The Senate has threatened to seek the impeachment of Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong over the decision, by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), to consider an allegation by a group of failed senatorial candidates and senatorial reservists, claiming that the Senate election last June involved voting collusion and manipulation.
General Kriangkrai Srirak, First Deputy Senate Speaker, claimed today that the Senate’s reputation has been seriously tainted by the DSI’s decision and it poses a threat to national security.
He said that senators will ask the Senate Speaker to submit a motion to the Constitutional Court to remove Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong from office.
Itthiporn Boonpracong, chairman of the Election Commission, said today that the DSI consulted the EC over its decision to look at allegation ahead of further investigation.
He said that the EC is now in the process of considering the DSI’s case.
The DSI board, chaired by Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, is scheduled to meet this Tuesday to consider whether to give the DSI the go ahead to investigate the Senate and whether the DSI itself would be at risk of being charged with malfeasance, in accordance with Section 157 of the Criminal Code, by over overstepping its authority, as the investigation should be carried out by the Election Commission.
The DSI’s move to investigate the Senate must get the approval of at least two-thirds of the 22 board members.
Opinions are widely divided about the authority of the DSI to investigate the Senate. Dr. Nat Natthawut Wongwian, a public law specialist, said he doubts that the DSI has the power to investigate the Senate, adding that the DSI’s move could be interpreted as part of a political game to undercut the so-called “Blue” senators, who have blocked attempts to amend the Constitution by the Pheu Thai and People’s parties.
Former Senator Somchai Sawangkarn said yesterday that he supports the DSI’s move to investigate the Senate, for the sake of transparency, noting that there are issues that need to be cleared up regarding the election process.
He said that he personally believes the senate election process, from district up to national levels, was riddled with collusion and block voting.
Somchai said he wants the court to open the ballot boxes for public vote recounts, adding that he has no bias against the current senators.
