Phalang Pracharat now in the firing line

By KAS CHANWANPEN 
THE NATION

 

 

Pheu Thai to file complaint accusing exec of stake in media business; Thanathorn meets EC, suspects ‘political motivation’

 

THE TACTIC of going after Future Forward leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit and his anti-junta party members for alleged shareholdings in media companies could come back to haunt the pro-junta camp after a similar allegation was made against one of its members.

 

At least 12 members of the Future Forward Party, including Thanathorn, have been singled out for alleged shareholdings in media companies, putting them at risk of being disqualified as members of the House of Representatives.

 

The law prohibits holders of shares in media companies from contesting elections.

 

Party dissolution is also a possible punishment for parties that approved such ineligible candidates, according to the law.

 

 

Thanathorn yesterday met the Election Commission (EC) to clarify his case, but another anti-junta party, Pheu Thai, targeted the pro-junta Phalang Pracharat Party for a similar violation, accusing its executive Chanwit Wiphusiri of allegedly holding shares in media companies. Pheu Thai said it would lodge the complaint with the EC today.

 

Chanwit contested and won from Bangkok’s Min Buri district as Phalang Pracharat’s candidate and is set to become a member of the lower house.

 

At a press conference yesterday, Pheu Thai’s legal expert Chusak Sirinin said that as it could be proved Phalang Pracharat had approved Chanwit to contest in the election while he was a shareholder in a media company, the EC could petition the Constitutional Court to disband the party. Chanwit, meanwhile, argued yesterday that he was only involved in real estate business. His company was not involved in media, though it appeared on paper to be running a media business.

 

Separately, Thanathorn warned that if Future Forward members became targets for having media shareholdings, then many others from other parties would also have to go down for the same reason.

 

“If they’re going to apply this standard, MPs from all parties will disappear [from the lower house],” Thanathorn told the press.

 

Thanathorn had prepared some 27 items of evidence to prove to the poll authority that he had divested his stake on January 8, well before he registered to run in the election that took place a month later. Before meeting with the EC, Thanathorn told the press he had no trouble clarifying the issue. “I’m very carefree and confident. I didn’t have to prepare much for today. I only have to insist on the truth,” Thanathorn said. “I’m confident that I will be endorsed as an MP [when the election results are announced] on May 9.”

 

Thanathorn yesterday was accompanied by at least 80 colleagues, who would also become MPs, including party secretary-general Piyabutr Saengkanokkul who was a law professor before joining politics. Scores of supporters were also present to provide the politicians moral support at the EC office. 

 

While the accusers were nitpicking about the transaction, Piyabutr asserted that the only worthwhile point was the transfer of shares was done on January 8, which was before MP registration and hence Thanathorn should not be disqualified. Piyabutr said the party had evidence that the shares of the 11 other party members had already been transferred and he believed they would eventually be cleared. 

 

After meeting with the EC for over three hours, Thanathorn said the EC’s investigation committee had been unable to explain why the transaction had become an issue when the transfer was done before MP registration.

 

Thanathorn said he firmly believed the lawsuit was politically motivated. 

 

Ex-law professor Piyabutr also said the party would sue the agency for negligence of duty.

 

The charge against Thanathorn may have been unlawful, he said. The EC should have allowed Thanathorn to clarify the matter before pressing the charge, he explained.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30368645

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-05-01

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And who didnt think these elections would end up being a total farce marred by the incompetence of Prayuth appointed Patsies, legal challenges and fantasy.

Hard for the junta to relinquish control of the troughs after 4 years of embedding their snouts and pillaging.

Easy to see where this will go, with the inefficient EC:

Future Forward Party members -

 

Chanwit (or any other Phalang Pracharat member) =

 

1 hour ago, Reigntax said:

And who didnt think these elections would end up being a total farce marred by the incompetence of Prayuth appointed Patsies, legal challenges and fantasy.

Hard for the junta to relinquish control of the troughs after 4 years of embedding their snouts and pillaging.

have to agree with that

 

If certain parties or people have broken some fantasy rules then they should never have been allowed to stand

 

This so called "democratic election" has now become a total farce - the rules are made up as they go, I can understand those in the EC making fools of themselves but what choice do they have - stand up for the people and you will be removed

 

Not a great democratic election when those that don't like the result have the power to systematically remove those that actually won

 

The last 4 years in Thailand has seen many more billionaires appear most of whom are supposed to be on a government salary, go figure, the greed and corruption in Thailand if properly exposed must be topping the global tables, we have Thais screaming out for a 400baht minimum wage - good luck with that

 

Anyone that thinks this country has raised itself beyond 3rd world is delusional

 

It is what it is and it is shameful, we have western people posting on these forums voicing opinions and they don't like it because the truth is the truth and it hurts those stealing from the good people of Thailand, I said before - there are choices which are now very few for the people of this country - they need to remove the greed and corruption - a very tall order because the influential people that want to try are exactly the same

 

The Election results must stand or a complete rerun 

 

it's a pretty sad state of affairs 

 

Who really won - I imagine Prayuth Chan O Cha did not

 

 

3 hours ago, webfact said:

I only have to insist on the truth,” Thanathorn said

sure, but which truth ? theirs or yours ?

4 hours ago, webfact said:

the EC could petition the Constitutional Court to disband the party.

And then the court would have the same credibility as the EC.  It would be a very sad say for the Thai judiciary. 

My guess is that the elections were in competition with the Brexit scenario and imho I think the Thai election win by a 'nose'. Well done, you've done what no one else could, Ha.????

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Phalang Pracharat now in the firing line

How can they be in the firing line? They are in cahoots with the people who control the war weapons.

4 hours ago, YetAnother said:

sure, but which truth ? theirs or yours ?

Numbers of votes don't lie, people do

1 hour ago, PatOngo said:

How can they be in the firing line?

Maybe they'd be in this firing line

http://www.capitalpunishmentuk.org/shooting.html

This lot make the Brexit fiasco look normal

5 hours ago, smedly said:

have to agree with that

 

If certain parties or people have broken some fantasy rules then they should never have been allowed to stand

 

This so called "democratic election" has now become a total farce - the rules are made up as they go, I can understand those in the EC making fools of themselves but what choice do they have - stand up for the people and you will be removed

 

Not a great democratic election when those that don't like the result have the power to systematically remove those that actually won

 

The last 4 years in Thailand has seen many more billionaires appear most of whom are supposed to be on a government salary, go figure, the greed and corruption in Thailand if properly exposed must be topping the global tables, we have Thais screaming out for a 400baht minimum wage - good luck with that

 

Anyone that thinks this country has raised itself beyond 3rd world is delusional

 

It is what it is and it is shameful, we have western people posting on these forums voicing opinions and they don't like it because the truth is the truth and it hurts those stealing from the good people of Thailand, I said before - there are choices which are now very few for the people of this country - they need to remove the greed and corruption - a very tall order because the influential people that want to try are exactly the same

 

The Election results must stand or a complete rerun 

 

it's a pretty sad state of affairs 

 

Who really won - I imagine Prayuth Chan O Cha did not

 

 

Thailand is below 3rd world

This debacle just keeps giving and giving!

 

If the shares were transferred before the deadline why would the EC try and claim otherwise, knowing they'd look foolish when proven wrong?

 

What has happened about the other "charges" levied against him.

 

He doesn't look good publishing all those speeding tickets showing an indifference to the laws meant for the plebs, and disregard for other's safety.

 

Now PTP legal team, the ones who regularly cocked thing themselves, make claims against a PP winner. Not known for their own observance or adherence we'll see if PTP are right or not. Wait for the defamation counter suit.

 

And why are PTP defending him? Doesn't FFP have any lawyers of their own? Are they really just the PTP junior wing??

 

 

11 hours ago, webfact said:

Chanwit, meanwhile, argued yesterday that he was only involved in real estate business. His company was not involved in media, though it appeared on paper to be running a media business.

It's obviously a paper business... 

12 hours ago, webfact said:

Phalang Pracharat now in the firing line

he who has a glass house should not trow rocks at the neighbors.... and before making any type of accusations they should have looked into the closet to check for the skeletons

9 hours ago, YetAnother said:

sure, but which truth ? theirs or yours ?

neither one will ever see the light...thus we will stay in the dark

15 hours ago, Reigntax said:

And who didnt think these elections would end up being a total farce marred by the incompetence of Prayuth appointed Patsies, legal challenges and fantasy.

Hard for the junta to relinquish control of the troughs after 4 years of embedding their snouts and pillaging.

Now it is time for TS & YS Family and cronies to put their snouts in the troughs again.......

As an American I feel that I cannot comment on the political fairness of this country.   

17 hours ago, webfact said:

Pheu Thai, targeted the pro-junta Phalang Pracharat Party for a similar violation, accusing its executive Chanwit Wiphusiri of allegedly holding shares in media companies.

Laughable that PTP is pointing fingers at anyone. The party is run and bankrolled by fugitives. I guess there is no regulation against that.

3 hours ago, ramrod711 said:

Laughable that PTP is pointing fingers at anyone. The party is run and bankrolled by fugitives. I guess there is no regulation against that.

lol so what? does that mean the pro militaries can break rules whenever they want?