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Banharn
in hot water over speech
Accused of making illegal poll pledges
SURASAK TUMCHAROEN
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| NEW SLOGAN Chuwit Kamolvisit, deputy Chart Thai leader, shows a T-shirt with the slogan "Opportunity rests with you, not the prime minister", to a meeting of Chart Thai candidates running in Bangkok constituencies yesterday. — Chanat Katanyu |
He allegedly made the offer while campaigning for votes in Sing Buri province last Wednesday.
Sing Buri Senator Kamnuan Chalopathum, who also heads the subcommittee monitoring the behaviour of government officials in the lead-up to the general election, said he and some colleagues would hold a special meeting tomorrow.
They would consider whether the former prime minister's campaign speech had breached any electoral rules.
If so, the matter would be promptly forwarded to the Election Commission's provincial branch, he said.
During his address to villagers, Mr Banharn reportedly pledged to give money out of his own pocket to help with development projects if government funds were insufficient. Standing next to Mr Banharn on the platform was Chaiwut Tanakamanusorn, a veteran MP seeking re-election on the Chart Thai ticket. He is standing against another veteran, Thai Rak Thai MP Payap Panket.
''I'll help you with the funding if you vote for Chaiwut. I'll take care of you with funding out of my own pocket and the amount could even be higher than the government budget,'' Mr Kamnuan quoted Mr Banharn as saying in his campaign speech.
Mr Banharn responded to the allegation while stumping in Maha Sarakham province, saying he was ''only joking'' when he mentioned ''private funding'' for projects during his campaign speech in Sing Buri.
But the senator contended: ''The Chart Thai leader might even be charged with attempted fraud if he persists in saying he did not mean what he said.''
Mr Kamnuan said the allegation could be proved as some villagers had given him a CD containing Mr Banharn's controversial campaign speech.
Maj-Gen Intarat Yodbangtoey, the chairman of the Senate local administration committee to which the subcommittee is answerable, had been asked to join the special meeting, which would be held in Sing Buri on Thursday, he said.
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