Failed senate candidates describe alleged vote-rigging scheme

Opposition parties presented four witnesses today in the high-profile case of alleged collusion in the Senate election two years ago, at a forum held in parliament to mark the second anniversary of the poll.

The four witnesses were Sumalawati Sirikomut, Pol. Col. Somyot Seehabua, Somnuek Suchaithana, Worawichai, and Songyot Hemavongs, all unsuccessful Senate candidates.

Pol. Col. Somyot told the forum that he had been approached by another Senate candidate, who offered him a free air ticket to Bangkok, complimentary hotel accommodation in the Sathorn area, and an opportunity to meet other candidates at Siam Paragon shopping mall.

He claimed that the group of Senate candidates was later taken on a cruise along the Chao Phraya River before being transported to a hotel in Pathum Thani province, where each was given a note identifying the candidates they were instructed to vote for in the first round of the Senate election.

Songyot told the forum by telephone that he had also been offered a free air ticket and complimentary hotel accommodation in Bangkok, but declined the offer and paid his own travel and accommodation expenses.

Like Somyot, he claimed that, while attending a meeting at a hotel in Pathum Thani, he was given a note instructing him which candidates to vote for in the first round of the Senate election.

Somnuek claimed that he and other candidates in the public health category met at a hotel in Don Mueang and another hotel in Ayutthaya. He said they were given notes instructing them how to vote and were told to sign undated resignation letters in advance in case they were elected senators.

Speaking at the same forum, Democrat MP Sathit Wongnongtoey said that accounts from other witnesses alleging collusion followed the same pattern, including instructions for Senate candidates to wear yellow shirts to create the impression that those orchestrating the election were royalists. He condemned those behind the alleged scheme for exploiting the colour yellow for political gain.

After the forum, the Democrat deputy leader said he believed more Senate candidates would come forward to speak about the alleged collusion, which he described as "a coup against democracy."

He also urged Election Commission Secretary-General Sawaeng Boonmee to broaden the investigation to cover every aspect of the Senate election in order to establish the truth behind the alleged collusion.

Other speakers at the forum included Professor Siripan Nogsuan Sawasdee of the Faculty of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University, and Yingcheep Atchanont, director of the Internet Law Reform Dialogue (iLaw).