EC investigating Thaksin’s call to Pheu Thai politicians

By The Nation

 

 

The Election Commission (EC) is investigating former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s recent phone call to a group of Pheu Thai politicians, which has been viewed by critics as anillegal intervention in the party’s internal affairs.

 

EC secretary-general Jarungvith Phumma said on Monday that he had assigned his deputy, Sawaeng Boonmee, to head a fact-finding investigation of the incident.

 

Under the new Political Party Act, parties are prohibited from allowing any non-member or outsider to interfere with their internal affairs, either directly or indirectly. 

 

Any political parties found to be in violation of this provision risk being dissolved by order of the Constitutional Court.

 

Thaksin, who has been in self-exile overseas since 2008, last week was involved in a phone conversation with Pheu Thai politicians while he was in London celebrating the birthday of his sister, ex-PM Yingluck Shinawatra. 

 

In the conversation, recorded on video and broadcast in the media, Thaksin was heard predicting Pheu Thai’s election victory and warning its former MPs defecting to a pro-junta party that they would face electoral losses.

 

He holds no executive position in Pheu Thai but has retained much influence in the party, being referred to as “Big Boss” by many of its politicians.

 

Jarungvith said it could not be determined whether Pheu Thai had violated the law, as the party had yet to officially accept the outsider’s words as its policy. 

 

Due to the junta ban on political activities, Pheu Thai has been unable to convene any party meeting, he added.

 

He also said he could not tell at this stage how long the EC’s investigation of the matter would take.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30348588

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-6-25

Quote

In the conversation, recorded on video and broadcast in the media, Thaksin was heard predicting Pheu Thai’s election victory and warning its former MPs defecting to a pro-junta party that they would face electoral losses.

 

43 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

He also said he could not tell at this stage how long the EC’s investigation of the matter would take.

It will "lie on file" until the timing is right...

Edited June 25, 20188 yr by JAG

7 minutes ago, tukkytuktuk said:

 

Absolutely bl**dy brilliant!

 

Incidentally, why is he calling from the bar of the Shelton Mallet Royal British Legion Club?

11 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Under the new Political Party Act, parties are prohibited from allowing any non-member or outsider to interfere with their internal affairs, either directly or indirectly. 

a personal law; a law aimed at one particular person, couched in generality; novel

13 hours ago, tukkytuktuk said:

 

 

So sweet! What a glowing example of brotherly/sisterly love!

 

And they look so relaxed and trendy. No sign of the tough life they lead as exiled billionaires without morals.

13 hours ago, JAG said:

It will "lie on file" until the timing is right...

 

Doubt it. The EC boss is already issuing the standard weasely words about "not sure, maybe, didn't" etc etc.

 

New brooms but the organization is the same. Sit on the fence, hedge your bets, never no who will grab the seats when the music stops next time.

14 hours ago, JAG said:

It will "lie on file" until the timing is right...

Maybe, but I doubt they will be disbanded, even though its a clear breach of the new law. Too many people will be upset it just wont happen. 

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

EC investigating Thaksin’s call to Pheu Thai politicians

Are the junta going to keep doing this futile attempt again? They can dissolve the party but wouldn't change the voting preference of the electorate. TRT to PPP to PTP and they still win big. Repeating a pointless move is real insanity. 

'Under the new Political Party Act, parties are prohibited from allowing any non-member or outsider to interfere with their internal affairs, either directly or indirectly. '

 

This obviously excludes the unelected, non-political government.

18 hours ago, JAG said:

why is he calling from the bar

I don't know much about British laws - is it illegal to place or receive a call in a bar?

Or to watch videos on the phone, to look at pictures stored in the phone?

It doesn't really matter. The EC will take its cues from the NCPO for whenever and whatever it might conclude in its so-called investigation.

As  Thaksin is outside the country and you would assume that's where he will stay, he can say and do what he likes irrespective of how many of Thailand's "laws" he breaks and how many tizzy fits the "authorities" have and threats they make.

Time the anti-Thaksin junta gave up the stupidity and got on with something constructive - but it's always good for a laugh.

10 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

 

So sweet! What a glowing example of brotherly/sisterly love!

 

And they look so relaxed and trendy. No sign of the tough life they lead as exiled billionaires without morals.

 

Or second-class citizens...

26 minutes ago, KiwiKiwi said:

 

Or second-class citizens...

In their own eyes and their followers, they are first-class ++ citizens … irrespective of the reality.

1 minute ago, Artisi said:

In their own eyes and their followers, they are first-class ++ citizens … irrespective of the reality.

 

Mind-reading?