Campaign may be seen as revenge

Attempt to oust graft fighters alarms TRT

Post Reporters

A sign-up campaign by a Thai Rak Thai MP to seek the ouster of graft fighters continues amid worries that it could be seen as an act of revenge for Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Maha Sarakham MP Charnchai Chairungruang kicked off the move this week at the demand of a group of followers of Luangta Maha Bua, led by Thongkorn Wongsamut.

Mr Charnchai said, as a people's representative, he was duty-bound to heed their demand by passing it to the Senate. He denied the campaign was politically motivated.

The group complained that the National Counter Corruption Commission had been too slow in moving against Chuan Leekpai and Tarrin Nimmanahaeminda, alleged of misusing public donations raised by the revered monk to help shore up the country's foreign reserves.

The dismissal petition had been submitted to the graft commission when Mr Chuan was prime minister and Mr Tarrin finance minister in the previous government.

About 70 Thai Rak Thai MPs reportedly signed the petition, which required the support of at least one-fourth, or 125 of the 500 MPs, before it could be sent to the senate speaker. Interior Minister Purachai Piemsomboon, the Thai Rak Thai party secretary-general, said he was worried the Charnchai campaign could be politicised.

"I am worried there may be attempts to make connections between things which, in fact, are completely irrelevant," he said.

The graft agency found Mr Thaksin, the Thai Rak Thai leader, intended to hide shares worth billions of baht.

Some of his supporters doubted the investigation was transparent and free from political interference. Many regarded Klanarong Chanthik, the graft commission secretary-general, as having close links with the Democrat party, Thai Rak Thai's biggest rival.

Mr Purachai said MPs should discuss their plans with the party first, adding he would seek clarification from Mr Charnchai.

Adisorn Piangket, a Thai Rak Thai list MP, backed Mr Charnchai, whom he said had represented him at the meeting with Mr Thongkorn, pledged help and felt obligated to honour his pledge.

Mr Adisorn said the graft commission had nothing to fear if it adhered to rules and ethics.

"Independent agencies must understand that they are not the suns but the planets that revolve around the people and the constitution," Mr Adisorn said.

Mr Chuan, the opposition leader, said he wondered why independent agencies, which never had problems in other cases, had to face difficulties and pressure when scrutinising people in the government camp.

"Like it or not, the rules must be respected. There is never an exemption. But the situation is quite confusing now," Mr Chuan said.

Mr Klanarong said he did not see how the graft commission had made mistakes warranting expulsion in its Chuan-Tarrin investigation.

Mr Thaksin, meanwhile, said he did not know about the Charnchai campaign. However, he wanted people to stay calm while the ruling on his wealth concealment case was still pending.

The prime minister asked his supporters to bring to a halt their campaigns to help save his job as he feared they might lead to confrontations.

"I want my verdict made based purely on constitutional grounds. So please do not pressure or tamper with the court," Mr Thaksin said.

Politicians and businessmen, including Veera Musikapong, Sem Pringpuangkaew and Wasant Pothipimpanont, are gathering public support to show to the court Mr Thaksin was indispensable if government policies were to deliver results.

But people who disagreed argued that the court must be able to work under no pressure.

Democracy activist Suriyasai Katasila said he was worried about confrontations if the public could not settle which must come first-the system or an individual.

Mr Suriyasai said he believed the pro-Thaksin groups meant well. However, he did not believe in white knights.

"We were disappointed before with a person we believed could be a good leader. We now need to check on anyone charged with running the country," he said.

Thailand would carry on, with or without Mr Thaksin, because Thai Rak Thai would remain the core ruling party.