The Nation reports:

The People Power Party yesterday told Democrat Party chief adviser Chuan Leekpai to back up his claim that he had received letters attacking Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda.

While Chuan insists it is true, PPP ministers said he should have filed evidence with the police.

PPP deputy spokesman and legal adviser Supachai Jaisamut said people would question Chuan's intentions and ask why it was only Chuan who had received such correspondence.

Reacting to Chuan's urging independent organisations to work more decisively, Supachai said the former PPP MP candidate for Ubon Ratchathani, Sombat Rattano, had filed a complaint against a Democrat executive. He also filed a video recording as evidence, but the Election Commission had taken no action.

"Comparing this case to the dissolution cases for the Matchima Thipataya, People Power and Chart Thai parties, the Democrats deserve a red card too. The dissolution cases for the parties should then all go ahead at the same time," he said.

Chuan said he had said many times there were people who continued attacking Prem by writing and publishing anonymously. They used many means, including rallies, and they will not stop. In the past, they attacked politicians but currently they are attacking a privy councillor, namely Prem, the former prime minister said.
Chuan said he believed some wealthy people had assigned a group to make the attacks.

He said he himself was verbally attacked and had already filed complaints. When he reported himself as an elected MP at the Election Commission headquarters, he was greeted by jeers and boos from a group of people, he added.

Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung and PM's Office Minister Jakrapob Penkair said Chuan should show responsibility by sending information and evidence to the police.

Matichon has more as I have summarized below:

Natawut Saikua, Deputy Spokesman of the Office of PM and former Nor Por Gor (DAAD/UDD) [protest group against the coup] was interviewed on April 16 says that everyone has the right to speak and protest as long as it is legal. Chuan should report any evidence has has to the appropriate authorities. As Chuan is a trained lawyer, he doubts that Chuan would say anything without having evidence. If Chuan doesn't do anything and just speaks then he is just playing politics.

He further adds that that the government is unrelated to any accusations against the institution of the privy council and has no problems with it. Any protests have been made in an individual capacity.

PPP Spokesman Kuthep said Chuan should show the evidence and if he doesn't, he is just using the opportunity to criticise the government. He should use his position as a former PM to help the country's problems.

A Democrat MP from Trang [BP: Chuan is from Trang] states that Chuan is not the only Democrat who knows about the attacks on Prem and there are many messages attacking a senior person in the politics published in various media and that the public has seen this. There are movements by some groups who have material published in the media so the believes that it is an organised movement. There must be financial support behind it. He says it is a matter for the PM and the Interior Minister who look after security and they should have information about this. They should ask people in their party whether "they are related in anyway". Why don't they listen to this information? Instead they just attack and ask for evidence. If those responsible do nothing, they are not carrying out their duties.

BP: I assume the implication is that the wealthy person/financial support comes from Thaksin, but I am a bit lost on exactly what attacks Chuan is referring to? Is it a reference to the UDD rallies last year? Samak's ongoing verbal war, whether subtle or direct, against Prem? Or both? Is it reference to the various blogs, alternative media, web board-type sentiments against Prem? Should we include Duncan McCargo, given it was his journal article which really set it off? Or is it something else? It is so vague. Can anyone shed some light, via a comment or an e-mail, if there are some new leaflets out there? Will the media demand to know exactly what Chuan was talking about, like they did with Thaksin and his statements about an "individual who appears to have extra-constitutional baramee"? Has anything illegal occurred? Or is all criticism of Prem now off-limits?

btw, Chuan is a bit thin-skinned (yes, he is not alone, but well we hear it all the time about Thaksin and not Chuan) for filing complaints against those who jeer and boo him, but given his penchant for defamation lawsuits it should not be surprising.

btw, perhaps someone should upload the video footage to YouTube if the EC are not taking any action against the Democrat executive, as alleged, so people can make up their own minds?

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