Besieged EC chief mulls stepdown

BANGKOK, May 17 (TNA) - The Chairman of the Election Commission of Thailand (EC) Pol. Gen. Vasana Peumlap said here on Wednesday that he is considering stepping down, saying he will make a decision after completing his pending work.

Pressured by both the former opposition bloc and civic groups to step down, the remaining election commissioners are feeling the heat now from the country's top three courts, including the Supreme Court, the Administrative Court and the Constitution Court.

Pol. Gen. Vasana told journalists that he might announce his resignation after his work at the election agency is complete.

"It's now a countdown period for me at the EC. I'm not clinging to the post as some have alleged," he said, "but I'm accelerating my activities to complete my work, including written comments on election petitions."

"Once my work is complete, I may decide to step down," he noted.

The remaining election commissioners are believed to be ready to follow the EC chief's move, according to sources inside the agency.

The country's top three courts last week ruled to nullify the April 2 general election on the grounds that it was against the constitution.

They suggested that the election commissioners resign en masse to end the political stalemate and to pave the way for the selection of a new EC panel.

Another election commissioner, Gen. Charupat Ruangsuwan, resigned on Monday.

Anti-Thaksin civic groups, led by the People's Alliance for Democracy, threatened Wednesday morning to stage a new mass rally shortly if the three remaining election commisioners do not step down.

TNA
May 17, 2006