Bangkok governor ceases duties

BANGKOK, March 31 (TNA) - Bangkok Governor M.R. Sukhumbhand Paribatra says he is still the incumbent governor, but he only has to suspend doing his duties, as the Court of Appeals has received a complaint over the alleged violation of the electoral law by his vote campaign team. M.R. Sukhumbhand told journalists on Monday that by law he has to cease his duties, as the Court of Appeals has received the request from the Election Commission of Thailand (EC) to disqualify him and organize a fresh gubernatorial election, but his status as the Bangkok governor remains intact. M.R. Sukhumbhand stressed, however, that he will respect the court’s final ruling in the future. The EC filed the request after finding out that some key vote campaigners of M.R. Sukhumbhand’s Democrat Party had slandered the candidate of the ruling Pheu Thai Party in the governor election last year. If the court finally orders a fresh election, M.R. Sukhumbhand will still have the right to run in the contest. M.R. Sukhumbhand, who was given morale support by officials and people at the City Hall, opined that he should receive justice from the Court of Appeals, as all parties knew that he did nothing wrong and his team of lawyers is ready for his defence. For the time being, M.R. Sukhumbhand acknowledged that he has assigned his four deputies and officials of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to take care of people in the capital. M.R. Sukhumbhand expressed his concerns over people in the capital who have faced persistent political rallies.(TNA)