Thai PM cries foul; POC says no bias

BANGKOK (AFP) — Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday expressed doubts over the fairness of the results in the Southeast Asian Games (SEAG), noting host nation Philippines is winning far more medals than competitors.

"Normally, I have no time to watch sports but I often watched these games and kept thinking, ‘Why do results turn out to be that way?’ I don’t know what to say," he told reporters.

The Philippines has a significant lead in the race for medals in the 23rd Southeast Asian Games, with 57 medals including 29 golds. Vietnam and Thailand are second and third with 48 and 42 medals respectively.

While Thaksin stopped short of naming the Philippines, he said he was disappointed by the SEA Games and might raise the medal issue on the sidelines of the December summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Malaysia.

"If the SEA Games continue to be like this, then it will become less popular because they have put a priority for medals over athletic spirit," the prime minister said.

"It’s normal to win or lose. But it’s not nice if we host such games and do this to other countries. In sports, I believe we have to develop athletic skills and good sportsmanship. We should not focus only on medals and forget about being good sports," he said.

In Manila, the Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee (PHILSOC) refuted the criticism, saying the conduct of the various sporting events as well the officiating for each contest "are solely under the supervision and control of the Southeast Asian Games Federation and its pool of international referees and judges."

In a statement made in behalf of PHILSOC, Philippine Olympic Committee chairman Robert Aventajado said the pool of judges and referees come from each of the 11 participating countries and various international sports bodies.

"There are strict regulations governing the conduct of the competitions, as laid down by the various world sports organizations, and when contests are in progress, it is our understanding that no judge or referee from the competing athlete or team’s nation participates," Aventajado said.

He said the SEA Games has proper mechanisms for the resolution of protests and grievances not only with regards to officiating, but also concerning athletes’ eligibility and the overall conduct of the games.

"Team Philippines stands together with other participating countries, including Thailand, in the commitment to the highest standards of sportsmanship and fair play in the Games," he added.

Aventajado said that he spoke yesterday with Thailand Olympic Committee vice president Chaiyapak Siriwat who had no complaints about the conduct of the games.

But Jaruk Areerajakaran, secretary general of Thailand’s Olympic Committee which oversees international competition, has complained that the Philippines cheated Thai competitors out of victories in several sports, including boxing, gymnastics and taekwondo.

"It is hard to win at the Games since the hosts are cheating," Jaruk told reporters, as he conceded that the Thai team will not be able to take home its targeted 110 to 118 gold medals.

Eric Buhain, chairman of the Games and Amusement Board and ambassador to the SEA Games, told journalists that Thaksin should not question the Philippines’ performance.

Buhain said the Philippines, along with their Southeast Asian countries, did not complain when Vietnam won 150 gold medals while hosting the previous SEA Games in 2003.

"He (Thaksin) should not question our performance at all," Buhain, a bemedalled swimmer in past games, said.

Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila has directed its embassy in Bangkok to verify Shinawatra’s statement.

Foreign Affairs spokesman Gilberto Asuque declined comment until Ambassador Antonio Rodriguez sends a formal report. — With AP, Pia Lee-Brago