PT blasts Dems’ leader contest

The Pheu Thai Party has cried foul over the Democrats’ leadership race, saying it is an election campaign in disguise and a clear violation of the regime’s ban on political gatherings and activities.

The uproar comes as three Democrat figures vying for the top post take their campaigns upcountry lobbying party members to vote for them in the leader nomination process.

Hundreds of people including nonmembers have turned up to listen to the candidates talk about their visions and the party’s direction under their leadership.

Pheu Thai’s legal adviser Wichit Plangsrisakul complained the Democrat leadership contest is nothing but political canvassing which is against National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) orders.

He said the NCPO has partially relaxed its ban to allow parties to conduct only certain activities such as revising party regulations and selecting new leaders and executives.

He insisted the activities allowed by the NCPO do not include what Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva is doing.

Citing the Election Commission (EC), Mr Wichit said the regime’s bans on political gatherings of more than five people and on political activities remain intact.

“Mr Abhisit claimed the EC has been informed and so the process is allowed by the NCPO. [I think] the EC was informed of the party’s general meeting to select a party leader.

Instead he took the opportunity to canvass for votes from party members and the public.

“I wonder what would happen if every party wanted to do the same. What if they want to hold a party meeting and invite people to attend and introduce former MPs. Will their requests be granted?” he said.

Mr Wichit called on the NCPO, the EC and the Interior Ministry to investigate the leadership campaigns of Mr Abhisit and other party candidates to determine if they contravene regime orders.

Rames Rattanachaweng, deputy spokesman for the Democrats, said yesterday the party is operating within the law.

He insisted the activity is not electioneering and he hoped Pheu Thai understood that the Democrats have a different process of selecting a leader.

According to Mr Rames, while the Democrats want to engage party members in the process, Pheu Thai leaves the issue in the hands of one group of people.

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Kreangam yesterday declined to comment on the Democrat leader nomination process and the criticism.