak of classified documents on the government's planned action against fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to the opposition Pheu Thai Party could be the job of officials in the Foreign Ministry.

Suthep said it is normal for a long-ruling leader like Thaksin to still have people loyal to him. He advised the foreign minister to partly change its stance as Cambodia can take advantage over the issue.

The deputy prime minister also suggested legal affairs agencies consider if Thaksin's posting of those documents on his Twitter page is lawful but noted he should be aware if his disclosure of issues related to national security is appropriate.

Suthep said Thaksin and Pheu Thai party-list MP Jatuporn Prompan, who revealed the documents, may face legal action for allegedly violating security laws but the decision will rest on law-enforcement agencies.

He also denied Thaksin's accusation on his intervention with the Election Commission's work in an effort to dump the case of the Democrat Party's alleged receipt of illigal donation from a private company for its spending on the 2005 election.

Suthep argued that the ousted prime minister's accusation relies on his belief that the Democrat must follow his path of meddling with independent agencies but that is not the nature of his party.

Suthep also shrugged off Pheu Thai's labeling the current government as lender, corrupter and profit taker, saying his party is not what accused.