Thai court turns up heat on election body to quit

BANGKOK, May 31 (Reuters) Thailand's Supreme Court today rejected a bid to nominate candidates for two empty seats on the Election Commission, raising pressure on its members, accused of favouring the government, to resign.

A rare sitting of all Supreme Court judges voted 72 to 4 to turn down the outgoing Senate's call following an inconclusive April 2 snap general election later declared unlawful, court spokesman Wirat Chinwinigkul told reporters.

Wirat did not say why most judges rejected the request, but analysts said the decision reinforced calls by the top courts, told by revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej to solve the political mess the election left, for the commissioners to go.

''It is obvious that the court is stepping up its call for the stubborn Election Commission to quit,'' political commentator Sukhum Nualskul said of a body which has become the main immediate hurdle to resolving a constitutional crisis.

''Many people were relieved to see the king telling the top courts to end the political crisis, but so far the EC seems to be the only group that isn't heeding His Majesty's remarks.'' Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra called the snap election to counter months of street protests by foes accusing him of abuse of power and corruption, charges he denies.

But it failed to produce a constitutionally valid lower house of parliament due to an opposition boycott and left Thailand with a caretaker government and no functioning legislature.

A re-run of the election has been set for October 15, but there are serious doubts whether it could take place with the current three commissioners in place.

They face a flurry of court cases filed by the main opposition Democrat Party and other Thaksin foes with the first trial set for June 19 alleging they manipulated procedures to benefit his Thai Rak Thai (Thais Love Thais) party.

They are also accused of holding fast to help Thai Rak Thai, which the commission is investigating on charges of paying small parties to run to avoid the problem of an uncontested candidate having to get 20 per cent of the eligible vote to win.

Both the commission and the party deny collusion.

Thaksin, who took a ''political break'' after the April 2 poll left seats in parliament empty and the legislature unable to meet to elect a prime minister to form a new government, has refused comment on the payment charge since taking back power last week.

''Thammarak will have to explain that himself,'' Thaksin told reporters, referring to Defence Minister Thammarak Israngura of whom the Democrats have published still pictures taken from closed circuit television film of him with fringe party leaders at the ministry in March.

''That wasn't me,'' Thammarak told reporters. ''If any of them do say they have received the money from me, you can come and shoot me in the head,'' Thammarak said.

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