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Related: Chart Thai Party to Cooperate with PPP in Forming Gov't
The Election Commission (EC) of Thailand on Saturday called on supporters of the People Power Party (PPP) in northeastern province of Buri Ram to end rally, saying that "A third party" could use the chance to stir possible unrest.
Prapan Naikowit, commissioner of the EC, said the rally might stir more unrest and attract a possible third party who expects instability after the election.
His statement came after about 20,000 supporters of PPP rallied outside provincial election committee in Buri Ram since Friday after it disqualified three winning candidates from PPP for alleged vote-buying. The protesters demand the removal of provincial EC staff.
During the general election held on Dec. 23 last year, the PPP won a total of 233 of the 480 parliament seats. However, the EC only endorsed 168 PPP winners, saying another 65 still had to be investigated because of election frauds.
Until Jan. 5, the EC has showed three red cards and four yellow cards to seven of the 65 un-fated PPP winners. According to the election law, a candidate who was issued with a red card will be disqualified in the by-elections which is now set on Jan. 20, while a candidate with a yellow card still can re-contest the by- elections.
The protesters, all supporters of the three red card holders, argued the provincial election officials were members of anti-PPP camp and were unfair.
However, Prapan said the ones who have ruled on the case is not the provincial officers but the main EC staff in Bangkok.
He also called on the protesters to stop accusing the poll staff of framing the PPP candidates, explaining that the staff just do their jobs.
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