The Bhumjaithai Party has denied accusations that it has offered benefits to people in Nakhon Ratchasima to boost its membership -- a violation of the law on political parties which could potentially lead to the party being dissolved.
Sora-at Klinprathum, the Bhumjaithai's chief adviser, was referring to a complaint that former red-shirt leader Suporn Atthawong filed with the Election Commission's provincial office in Nakhon Ratchasima.
Mr Suporn, formerly a key figure in the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), claims Pornchai Amnuaysap, a provincial councillor in Nakhon Ratchasima, teamed up with an owner of a local tapioca flour factory to hire village health volunteers to collect ID cards from locals in Soeng Sang and Khon Buri districts as they prepared to recruit them as Bhumjaithai members. In exchange, they were paid 50-100 baht each.
However, critics say this could represent a breach of the law on political parties and the ban on political activities imposed by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).
Mr Suporn asked the EC provincial office to look into the case and then forward it to the EC's main office to consider pursuing a party dissolution case against Bhumjaithai.
Better known by his nickname "Rambo Isan", Mr Suporn was among those migrating from the red-shirt movement to Phalang Pracharat, believed to have been established to support Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha if he bids to reclaim the premiership after the general election tentatively set for Feb 24.
Mr Pornchai insists he is not yet a member of any political party.
Mr Sora-at confirmed Tuesday that Mr Pornchai was not a member of his party, adding the primaries to select poll candidates have not yet been held.
"This is a smear campaign designed to damage the party's reputation. We will sue for defamation," Mr Sora-at said.
Party members in the province have confirmed that no benefits were offered to local people and no ID cards have been collected from them, he said.
Bhumjaithai realises that recruiting members is prohibited until the political ban has been eased, Mr Sora-at added.
The NCPO plans to partially lift the ban this month but no precise date has been given.
EC secretary-general Jarungvith Phumma warned political parties Tuesday not to engage in such activities as the ban is still in place but said they can still approach prospective members.
He said the case in Nakhon Ratchasima could not be deemed as vote-buying because it did not occur during an election. However it could be seen as an act where members were "bought" as certain benefits were offered, he added.
The law on political parties punishes both the parties and the individuals involved in the offence, Pol Col Jarungvith said.
"Section 30 of the law prohibits parties ... from offering money or other benefits in a direct or indirect manner to persuade people to become party members," he said.
"Section 31 forbids anyone from demanding or receiving money and other benefits from parties or anyone to become party members," Pol Col Jarungvith added.
"Any party involved in such an offence will be dissolved under Section 92 of the law while those who violate either of the two provisions will face a jail term of up to five years and a fine of up to 100,000 baht. They will also have their right to run in elections revoked for five years," he said.
Mr Pornchai responded by categorically denying the allegations made against him by Mr Suporn.
He said he was not a member of any political party but planned to make a foray into national politics.
He thought the Bhumjaithai should be able to forward the interests of local cassava growers so he gathered local opinions about whether he should join the party, he said.
He then presented photocopies of local people's ID cards to Bhumjaithai to show he had the support of locals so the party would consider fielding him as a possible candidate, he added.
Mr Pornchai insisted he was not yet a Bhumjaithai member. He argued that he had just followed the principles of the primary system. The party must decide whether to accept him as a potential candidate, he added.
