Quote:Council of State backs Buri Ram red cards

(BangkokPost.com) -The Council of State has ruled in favour of the Election Commission’s decision to red-card three People Power party (PPP) candidates in Buri Ram province for suspected electoral fraud.

The PPP and its three candidates – Prakit Poldet, Pornchai Srisuriyanyothin and Rungroj Thonsri – failed to convince the Council of State that the disqualification by the Election Commission’s head office in Bangkok was too harsh. They had suggested that the results be voided and the candidates be allowed to run in a by-election in constituency 1.

The Council of State’s decision comes on the same day the Election Commission is considering 75 more cases of fraud. So far the EC has certified 397 winners. Among the 83 who have not been approved are 65 winning members of the PPP.

Quote:Council of State confirms red cards three Buri Ram winners

The Council of State's special committee ruled unanimously on Monday that the Election Commission's decision to give red cards to Buri Ram's three winning candidates of the People Power Party was in accordance to law, the committee secretary Atchaporn Jarujinda said.

Atchaporn said the three PPP candidates had the right to appeal the EC's decision with the court.

The EC had issued red cards to Buri Ram's constituency 1 winning candidates comprising Prakij Poldej, Pornchai Srisuriyanyothin, and Rungroj Thongsri after it uncovered incriminating evidence that showed the three promised to give assets and other interest in return for their election victory. The EC also revoked the election rights of the three and ordered them to pay compensation for the EC's having to organise a by-election.

Before the Council of State's special committee reached the decision today, PPP's secretary general Surapong Suebwonglee said the party's three disqualified candidates would submit additional evidence to the committee for consideration.

However legal specialists said the committee did not have the right to take up additional evidence to re-consider the case because only the EC had the sole responsibility to decide on the matter.