Bangkok: A forty four-year-old Thai activist doused himself with gasoline and set himself ablaze today morning near the Parliament building, reportedly in protest at a vote fraud case, police said.

The activist identified as Man Truatmanka suffered burns over more than 90 per cent of his body and was hospitalised in very critical condition, police Lieutenant Colonel Ekachai Srirahong said.

Thai media reported that man burned himself to demand the resignation of Parliament speaker Yongyut Tiyapairat, who has been charged before the Supreme Court of bribing local officials in northern Thailand to campaign for the ruling People Power Party (PPP) in elections in December.

But Ekachai insisted that the activist had not made any explicit demands before setting himself on fire. Man's injuries were too severe to question him in hospital, he added.

Yongyut has denied the charges against him.

If convicted, PPP executive Yongyut could be stripped of his seat in Parliament. A conviction could also open the door to a broader investigation into the operations of the PPP itself.
Source : PTI