Asia-Pacific

'Red-shirt' calls on Election Commission to resign

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-12-01 16:59

BANGKOK - Thailand's "red-shirt" faction, June 24 Democratic group, on Wednesday called on all five members of the Election Commission (EC) to resign, Bangkok Post online reported.

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The group's core leader, Somyos Plueksakasemsuk, said that the EC chairman and the other four commissioners should step down because of their failure to submit the case in the alleged misuse of the 29 million baht electoral grant within the legal time frame This failure had saved the ruling Democrat Party from dissolution, according to Somyos.

Six Constitution Court judges on Monday voted 4:2 to drop the dissolution case against the prime minister's party on grounds that the petition process was unlawful from the start that the case was filed beyond the granted legal time frame - 15 days.

Somyos said that the court's decision would only increase the number of "red-shirt" supporters, as it clearly showed that the alleged double standards really exist.

On Monday after the court read the verdict, Abhisit said this was not "double standards" against anyone.

Earlier, "red-shirt" supported parties, Thai Rak Thai party and People's Power Party of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinnawatra, were dissolved by the Constitutional Court for violation of electoral laws.

Being established in April 1946, the Democrat Party is the oldest political party in Thailand.