The Constitutional Tribunal Disbands Thai Rak Thai - Election cheating

[Jai Dee]

Panya asks for 'bribe' letter

Supreme Court president Panya Thanomrod has asked the top Justice Ministry official to submit the evidence he claims is proof of a bribery attempt to sway judicial opinion in the Thai Rak Thai Party electoral-fraud case.

"Panya wants the Judiciary Commission to examine the evidence in order to get to the bottom of the attempted bribes," Panya's secretary-general Patarasak Wannasaeng said yesterday.

Under Panya's instruction, a memorandum was sent to Justice Ministry permanent secretary Charan Pakdithanakul, who has in his possession a signed letter allegedly offering bribes and circulated by two senior officials acting as brokers, Patarasak said.

Charan forwarded the evidence on Thursday to the National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC), but the judiciary said it was in a "better position" to deal with the issue.

Judiciary Commission deputy secretary-general Sarawut Benjathikul said the bribery offers might not constitute a wrongdoing under the NCCC's jurisdiction if the suspects involved had not abused their office to convince the judges to accept the kickbacks.

The NCCC could step in only if there were grounds to suspect abuse of power in connection with the bribes, otherwise the case is a criminal offence under police jurisdiction, he said.

Sarawut urged Charan to help the judiciary launch an internal investigation into the issue instead of counting on other agencies.

Justice Minister Charnchai Likhitjittha dismissed speculation about a rift between his ministry and the judiciary caused by Charan's revelation of the bribery offers.

Source: The Nation - 16 June 2007

[Mid]

hot potato .........

[Jai Dee]

Former TRT leader to take a break in the US

Former Thai Rak Thai (TRT) leader Chaturon Chaisang (จาตุรนต์ ฉายแสง) will be taking a break in the United States soon. He is scheduled to hold a press conference today. Mr Chaturon said he feels uncomfortable with news alleging that former politicians usually go abroad as a means to get a way from the political upheaval at home.

However, Mr Chaturon said his trip to the US has been long planned, prior to the political mess, and that it was due time for him to meet his business associates in the US. The former TRT leader will be flying to the US today (June 18th). Mr Chaturon plans to be in the US for a week.

Mr.Chaturon will hold press conference today at 11:30 AM. He would be talking about his assessment on the present administration's performance.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 18 June 2007

[sriracha john]

Former TRT leader to take a break in the US

Former Thai Rak Thai leader Chaturon Chaisang will be taking a break in the United States soon. He is scheduled to hold a press conference today. Mr Chaturon said he feels uncomfortable with news alleging that former politicians usually go abroad as a means to get a way from the political upheaval at home.

However, Mr Chaturon said his trip to the US has been long planned, prior to the political mess, and that it was due time for him to meet his business associates in the US. The former TRT leader will be flying to the US today (June 18th). Mr Chaturon plans to be in the US for a week.

Mr.Chaturon will hold press conference today at 11:30 AM. He would be talking about his assessment on the present administration's performance.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 18 June 2007

Nothing like stirring the pot up good and hard prior to leaving the kitchen....

Chaturon seeks new Thai Rak Thai

The defunct Thai Rak Thai Party's former leader Chaturon Chaisang will today hold a meeting of the Thai Rak Thai Group to plan a new political party to be called Thai Rak Thai. The group will also discuss the military-installed government's performance.

- The Nation

[John K]

They certainly seem a bit dense. Perhaps his trip to the USA is because he may discover the inside of a cell for ignoring the dissolution of the TRT.

[hammered]

Panya asks for 'bribe' letter

Supreme Court president Panya Thanomrod has asked the top Justice Ministry official to submit the evidence he claims is proof of a bribery attempt to sway judicial opinion in the Thai Rak Thai Party electoral-fraud case.

"Panya wants the Judiciary Commission to examine the evidence in order to get to the bottom of the attempted bribes," Panya's secretary-general Patarasak Wannasaeng said yesterday.

Under Panya's instruction, a memorandum was sent to Justice Ministry permanent secretary Charan Pakdithanakul, who has in his possession a signed letter allegedly offering bribes and circulated by two senior officials acting as brokers, Patarasak said.

Charan forwarded the evidence on Thursday to the National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC), but the judiciary said it was in a "better position" to deal with the issue.

Judiciary Commission deputy secretary-general Sarawut Benjathikul said the bribery offers might not constitute a wrongdoing under the NCCC's jurisdiction if the suspects involved had not abused their office to convince the judges to accept the kickbacks.

The NCCC could step in only if there were grounds to suspect abuse of power in connection with the bribes, otherwise the case is a criminal offence under police jurisdiction, he said.

Sarawut urged Charan to help the judiciary launch an internal investigation into the issue instead of counting on other agencies.

Justice Minister Charnchai Likhitjittha dismissed speculation about a rift between his ministry and the judiciary caused by Charan's revelation of the bribery offers.

Source: The Nation - 16 June 2007

This is getting bizarrer and bizarrer. Howeevr, odd it sounds it is starting to seem like there is a signed letter judging from the way people are reacting. That is unless there are some worried characters out there who did take some dosh and just wanna check out the letter to make sure their name is not on it, or that it is an obvious fake. There have been ahell of a lot of rumors recently about TRT money being applied in a variety of places.

[John K]

Panya asks for 'bribe' letter

Supreme Court president Panya Thanomrod has asked the top Justice Ministry official to submit the evidence he claims is proof of a bribery attempt to sway judicial opinion in the Thai Rak Thai Party electoral-fraud case.

"Panya wants the Judiciary Commission to examine the evidence in order to get to the bottom of the attempted bribes," Panya's secretary-general Patarasak Wannasaeng said yesterday.

Under Panya's instruction, a memorandum was sent to Justice Ministry permanent secretary Charan Pakdithanakul, who has in his possession a signed letter allegedly offering bribes and circulated by two senior officials acting as brokers, Patarasak said.

Charan forwarded the evidence on Thursday to the National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC), but the judiciary said it was in a "better position" to deal with the issue.

Judiciary Commission deputy secretary-general Sarawut Benjathikul said the bribery offers might not constitute a wrongdoing under the NCCC's jurisdiction if the suspects involved had not abused their office to convince the judges to accept the kickbacks.

The NCCC could step in only if there were grounds to suspect abuse of power in connection with the bribes, otherwise the case is a criminal offence under police jurisdiction, he said.

Sarawut urged Charan to help the judiciary launch an internal investigation into the issue instead of counting on other agencies.

Justice Minister Charnchai Likhitjittha dismissed speculation about a rift between his ministry and the judiciary caused by Charan's revelation of the bribery offers.

Source: The Nation - 16 June 2007

This is getting bizarrer and bizarrer. Howeevr, odd it sounds it is starting to seem like there is a signed letter judging from the way people are reacting. That is unless there are some worried characters out there who did take some dosh and just wanna check out the letter to make sure their name is not on it, or that it is an obvious fake. There have been ahell of a lot of rumors recently about TRT money being applied in a variety of places.

I think this particular one may fall in the 60-20-20 category. If not then I from time to time I have spotted a news spurge along the lines of “crooks too stupid to live.”

[Jai Dee]

EC to decide whether to launch criminal probe against 2 Thai Rak Thai executives

The five-member Election Commission (EC) is expected Wednesday to convene a full session to decide whether to launch criminal prosecution against two Thai Rak Thai executives and seven accomplices linked to their party's conviction for electoral fraud.

The EC-appointed litigation panel completed its report Tuesday recommending trial on grounds that it had uncovered sufficient evidence to secure conviction.

Should the EC endorse the report, the two prime defendants would be former Defence minister Thamarak Isarangura and former Transport minister Pongsak Ruktapongpisal.

Their seven accomplices are two senior military officers and seven civilians who worked as Thamarak's aides.

The seven are General Trairong Intarathat, Lt General Padungsak Klansanoh, Pongsri "Yuthapong" Siwamoke, Thawee Suwanpat, Thirachai "Toy" Julapat, Somchai Sukprasert and Prapan Phromrat.

The criminal litigation, if launched, would be a fallout from the May 30 verdict finding the former ruling party guilty of fraud by bankrolling two small parties and tampering with party membership records in connection with the botched April 2 vote last year.

Source: The Nation - 20 June 2007

[Jai Dee]

Jurists to probe 'bribes offer'

The country's top judge appointed three jurists yesterday to investigate allegations that Constitution Tribunal members were offered bribes to fix the Thai Rak Thai Party electoral-fraud trial.

Supreme Court president Panya Thanomrod has asked three unnamed judges to get to the bottom of the claim, according to Courts of Justice spokesman Sarawut Benjakul.

He said the panel members were "senior".

After the landmark ruling on May 30 allegations emerged that a "senior official" had attempted to buy a not-guilty verdict for Thai Rak Thai by offering tribunal members money.

Justice Ministry permanent secretary Charan Phakdithanakul made the claim. He said two of the nine tribunal members were offered kickbacks to fix the verdict and not dissolve the party. They refused, he said.

Sarawut said Charan had presented documents purporting to be evidence of the alleged bribery attempt to the Office of the President of the Supreme Court on Monday.

Sarawut said the documents were not conclusive. They do not name who offered the bribes or to whom they were allegedly offered.

Panya has denied he was one of the recipients, saying he was unaware of the alleged kickback offer until a judge alerted him.

Charan said he made the bribery allegations public because it was his job. But he did not want to alienate the judiciary, he said.

Source: The Nation - 20 June 2007

[hammered]

EC to decide whether to launch criminal probe against 2 Thai Rak Thai executives

The five-member Election Commission (EC) is expected Wednesday to convene a full session to decide whether to launch criminal prosecution against two Thai Rak Thai executives and seven accomplices linked to their party's conviction for electoral fraud.

The EC-appointed litigation panel completed its report Tuesday recommending trial on grounds that it had uncovered sufficient evidence to secure conviction.

Should the EC endorse the report, the two prime defendants would be former Defence minister Thamarak Isarangura and former Transport minister Pongsak Ruktapongpisal.

Their seven accomplices are two senior military officers and seven civilians who worked as Thamarak's aides.

The seven are General Trairong Intarathat, Lt General Padungsak Klansanoh, Pongsri "Yuthapong" Siwamoke, Thawee Suwanpat, Thirachai "Toy" Julapat, Somchai Sukprasert and Prapan Phromrat.

The criminal litigation, if launched, would be a fallout from the May 30 verdict finding the former ruling party guilty of fraud by bankrolling two small parties and tampering with party membership records in connection with the botched April 2 vote last year.

Source: The Nation - 20 June 2007

One of the nastiest characters in Northern Thailand is listed here. It would be nice to see this lot go down.

[sriracha john]

Thammarak, Pongsak face criminal charges

The National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC) plans to press charges against former TRT party executives Gen Thammarak Isarangkura and Pongsak Raktapongpaisal. NCCC commissioner Vicha Mahakhun said yesterday that the two could face criminal charges for corruption and for intervening in the work of an independent agency, namely the Election Commission. The Constitution Tribunal on May 30 ordered that the Thai Rak Thai party be disbanded for committing electoral fraud. Former deputy party leader Gen Thammarak and former deputy party secretary-general Pongsak are allegedly connected to bribing election officer Amornwit Suwanpha. Mr Amornwit is accused of adding 61 members of the little-known Pattana Chart Thai party to the Election Commission's database so that they could contest in the April 2 election that was held last year.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/06Jun2007_news09.php

UPDATE

EC resolves to file complaint against former TRT executives

The Election Commission Monday resolved to file a complaint with police to seek criminal actions against nine former executives of the dissolved Thai Rak Thai Party related to the April election frauds.

Sutthipol Thaweechaikarn, secretary-general of the EC Office, said the EC office would draft a complaint for the EC chairman to sign and submit to the Central Investigation Bureau.

The nine executives include Thamarak Issarangkura and Pongsak Ruktapongpisal.

- The Nation

============================

Former TRT Party Executive and Thaksin Cabinet's Defence Minister Thamarak Isarangura

Former TRT Party Deputy Secretary-General Pongsak Ruktapongpisal

[Jai Dee]

Election panel asks criminal charges for TRT executives

Thailand's Election Commission (EC) has resolved to launch criminal charges against two former executives of the dissolved Thai Rak Thai Party and seven others for rigging last year's general election by hiring small parties to illegally help certain TRT candidates.

Election Commission secretary general Suthiphol Thavichaikarn said the five-member EC panel had resolved to charge the two former TRT executives and seven associates of violating the MPs and Senatorial Election Acts as well as the Criminal Code by being involved in forging official documents and hiring the now dissolved Pattana Chart Thai and Phaendin Thai parties to contest the April 2, 2006 election.

The manoeuvre, the Constitution Tribunal earlier ruled, was an intentional ploy designed to spare TRT candidates contesting particular districts the need to meet the electoral requirement to win a minimum 20 per cent of eligible votes in their constituencies.

The decision of the Election Commission followed last month's ruling of the Constitution Tribunal to dissolve the nine-year-old TRT party, earlier led by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. However, the Election Commission did not at that time consider filing a civil lawsuit against those ex-TRT executives.

The nine defendants include Gen. Thammarak Issarangura na Ayutthaya, former defence minister in the Thaksin administration and former TRT deputy leader , Pongsak Raktaphongphaisal, former transport minister and former party deputy secretary-general, Gen. Trairong Intharathat, the then chairman of the joint chiefs of staff attached to Gen. Thammarak, and Lt-Gen. Phadungsak Klansanoh, the then assistant chairman of the joint chiefs of staff attached to the then defence minister.

Source: TNA - 26 June 2007

[Mid]

The Constitutional Tribunal disbands Thai Rak Thai

BANGKOK: -- The Constitutional Tribunal disbands Thai Rak Thai

The Constitutional Tribunal Judges found Thai Rak Thai Party guilty of violating the electoral laws and ordered it to be disbanded.

They also revoked the voting rights of the party's 111 executives for five years. The party has committed wrongdoings that have negative impacts on democracy system of the country.

The judges said that senior members of the party, Thamarak Isarangura and Pongsak Ruktapongpisal, guilty of paying and hiring small parties to run in the April 2 national election.

They dismissed the party's arguments that the party's executives were not aware of both members' wrongdoings. They said it was impossible that the executives did not know the wrongdoings.

The party's executives sitting in the court room, including acting party leader Chaturon Chaisang, greeted the verdict with grim face.

The Tribunal also dissolved Pattana Chart Thai and Pandin Thai banned voting rights of their executives for five years.

TRT's acting leader Chaturon said after the rulings that the verdicts were unexpected.

However he said that he and the party will accept the rulings. He urged the party's supporters to stay calm and accept what the Tribunal ruled.

The party will hold a press conference on the issue at 11am on Thursday.

--The Nation 2007-05-30

Thai Rak Thai to launch rallies nationwide Thursday

July 25, 2007 : Last updated 05:45 pm

The Thai Rak Thai group will hold small rallies across the country on Thursday urging people to support it in setting up a new political party to contest the general election.

Chaturon Chaisang and other key figures will address a rally in Bangkok, while former MPs will speak at rallies in the North and Northeast, the stronghold of the defunct Thai Rak Thai Party.

The Nation

[John K]

So what do you recommend to get stubborn stains out? Perhaps a long soak in a tank?

[Mid]

TRT to run under People Power party

(BangkokPost.com) - Executives of Thai Rak Thai group decided Saturday to have its members contest for an upcoming general election under People Power party (or Palang Prachachon), former spokesman of the now-defunct Thai Rak Thai party Kuthep Saikrachang said Saturday.

The Post Publishing Public Co

[sriracha john]

Bribe probe team given more time

The deadline has been extended for an investigation by a Supreme Court fact-finding team into allegations of an attempt to bribe Constitution Tribunal judges in the electoral fraud cases that led to the Thai Rak Thai Party's dissolution in May.Published on July 30, 2007

Supreme Court president Panya Thanomrod has granted a request to have the deadline of July 20 extended by 15 days until August 4, court spokesman Sarawut Benjakul said yesterday.

The fact-finding team, headed by Supreme Court vice president Wirat Limwichai, said that the investigation had not been completed and it needed another 15 days, said the spokesman, adding the court president had instructed the team to complete its probe as soon as possible. According to judicial regulations, the deadline for such investigations can be extended twice for 15 days each time.

Judges from the Supreme Court and the Administrative Court make up the Constitution Tribunal.

Shortly after the tribunal handed down its ruling on May 31, Justice Ministry permanent secretary Charan Phakdithanakul claimed that two of the nine tribunal judges were offered kickbacks to fix the verdict and not dissolve Thai Rak Thai.

Charan had presented to the Supreme Court documents purporting to be evidence of the alleged bribery attempt. He claimed he had a letter with signatures of people who offered bribes to the judges.

Sarawut said yesterday that Charan had testified before the fact-finding team early this month.

- The Nation

[Mid]

TRT could be opposition

Mon, July 30, 2007 : Last updated 19:14 pm

The Thai Rak Thai Group is expected to take on an opposition role in the general election, its executive Peeraphan Palusuk said after many former TRT MPs began joining the smaller People Power Party.

At least 440 former MPs and ex-members from Thai Rak Thai applied to become People Power Party members, 205 of them ex-MPs, according to Samphan Lertnuwat, a key TRT figure, yesterday.

snip

The Nation

'tis a long way back to the start of this thread ,

something about disolving a political party ...................???

[John K]

This does beg for clarification as who is who.

Ex members, they would not be the rats that jumped ship would they?

TRT Group, well I think that’s the 111 club and the 5 year ruling applies.

Gepetto must be very busy.

Locust on the move?

[John K]

Following with my post above, first there is....

Thaksin may advise members of new party

Former premier Thaksin Shinawatra is ready to advise his former colleagues from the disbanded Thai Rak Thai Party who are taking over the smaller People Power Party, although he will not support them financially, his de-facto spokesman said yesterday.

"He is totally finished with his political career and unlikely to be an active participant of the People Power Party or to give financial support to them," Noppadon Pattama, Thaksin's legal adviser, told a press conference at the Radisson Hotel.

"If the party's executives would like to ask him for advice, I think Thaksin would be willing to give it," Noppadon was quoted by Agence France-Presse as saying.

Thai Rak Thai, the former governing party, was dissolved in May by a Constitution Tribunal ruling in an electoral fraud case. As a result, 111 party executives, including Thaksin and many of TRT's key figures, were stripped of their electoral rights for five years.

More and more former MPs from TRT are joining the little-known party, which Thaksin's ally and veteran politician Samak Sundaravej is expected to lead.

"I believe that those who formerly supported Thai Rak Thai would be ready to support People Power in the new election," said Noppadon, who is among those who have joined the party.

Meanwhile, Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday said he viewed the TRT group's merger with PPP as an attempt to acquire personal gain. He said his party was unlikely to work with the PPP after the general election if the latter is associated with Thaksin.

That leads to.....

Samak: I'm not a proxy for Thaksin

Says return to politics was prompted by TRT dissolution

Samak Sundaravej yesterday gave his side of the story on how he came to abandon retirement and lead Thai Rak Thai remnants at their new home, the People Power Party.

He also denied being Thaksin Shinawatra's proxy.

"I made up my mind after watching the televised court verdict on May 30 to dissolve the Thai Rak Thai Party," he said.

Then Thaksin, the former prime minister and party leader, called him on Tuesday.

"Thaksin asked me to look after his Thai Rak Thai members in a new party so that they could contest the general election."

Samak offered to welcome them under his old Prachakorn Thai Party banner but realised his party might be disbanded if it is convicted for candidacy fraud relating to the last general election.

He said he told Thaksin he would finalise his decision on accepting the leadership of the People Power Party by August 14, as time was needed to hold a convention to activate the new party.

He vigorously denied speculation that he was acting as a proxy for Thaksin.

"I'm no one's nominee by any means and critics should study my record," he said, adding that he had been a party leader for 22 years, won a landslide victory as Bangkok governor and joined eight governments.

He anticipated that his re-entering politics would contribute to bringing about the election.

"The country cannot move forward without the general election and all problems can be sorted out by an elected government," he said, pointing out that extreme political feelings for or against Thaksin should end.

He could help Thai Rak Thai candidates in a race against the Democrat and Chat Thai parties but not against a junta party if it decides to form one.

He could team up with many Thaksin supporters, whom he cracked down on in the October 1976 uprising, as the era of ideological conflict had passed.

He said he was free to form a political alliance, dismissing criticism about his ties to Thaksin.

He conceded he used to be critical of General Prem Tinsulanonda, the chief royal adviser, but stopped attacking him last February.

Piyanart Srivalo

That has resulted in......

Political bans extended

Executives of disbanded parties will also be banned from political activities when the new Political Party Act tajes effect, Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) member Komsan Pokong said yesterday.

Such political activity will include being a party adviser or taking part in an election campaign, he said.

"To stick with principles, we have to sanction executives of dissolved parties. Otherwise, what we have done is meaningless. They can still be politicians through nominees," Komsan said.

When the law is effective, 111 former executives of the Thai Rak Thai Party, which was ordered dissolved in May, will also be banned. Their voting rights have been revoked for five years.

He said the CDC did not fear criticism from executives of the former ruling party.

"Any new law must face criticism, anyway. But what's the point of having party dissolution if the CDC fears criticism and does not issue the ban," he said.

CDC spokesman Paiboon Warahapaitoon said the Political Party Bill, drafted by the committee, also included a ban on registering a party with an identical name or logo as a dissolved party.

Establishing a political party will be more difficult as those who want to do so must recruit at least 5,000 members before its registration, he said.

Under the 1998 Political Party Act, 15 people could register a party before gathering 5,000 members in 180 days.

The CDC's Election Commission Bill will allow four of the five commissioners to order a new election or revoke voting rights, instead of requiring a unamimous decision as before, Paiboon said. A quorum will be four members instead of all five.

Nerisa Nerykhiew

The Nation

All of this for the hard of hearing people.... The court said go away for 5 years, so go away.

[Mid]

EC has no authority to probe party's buying of former MPs

August 7, 2007 : Last updated 02:50 pm

Election Commission Chairman Apichart Sukhakkhanont said Monday that the EC had no power to investigate whether any political party spent a lot of money to buy former MPs to its fold.

Apichart said the laws did not empower the EC to launch such investigations.

Apichart made the comment after National Legislative Assembly Speaker Meechai Ruchuphan said he had learnt that a certain party paid up to Bt30 million to buy each former MP's loyalty.

The Nation

[sriracha john]

The bribe offer investigation is picking up... with the committee finding there are grounds to pursue it.... with a further big decision from the president of the Supreme Court due out today...

ELECTORAL FRAUD

Court inquiry finds official tried to bribe charter judges

An investigative committee of the Supreme Court has found there are grounds to a complaint that a bribe was offered to the Constitution Tribunal to spare a political party from a guilty verdict on a charge of electoral fraud earlier this year. Saravoot Benchakul, deputy secretary-general of the Office of the Judiciary, said yesterday that the inquiry found that a judicial official had offered the bribe. The findings have been reported to Supreme Court president Panya Thanomrod, who chairs the Tribunal. Panya is expected to rule today if a further inquiry is needed or if any action should be taken under judicial regulations and laws. The inquiry was triggered by permanent secretary for justice Jarun Pukditanakul, who said in June that an official in the Office of the Judiciary and a police colonel had tried to bribe the Constitution Tribunal. One document was an unsigned, handwritten note indicating that ML Krairirk Kasemsant, one of the nine members of the Constitution Tribunal had notified Panya that a class of 1966 law graduate of Thammasat University had tried to lobby the tribunal. In that note, dated Nov 1 last year, ML Krairirk reportedly informed Mr Panya that the wife of a classmate who had offered a bribe was indebted to ''Khunying Or''. It was reported that the approach was turned down.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/07Aug2007_news03.php

=============================================

of note:

Khunying Or [PM Thaksin’s wife's nickname] donated 50 million baht to the TRT party.

- Matichon newspaper / December 21, 2004

(provided by the good folks at 2bangkok.com)

[sriracha john]

I believe that in criminal underground terminology it's known as, "calling in a marker."

Edited August 7, 2007 by sriracha john

[marshbags]

B.Post General news Tuesday August 07, 2007

Quote:-

Grafting for survival

Graft: ''A piece cut from one plant and tied to or put inside a cut in another, so that it grows there,'' according to Longman's Dictionary. Oxford Dictionary's version defines it almost the same. There are several reasons for grafting. It can help plants to effectively tolerate harsh weather conditions, better fight insects, bolster productivity for commercial purposes and give them more varieties. Grafting can repair damage to a tree.

Grafting has been used probably for centuries. For example, one of the most well-known of a graft hybrid plant can be traced back to 1825 at a nursery near Paris between laburnum and broom, according to Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia.

Even today, grafting remains popular here not only among gardeners but also politicians. The Guinness Book of Records should be alerted that Thailand might be the first country in the world which has successfully made the most bizarre graft.

Unquote

Please go to the ref. url for the complete article

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/07Aug2007_news20.php

Good expansion of the meaning " Graft " IMHO while giving the 2 extremes of the use of it, one so beautiful and beneficial.

The other so ugly and evil.

marshbags

Edited August 7, 2007 by marshbags

[John K]

Police faces arrest for bribing judges

(BangkokPost.com) - Police will ask Criminal Court on Wednesday to issue an arrest warrant for a police colonel who is believed to have offered 30 million baht as a bribe for a Constitution Tribunal judge to spare a political party from a guilty verdict on an electoral fraud charge earlier this year, assistant police chief Jongrak Chutanont said Tuesday.

Pol Lt-Gen Jongrak refused to reveal the person's name but said he is a class of 1966 law graduate of Thammasat University.

More here

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=120706

[Mid]

how's that 1/2 appointed Senate looking ?

[hammered]

Police faces arrest for bribing judges

(BangkokPost.com) - Police will ask Criminal Court on Wednesday to issue an arrest warrant for a police colonel who is believed to have offered 30 million baht as a bribe for a Constitution Tribunal judge to spare a political party from a guilty verdict on an electoral fraud charge earlier this year, assistant police chief Jongrak Chutanont said Tuesday.

Pol Lt-Gen Jongrak refused to reveal the person's name but said he is a class of 1966 law graduate of Thammasat University.

More here

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=120706

This one has been around for a while. It seems it may actually have legs. It would be good to see someone caught with this kind of activity. Maybe the MP buying can come next if anyone can sort out who is meant to investigate it. The rumour is that there is evidence of that too but it is a hot potato that maybe nobody wants to touch.

[Tony Clifton]

ex-TRT launches anti-constitution ads

Members of the dissolved Thai Rak Thai party are calling on the people not to vote for the newly-drafted constitution in the public referendum scheduled for August 19 and for that reason plan to produce billboards, T-shirts and stickers, among other items, to express their opposition.

Surapong Suebwonglee, a leading member of the ex-TRT MPs, said his group of politicians will produce billboards at major intersections in the capital and elsewhere, as well as T-shirts and stickers saying ''We Vote No'' in the August 19 referendum.

However, only a few daily newspapers have agreed to carry advertising from the group in its latest movement against the constitution drafted at the request of the junta which staged last year's coup to oust then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

However, Mr. Surapong said his group of veteran MPs will not join the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship at Sanam Luang to express their opposition to the 2007 charter.

The authorities had groundlessly accused his ex-TRT group of hiring people in the provinces to vote against the charter and even threatened some people not to vote against it, as well, he added. (TNA)

=========================================================

Here's another bunch waiting to get arrested.

[sriracha john]

The bribe offer investigation is picking up... with the committee finding there are grounds to pursue it.... with a further big decision from the president of the Supreme Court due out today...

ELECTORAL FRAUD

Court inquiry finds official tried to bribe charter judges

An investigative committee of the Supreme Court has found there are grounds to a complaint that a bribe was offered to the Constitution Tribunal to spare a political party from a guilty verdict on a charge of electoral fraud earlier this year. Saravoot Benchakul, deputy secretary-general of the Office of the Judiciary, said yesterday that the inquiry found that a judicial official had offered the bribe. The findings have been reported to Supreme Court president Panya Thanomrod, who chairs the Tribunal. Panya is expected to rule today if a further inquiry is needed or if any action should be taken under judicial regulations and laws. The inquiry was triggered by permanent secretary for justice Jarun Pukditanakul, who said in June that an official in the Office of the Judiciary and a police colonel had tried to bribe the Constitution Tribunal. One document was an unsigned, handwritten note indicating that ML Krairirk Kasemsant, one of the nine members of the Constitution Tribunal had notified Panya that a class of 1966 law graduate of Thammasat University had tried to lobby the tribunal. In that note, dated Nov 1 last year, ML Krairirk reportedly informed Mr Panya that the wife of a classmate who had offered a bribe was indebted to ''Khunying Or''. It was reported that the approach was turned down.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/07Aug2007_news03.php

=============================================

of note:

Khunying Or [PM Thaksin’s wife's nickname] donated 50 million baht to the TRT party.

- Matichon newspaper / December 21, 2004

(provided by the good folks at 2bangkok.com)

Police faces arrest for bribing judges

(BangkokPost.com) - Police will ask Criminal Court on Wednesday to issue an arrest warrant for a police colonel who is believed to have offered 30 million baht as a bribe for a Constitution Tribunal judge to spare a political party from a guilty verdict on an electoral fraud charge earlier this year, assistant police chief Jongrak Chutanont said Tuesday.

Pol Lt-Gen Jongrak refused to reveal the person's name but said he is a class of 1966 law graduate of Thammasat University.

More here

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=120706

This one has been around for a while. It seems it may actually have legs. It would be good to see someone caught with this kind of activity. Maybe the MP buying can come next if anyone can sort out who is meant to investigate it. The rumour is that there is evidence of that too but it is a hot potato that maybe nobody wants to touch.

Seems that Khunying Or is facing some actual documented evidence...

[sriracha john]

Arrest warrant for police colonel

Police to seek an arrest warrant from the Criminal Court on Wednesday for a police colonel suspected of proposing a Baht 30 million bribe to a Constitution Tribunal judge in exchange for sparing political party from a guilty verdict on an electoral fraud charge earlier this year, assistant police chief Jongrak Chutanont said Tuesday.

Pol Lt-Gen Jongrak did not reveal the identify of that police colonel, but said there was solid evidence pointing to that police colonel.

- The Nation

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seems it's difficult to find an honest colonel any where....

Edited August 7, 2007 by sriracha john

[John K]

Well with 30,000,000 Baht bribe money, that cuts the list down considerably as to who could afford to pay that much money. If police colonels make that much money, where do I sign up? Looks like just another dance with the devil if you ask me.