'Black arts' sunk Senate poll petition

Senator Premsak Piayura yesterday accused influential figures in the Senate of using intimidation and covert tactics to pressure independent senators into withdrawing their signatures from a petition seeking the removal of 136 other senators over alleged election collusion.

- AEKARACH SATTABURUTH

Dr Premsak, who initiated the petition, said he was informed by the Senate Secretariat on Thursday that the petition had failed to secure the required number of endorsements and could not proceed.

The petition followed the July 17 investigation report by the Election Commission’s 26th subcommittee, which suggested that the 136 senators may have violated the organic law on Senate elections.