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| Reference Material |
| Ten (Thai) senators fired for poll cheating By The Associated Press March 14, 2001, Philippine Daily Inquirer BANGKOK - In a landmark order, the Election Commission of Thailand yesterday expelled ten senators, including the Senate president, from (parliament) after finding them guilty of cheating to win elections last year. The ruling, which cannot be appealed, is another blow to the credibility of the upper house of parliament, some of whose other members are embroiled in sex and bribery scandals. It also is a vindication of Thailand�s ongoing political reforms under which the Election Commission was set up to root out endemic poll fraud���. Election Commissioner Yuwarat Kamolvej told reporters that there was �solid evidence� that the election victory of the ten members was �not free and fair.� �After 15 hours of deliberations, the Election Commission has unanimously decided to dismiss the ten senators because it has grounds to believe that their election involved fraud,� he said. ***** |