New Political Party Ready To Launch

[sriracha john]

DSI on trail of Bt1 bn

Easy Network boss Pathom denied bail; investors told to file complaints

Suspecting there was nearly Bt1 billion in Easy Network Marketing's alleged pyramid fund the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) yesterday froze all its known bank accounts and seized about Bt90 million in cash.

DSI officers also took the firm's managing director Pathom Ansakul, 28, who is the leader of Thai Rum Ruay Party, to court for a detention application.

PYRAMID SCAM

Arrest warrants out for four more

Police in Chiang Mai's Chang Pheuk district yesterday issued arrest warrants for four more suspects allegedly involved in Easy Network Marketing's alleged pyramid fund, which stripped some 800 plaintiffs nationwide of about Bt30 million.

The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) is planning to allot more manpower to the investigation into Easy Network because of the growing number of complaints being filed against it.

Chang Pheuk police superintendent Colonel Piyabutr Atchariyamongkol, assigned by Provincial Police Region 5 and the DSI to update the media, told a press conference yesterday that since the DSI took up the case on November 19, there had been 800 complainants, with 117 of them interviewed so far.

The problem was that some of these plaintiffs were afraid to give official testimony for fear of being prosecuted, too, especially those in Lamphun, Lampang, Chachoengsao, Satun, Phuket, Krabi and Nakhon Ratchasima, where the company's branches are located, Piyabutr said.

Some plaintiffs also reportedly received threats that the company would not pay them if they talked to the police, he said, affirming that after the witness interviews were completed, police would seize assets of the firm and repay the plaintiffs.

The DSI investigation will conclude on December 30, after which Chang Pheuk police will take over the case.

In Bangkok, the head of the DSI's Special Crime Office, Colonel Piyawat King-ket, said he planned to ask the DSI chief to add more investigators to the case because many more people had filed complaints. He will also ask the Justice Ministry's Central Institute of Forensic Science for experts to help check the firm's documents.

Now that the DSI has detained the firm's managing director Pathom Ansakul, 28, it must speed up the probe as it has 84 days to complete the case, given a maximum of seven 12-day periods of court-granted suspect detention, Piyawat said.

The investigation so far has found that the firm had nearly Bt1 billion in capital, but the DSI has seized only Bt100 million, or 10 per cent, of this, he said. The DSI will ask the Anti-Money Laundering Office to check the financial transactions of people related to Pathom and Easy Network Marketing.

A source at the DSI said the firm's lucky draw events were suspected to be a marketing hoax as some winners reportedly used fake papers to receive the prizes. The firm's executives musty clarify to police who these winners were.

Many more people - mostly middle-aged women living in provinces around Bangkok and in the South - filed complaints with the DSI yesterday, a source said.

Most said they filed the complaints after learning that the police were investigating the firm, which had not yet paid them any dividends.

However, some still believed Pathom was a good man, saying that he paid for members' meals, allocated dividends systematically, and had set up the Thai Rum Ruay Party to run in the upcoming election.

A 34-year-old plaintiff from Yala said Easy Network Marketing was well known in the South, and she was invited by a friend to invest with the company. At first she paid Bt2,100 for stock in a canned coffee beverage and received a dividend of double the amount she invested.

Becoming more confident, she joined a lucky draw and invested Bt35,000. She received a first dividend of Bt10,000, but then the company kept postponing the second dividend payment until Pathom was arrested, so she filed a compliant with police in the hope of getting her money back.

"I believe all investors knew that the company got money from newcomers to pay old investors, thus the dividend payment was not on a fixed schedule. But in the past we got high returns despite the delay and we were happy with that," she said.

Easy Network Marketing investors and employees went to Bangkok Special Prison yesterday to give moral support to Pathom, who is detained there. However, prison officials allowed only Pathom's relatives to see him.

- The Nation

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

Such an innovative young political party leader... he would have gone far in Thai politics...

[sriracha john]

Some of the horses aren't even getting out of the starting gate..... because they're carrying more than one jockey....

EC disqualifies 37 Party-list names

The Election Commission yesterday removed 37 candidates from 16 party lists competing in all eight proportional zones. Those eliminated can appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court within seven days

Of the 37, 33 were eliminated because of multiple party membership. One appeared on two party lists, two had applied to contest both the direct and proportionate elections, and one's address was not in the area to qualify for the race.

Those disqualified include ...Puea Pandin Party Sithichai Kowsurat.

Puea Pandin Party Deputy Leader Sithichai insisted that he was a member only of Puea Pandin and not also of People Power Party. "I left Thai Rak Thai Party and have never applied to [join] People Power Party but there have been telephone calls from the latter party to get me to resign from that party. If I have never been a member, why should I submit a resignation?'' he said.

- The Nation

Ruling on eligibility

The Supreme Court is scheduled to rule on Tuesday whether to reinstate the party-list candidacy of Sithichai Kowsurat after completing a hearing yesterday on his questionable credentials.

On November 21, the Election Commission removed Sithichai from the Puea Pandin Party's list for Zone 4 on the grounds that he was a People Power Party member at the time he filed for candidacy.

Speaking after the hearing, Sithichai said he told the high court that documents showing his People Power Party membership were not authentic.

"My signature was falsified and on July 28, the date of membership application, I was away attending a funeral in Ubon Ratchathani," he said.

He said he suspected the People Power Party had registered his name without consent by claiming the list of members of the disbanded Thai Rak Thai Party as its own.

- The Nation

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

Reminds me of old merchant ships "shanghai'-ing" sailors on the docks with a club over the head to work onboard the leaky vessels.

Edited December 1, 2007 by sriracha john

[hammered]

Some of the horses aren't even getting out of the starting gate..... because they're carrying more than one jockey....

EC disqualifies 37 Party-list names

The Election Commission yesterday removed 37 candidates from 16 party lists competing in all eight proportional zones. Those eliminated can appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court within seven days

Of the 37, 33 were eliminated because of multiple party membership. One appeared on two party lists, two had applied to contest both the direct and proportionate elections, and one's address was not in the area to qualify for the race.

Those disqualified include ...Puea Pandin Party Sithichai Kowsurat.

Puea Pandin Party Deputy Leader Sithichai insisted that he was a member only of Puea Pandin and not also of People Power Party. "I left Thai Rak Thai Party and have never applied to [join] People Power Party but there have been telephone calls from the latter party to get me to resign from that party. If I have never been a member, why should I submit a resignation?'' he said.

He said he would explain the matter at a press conference today. Puea Pandin Party Leader Suwit Khunkitti said the party had no choice but let the two candidates be removed and would not re-field any replacements for them.

- The Nation

Ruling on eligibility

The Supreme Court is scheduled to rule on Tuesday whether to reinstate the party-list candidacy of Sithichai Kowsurat after completing a hearing yesterday on his questionable credentials.

On November 21, the Election Commission removed Sithichai from the Puea Pandin Party's list for Zone 4 on the grounds that he was a People Power Party member at the time he filed for candidacy.

Speaking after the hearing, Sithichai said he told the high court that documents showing his People Power Party membership were not authentic.

"My signature was falsified and on July 28, the date of membership application, I was away attending a funeral in Ubon Ratchathani," he said.

He said he suspected the People Power Party had registered his name without consent by claiming the list of members of the disbanded Thai Rak Thai Party as its own.

- The Nation

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

Reminds me of old merchant ships "shanghai'-ing" sailors on the docks with a club over the head to work onboard the leaky vessels.

Kinda reminds me of how my wife became a card carrying member of the TRT even though she publically opposed the party right from day one (at a certain level of risk i may add), and even without signing anything. Of course then parties gained money for every memeber and it was not unique to find every personn in a village was actually a memeber of TRT even if they were unaware of the fact or even dead. Oh the good ole days.

If ther EC has let them move all the names of the TRT over to their memeber list, that is quite an oversight and to say highly questionable is a massive understatement.

Edited December 1, 2007 by hammered

[sriracha john]

Constituency-based Candidate Registration Begins Today

All provincial halls and candidate registration venues across the country were packed with politicians and constituency-based candidates this morning, as today officially marks the first of five days for constituency-based candidate registration.

Following Abhisit’s arrival, Chart Thai Party Deputy Leader Korn Dabarangsi (TRT Non-Banned #7), who defected from the Pracharaj Party earlier this month, came into the stadium with another Deputy Leader, Paveena Hongsakul, who led a team of Chart Thai candidates to register.

Paveena claimed that her party would definitely win in Bangkok’s Constituency 5, which includes Sai Mai and Don Meung districts, areas where she along with her younger brother, Chamadol Hongsakul and Janista Liewchalermwong, a former TV show host would run.

*Janista was no slouch in the looks' department as a model*

- Thailand Outlook

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

gotta luv Thai politics...

Seems that Janista and Banharn had a bit of a mishap yesterday...

Bridge into troubled waters

The Chart Thai Party election campaign took a bath after candidates led by Janista Liewchalermwong as well as Party Leader Banharn Silpa-archa and supporters fell into a canal near Don Muang Plaza in Don Muang district yesterday. The old footbridge they were walking on collapsed, and two party supporters suffered minor injuries.

- Bangkok Post

although, Matichon newspaper has the far better pictures...

I bet modeling assignments were never this intensive for poor Janista... who got dirty...

but Banharn sure is showing spunk for 75...

but they all kept good spirits in the end...

Edited December 1, 2007 by sriracha john

[sriracha john]

DSI on trail of Bt1 bn

Easy Network boss Pathom denied bail; investors told to file complaints

Suspecting there was nearly Bt1 billion in Easy Network Marketing's alleged pyramid fund the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) yesterday froze all its known bank accounts and seized about Bt90 million in cash.

DSI officers also took the firm's managing director Pathom Ansakul, 28, who is the leader of Thai Rum Ruay Party, to court for a detention application.

PYRAMID SCAM

Arrest warrants out for four more

Police in Chiang Mai's Chang Pheuk district yesterday issued arrest warrants for four more suspects allegedly involved in Easy Network Marketing's alleged pyramid fund, which stripped some 800 plaintiffs nationwide of about Bt30 million.

The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) is planning to allot more manpower to the investigation into Easy Network because of the growing number of complaints being filed against it.

Chang Pheuk police superintendent Colonel Piyabutr Atchariyamongkol, assigned by Provincial Police Region 5 and the DSI to update the media, told a press conference yesterday that since the DSI took up the case on November 19, there had been 800 complainants, with 117 of them interviewed so far.

The problem was that some of these plaintiffs were afraid to give official testimony for fear of being prosecuted, too, especially those in Lamphun, Lampang, Chachoengsao, Satun, Phuket, Krabi and Nakhon Ratchasima, where the company's branches are located, Piyabutr said.

Some plaintiffs also reportedly received threats that the company would not pay them if they talked to the police, he said, affirming that after the witness interviews were completed, police would seize assets of the firm and repay the plaintiffs.

Now that the DSI has detained the firm's managing director Pathom Ansakul, 28, it must speed up the probe as it has 84 days to complete the case, given a maximum of seven 12-day periods of court-granted suspect detention, Piyawat said.

However, some still believed Pathom was a good man, saying that he paid for members' meals, allocated dividends systematically, and had set up the Thai Rum Ruay Party to run in the upcoming election.

- The Nation

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

Such an innovative young political party leader... he would have gone far in Thai politics...

Pyramid scheme members urged not to report

Trang - Leaflets are being widely circulating in this southern province to discourage members of a pyramid-fund company from contacting police or other government agencies.

The leaflets said Easy Network Marketing, which recruits members and sells a variety of products, was reliable and would not cheat.

In response to the recent arrest of the company's chairman, Pathom Ansakul, the leaflets said: "You know our chairman. He is kind and sincere to us. He will fight to the end against the allegations against him".

The leaflets said the company's members should not contact police stations or other government authorities because such action constituted an action to demand compensation from the company.

Pathom, 28, is also the Leader of Thai Rum Ruay Party, which has fielded several MP candidates in Trang.

One of the candidates, Urai Chuayruang, yesterday said the company's Trang branch had between 3,000 and 4,000 members with cash flow of around Bt10 million a month.

Urai heads the Trang branch. "We have generated income from products sold to our members, including houses, cars and motorcycles. We also sell a variety of products, but not liquor, beer and cigarettes, which are considered vices," she said.

Urai said the news about Pathom and his company had had both a positive and negative effect on her ongoing election campaign.

"On the bright side, people suddenly know our party. On the negative side, some people feel skeptical, and many members have asked for their investment back," she said.

According to the company's scheme, a person can become a member by buying one or more shares at Bt1,200 each. Seven days later, the member will get back Bt600 per share. He or she will be paid back the rest of their investment within six months and still hold the shares, entitling them to dividends from the company.

A member of the company's Trang branch yesterday said several members planned to lodge a complaint at the Trang provincial government's complaint center soon.

Center chief Suchin Suthasheeva said only one person in Trang had come forward so far with a complaint about Easy Network Marketing. "But I believe many more will lodge complaints," he said.

Suchin said his center was now closely monitoring the operations of the company's Trang branch.

Trang police chief Maj-General Prasert Jansawang said a special investigation team had already been set up to look into the company's operations.

"If we find evidence against any person involved in the operations, we will take action immediately," Prasert said.

He said the police had yet not received any complaints about the company's Trang branch.

- The Nation

Edited December 3, 2007 by sriracha john

[sriracha john]

Democrat hopes for upset over powerful rival

A candidate from a humble background has set his sights on bringing down an influential political family in Nakhon Pathom province, where the election competition is largely a battle between the Democrat and People Power parties. Sakonlapud Mheuanchanchery, 36, a candidate for the Democrats, said his father worked as security guard and his mother was a street vendor. From a family of eight children, Sakonlapud worked as a science teacher, a broadcaster of parliamentary radio and was an adviser to a number of parliament committees. He hopes he will have better luck at the election after losing in the 2005 general election when he also ran as a Democrat. Nakhon Pathom has two constituencies where five seats are at stake. The province is a tough one for the Democrats as rival parties are fielding some major names. He said the province badly needs an injection of young blood to develop infrastructure and boost the farming and business sectors. "I want to deliver a change and bring about a transition to the province," he said. His direct competitors are Padermchai Sasomsap and Korkiat Sariyasathien of the TRT party-backed People Power party. TRT won five seats there in the 2001 general election and four in 2005. The Sasomsap family are prominent business owners in the province with strong political support.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/03Dec2007_news05.php

Edited December 3, 2007 by sriracha john

[sriracha john]

Canvasser and candidate killed

A Democrat canvasser was shot dead in Phatthalung and a Prachamati party candidate was stabbed to death at a guesthouse in Prachuap Khiri Khan yesterday. Manit Pichitbanjong, 45, was shot in broad daylight in downtown Phatthalung, said Niphit Intarasombat, the Democrat candidate in the province. He was killed by a gunman on a motorcycle as he stopped his car to meet a friend at a shop. "Some areas in Phatthalung tend to be more violent than others. We don't know who the next victim will be," said Niphit. Phattalung is a province in the Democrat-dominated South. The murder has raised fears of escalating violence in the build-up to the general election. Niphit asked police to boost security. Phatthalung police chief Kitisan Detsuntornwat said investigators suspected Manit was killed because of a construction site conflict. However, Pol Maj-Gen Kitisan said a political motive could not be discounted. In Prachuap Khiri Khan, Prachamati candidate Supot Pisutsiang, 59, was stabbed to death at a guesthouse. His belongings, including a bag containing 50,000 baht cash, a gold necklace and a car, were missing. Investigators said the motive was most probably robbery rather than politically-related.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/03Dec2007_news06.php

[sriracha john]

Political canvasses in the metropolitan

In preparation for the upcoming general-election to be hosted on Sunday 23rd this month, political parties moved intensely forward on running their election campaigns to garner votes in Bangkok.

The Pracharaj Party ran its vote campaign in Bangkok constituency 4, comprising of Jatujak, Bangsue, Laksi and Payathai. Pracharaj Party Leader Sanoh Tientong (TRT Non-Banned #1) led his party's MP team to meet eligible voters. Sanoh 's son Surachart also joined the campaign as the MP candidate for Bangkok constituency 4.

The Pracharaj Party Leader expressed his opinion in response to a poll conducted by the Daily News newspaper that earlier revealed that Pracharaj will gain only four seats in parliament. He said that the poll had been conducted without proper research methodology. Sanoh claims that his party should attain more seats than the poll’s estimations due to the party’s strongholds in Sakaew and Nontaburi provinces.

Meanwhile, the Pua Paendin Party (or For The Motherland Party) went vote-hunting in many areas of Bangkok. The Party's party-list female MP candidate who received ballot number six, Chutamart Siriwan, visited eligible voters at the Rama 9 Park. Whereas, the party's Deputy Leader Preudtichai Damrongrat supported the party's MP team to run vote campaigns in Sukhapibarn and at the Nawamin community where the team joined in on a plant-growing project with community members.

The Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana Party ran its campaign at the Huatakhae Market led by Party Leader General Chettha Thanajaro amid crowds of people who were shopping at the market.

Reports reveal that the campaign team of the Matchima Thippatai Party of Prachai Liewpairat did not run any election campaigns in the morning.

Yesterday, the Matchima Thippatai Party hosted a public talk in front of the Krungthepwittaya School in Ramkamhaeng area. The party insisted that its plan to cancel the Suvarnabhumi Expressway project if it forms the next government will be to support residents in the area who claim they will face problems if the project continues.

- Thailand Outlook

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

Democrats plan to cease campaign activities to commemorate HM's birthday anniversary

The Democrat Party plans to cease all types of campaigning activities on December 4th and 5th to honor His Majesty the King on the auspicious occasion of his 80th birthday, adding that if the party should be elected to lead the next government, existing political conflicts within the country will subside.

Democrat spokesman Ongart Klampaiboon stated that his party would cease all types of campaigning activities such as distribution of campaign leaflets and holding public speeches during December 4th and 5th because Thais nationwide would be celebrating His Majesty the King's birthday anniversary at that time.

He also urged his party's candidates to participate in the country's commemorative activities and to join the people nationwide in extending well-blessings for His Majesty the King.

Regarding increasing public concern that Thailand will not return to normalcy after the election, Ongart said that if the Democrat Party was to be elected to form the next government, the party would definitely bring the country back to normalcy through the restoration of democracy.

He added that the party would make an effort to rebuild international confidence in the country, particularly in regard to economic, social and political affairs.

Ongart asserted that the party would stress on increasing implementation of independent check and balance measures, transparency in public services, political restructuring, and enactment of laws guaranteeing freedom for the press and the mass media.

The Democrat spokesman called on the Election Commission to speed up its public relations campaign on proper voting procedures among voters since the majority of eligible voters are still not familiar with the new electoral system, adding that they might be easily persuaded by vote-buyers if not correctly informed.

He also proposed that the EC should make it convenient for voters by installing signs of political parties and candidates at each polling station to keep voters informed of all eligible candidates running in their constituencies.

- Thailand Outlook

[sriracha john]

New news on the political criminal front....

Prachai guilty of stock manipulation but still in the race

Matchima Thipataya Party Leader Prachai Leophairatana was found guilty of violating the stock market regulations and sentenced to three years in jail on Monday. He remains in the race pending the appellate review.

The shares manipulation happened in 2003 when Prachai was the Chief Executive Officer of TPI, the umbrella group of TPI Polene which then applied to become a listed company.

The Criminal Court ruled in favour of the public prosecutors that Prachai and his stock broker Chienchuang Kalayanamitr had conspired to mislead the initial public offering relating to the valuation of TPI Polene at 91 Billion Baht amounting to 89 baht per share.

Prachai did not step forward to clarify the questionable valuation.

Chienchuan also received the three-year jail term. His brokerage house and Prachai's TPI were each fined 6.9 Billion Baht.

- The Nation

[sriracha john]

Prachai Leophairatana leaves court after hearing the verdict yesterday

The Nation

Matchima Party Leader jailed for 3 years but can still run in poll

Matchima Thipataya Party Leader Prachai Leophairatana's hope of becoming the next prime minister was hit hard by yesterday's ruling by the Criminal Court, which found him guilty of violating stock-market regulations and sentenced him to three years in jail.

Election Commissioner Prapun Naigowit, citing the Constitution, said Prachai was now disqualified from becoming a Cabinet member, but was still able to run for an MP's seat in the December 23 election.

Article 174 of the charter prohibits anyone who serves a prison term from assuming a Cabinet post within five years of their being released from jail. It excludes offences committed unintentionally and people who receive light punishments.

Prapun said, however, Prachai could still contest the election as long as he was not jailed.

If a candidate is allowed bail by a court, he or she can continue political activities, he explained. And the candidate can still become an MP if elected, until he or she is finally receives a jail sentence by the Supreme Court.

In its ruling, the Criminal Court found TPI Polene Plc (TPIPL) and Prachai guilty of violating the Securities and Exchange Act of BE 2535. TPIPL was fined Bt6.9 billion and Prachai sentenced to a three-year jail term without probation.

The court found that Prachai, the company's founder and a major shareholder, had released sensitive information about TPI Polene ahead of its Bt11.1-billion share offering in January 2004. He was the company's chief executive and debt plan administrator at the time.

TPI Polene stock was temporary halted from trading yesterday afternoon and the suspension will remain until the company clarifies impacts from the verdict to the Stock Exchange of Thailand.

The court ruled in favour of public prosecutors, who said Prachai and his stockbroker Chienchuang Kalayanamitr had conspired to mislead the initial public offering in relation to the valuation of TPI Polene at Bt91 billion, which amounted to Bt89 per share. Prachai did not step forward to clarify the questionable valuation.

Chienchuan also received a three-year jail term. TPIPL was fined Bt6.9 billion.

Following the conviction and sentencing, Prachai and co-defendant Chienchuang sought and received temporary release on bail of Bt300,000 each.

Prachai posted Bt1 million in treasury bonds as collateral, while Chienchuang put up Bt300,000 in cash.

Prachai emerged from the verdict session teary-eyed and said his political career faced a trying test.

"The verdict is a hurdle I have to overcome - as a politician I have to withstand friction and pressure," he said, vowing to appeal and overturn the guilty verdict.

While Prachai was awaiting a review of his bail application, Election Commission chairman Apichart Sukhagganond said an election candidate would be disqualified if imprisoned.

"The crucial issue for Prachai is whether he has served a jail term - just one day in jail would remove him from the race," he said. Apichart said Prachai could be disqualified if his bail application was delayed and he had to spend a night in the remand detention centre.

Prachai narrowly avoided that - he was granted bail in the afternoon.

Matchima Thipataya Party Secretary-General Anongwan Thepsuthin played down the impact of Prachai's legal woes. "I don't want anyone to look at my party leader in a negative light because this might translate into sympathy votes," she said, alluding to precedents that embattled party leaders often staged a comeback.

Anongwan said the legal case started long before Prachai entered politics and was not linked to his party leadership. "The judicial review has not been exhausted and Prachai is determined to fight his case," she said, dismissing speculation he may be forced to step down.

"Party members have not talked about the verdict and are of the opinion Prachai is still qualified to lead the party and remain in the race," she said, noting that party legal advisers were checking to ensure he fully complied with election laws.

- The Nation

[John K]

You know this is one of those laws that with a little change will be so effective in fighting corruption. That little change being “If convicted and on appeal that person is prohibited from public office until the conviction is overturned or the sentence has been served.”

[John K]

Some how when I close my eyes I get the visual comparison in the USA of walking into a post office and selecting who to vote for from the wanted posters on the wall.

[John K]

Sithichai reinstated as Puea Pandin Party-list candidate for Zone 4

The Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday to reinstate the candidacy of Sithichai Kowsurat under the Puea Pandin Party list on grounds that his duplicate membership for the People Power Party was falsified.

The high court found that Sithichai's signature for the PPP membership application was false and that he was away on a trip upconntry on the date the application was filed without his consent.

The Election Commission disqualified Sithichai last month based on its discovery of duplicate membership documents filed at the two parties.

The Nation

It is very difficult to say the courts are not being fair with this type of ruling.

[sriracha john]

Any fall-out to the People Power Party for falsifying Sithichai's signature for the PPP membership application?

In some places, that's called forgery.

[sriracha john]

Speaking of fall-out....

Matchima Thipataya Party Leader Prachai Leophairatana thanks his supporters before leaving the Criminal Court after he was granted bail yesterday. Prachai was found guilty of manipulating shares in TPI Polene Plc. He was sentenced to three years in jail.

Bangkok Post

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

Prachai resigns from Matchima Thipataya

Prachai Leophairatana announced his resignation from Matchima Thipataya Party on Tuesday, a day after he was found guilty of manipulating shares in TPI Polene Plc.

Mr Prachai also stepped down as Party Leader.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=124213

[hammered]

Speaking of fall-out....

Matchima Thipataya Party Leader Prachai Leophairatana thanks his supporters before leaving the Criminal Court after he was granted bail yesterday. Prachai was found guilty of manipulating shares in TPI Polene Plc. He was sentenced to three years in jail.

Bangkok Post

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

Prachai resigns from Matchima Thipataya

Prachai Leophairatana announced his resignation from Matchima Thipataya Party on Tuesday, a day after he was found guilty of manipulating shares in TPI Polene Plc.

Mr Prachai also stepped down as Party Leader.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=124213

Well at least he is taking responsibility

[sriracha john]

I'm sure Samak will follow his example and resign from the People Power Party for the forgery his party committed.

[sriracha john]

Sorry to disappoint hammered, but geez... whizz...... that didn't last long....

BREAKING NEWS: Prachai to Reconsider Resignation from Matchima Thippatai Party

Prachai Liewpairat, leader of the Matchima Thippatai Party, asked for a few days to reconsider his situation after appeals from his party members to remain as their leader.

Earlier this morning, he announced his resignation from the party, fearing his stock manipulation conviction will hurt the party's chances in the upcoming election.

Prachai, with tears in his eyes, said he does not want to jeopardize the Matchima Thippatai Party.

On Monday, the Criminal Court found Prachai and his stock broker Chienchuang Kalayanamit guilty of stock manipulation and sentenced them to three years in jail without suspension.

- Thailand Outlook

Edited December 4, 2007 by sriracha john

[sriracha john]

Prachai U-turns on political decision

In a sudden turnaround to Tuesday morning’s political drama, Prachai Leophairatana has asked for 2-3 more days to decide whether he should resign as a member of Matchima Thipataya Party. This morning, the petrochemical tycoon turned politician announced his resignation from Matchima Thipataya Party. The move followed the Criminal Court’s decision on Monday to sentence him to three years behind bars over the manipulation of TPI Polene Plc’s (TPIPL) share price. Members of Matchima Thipataya Party voted unanimously to allow Prachai to continue serving as Party Leader. In a sign of gratitude for their support, he thanked them and asked for a few more days to decide what to do. Meanwhile, Election Commission (EC) member Sodsri Sattayatham affirmed that Prachai's resignation is not yet official despite this morning's announcement that he would step down. “Party executives need to forward his resignation letter to the Election Commission first before his resignation is legally accepted,” she explained. “Once it is official, all election posters and billboards of him need to be brought down or the

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=124219

--------------------------------

Taking down all his posters would be no easy task as his handsome face is plastered all over it seems.

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

Banharn expresses sympathy for Prachai

Chart Thai Party Leader Banharn Silpa-archa expressed sympathy for Prachai Leophairatana after hearing about his resignation from Matchima Thipataya party on Tuesday. Banharn said Prachai is experiencing many problems, and he feels bad for him. He denied to give encouragement to Prachai, who was found guilty of manipulating shares in TPI Polene Plc. on Monday. He, however, suggested that the founder of TPI, should be more careful when doing things next time. "He (Prachai) has to view that politics is not business. It's not as easy as business," Banharn said. He added that now Matchima Thipataya Party members have to decide who is suitable to be a new party leader, or that a

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=124218

--------------------------------

It seems that Chart Thai always makes the most sarcastic, pseudo-empathetic gestures. This is shades of Chuwit delivering friend rice and iced coffee to the jailed Election Commissioners.

I do admire the dry humor with which it's delivered, however.

Edited December 4, 2007 by sriracha john

[sriracha john]

When it rains, it pours....

Prachai may face contempt hearing

Things have gone seriously wrong for Matchima Thipataya Party leader Prachai Leophairatana, who was sentenced by the Criminal Court on Monday to three years in jail for stock manipulation.

He risks being charged with contempt of court and libel related to his fiery remarks following the court's sentence.

The Criminal Court yesterday summoned the embattled Prachai to testify in a hearing on Friday before ruling on whether to hold him for contempt relating to his remarks about his conviction being influenced by the "old power" clique, the euphemism for the ousted Thaksin Shinawatra administration.

People Power Party Deputy Secretary-General Noppadon Pattama, who is also a legal adviser to former prime minister Thaksin, said Thaksin's legal team would also sue Prachai for libel.

Election Commissioner Sodsri Satayatham meanwhile said: "The Election Commission [EC] will summon Prachai to clarify his remark last week that EC officers demanded Bt60 million from him.

"If he does not clarify his accusation and does not send a written apology to the EC, the commission will also sue him, she said.

Prachai was sentenced on Monday before his temporary release on bail pending his appellate review.

He blamed his unfavourable verdict on the ousted government that still wielded formidable influence across the country.

Court Clerk Than Boonyatulanont said Chief Justice Withoon Khlongmeekhun wanted Prachai to clarify whether he meant the court lacked impartiality.

Prachai announced his resignation from his party membership publicly yesterday. However, he changed his mind later, saying he would decide in a few days.

Prachai was speaking after a meeting with his wife Orapin, his younger brother Pramuan Leophairatana, his deputies Sunthorn Wilawan and Intarat Yodbangtoey and Secretary-General Anongwan Thepsuthin. About 50 MP candidates also attended the meeting. Anongwan refused to accept Prachai's resignation letter.

Meanwhile, the meeting tried to give Prachai moral support. Some candidates also laid prostrate at his feet to convince him to remain as Party Leader.

"Fight on, billionaire fighter. Don't leave your subordinates to die," shouted MP candidates in the meeting.

The meeting told the media that it supported Prachai's leadership unanimously.

Orapin said she would respect Prachai's decision. It was Prachai's first time in politics and she begged people to protect her husband's life.

It remains unclear whether Prachai will be allowed to remove himself from the race. Election law stipulates a mandatory stay after allocating ballot numbers. But a campaigning provision also stipulates that every candidate must adopt a party's banner to qualify for the race. If Prachai has already resigned his membership, he might be able to quit the race because of disqualification.

Sodsri said Prachai must file the resignation letter to the party's registrar and could let his deputy take care of his work.

When the resignation is complete, he will be disqualified for the election and only nine candidates will remain in the party's proportionate MP candidate lists for Zone 6.

However, the EC will inform Bangkok authorities to remove Prachai's campaign posters as they might be considered as deceiving people and which punishment could mean the party's dissolution, she said.

Matchima Thipataya Director Arak Rojnutama said the party had begun removing some posters to protect the party. The posters featured the picture of Prachai alone as proportionate MP candidate.

- The Nation

[hammered]

Sorry to disappoint hammered, but geez... whizz...... that didn't last long....

BREAKING NEWS: Prachai to Reconsider Resignation from Matchima Thippatai Party

Prachai Liewpairat, leader of the Matchima Thippatai Party, asked for a few days to reconsider his situation after appeals from his party members to remain as their leader.

Earlier this morning, he announced his resignation from the party, fearing his stock manipulation conviction will hurt the party's chances in the upcoming election.

Prachai, with tears in his eyes, said he does not want to jeopardize the Matchima Thippatai Party.

On Monday, the Criminal Court found Prachai and his stock broker Chienchuang Kalayanamit guilty of stock manipulation and sentenced them to three years in jail without suspension.

- Thailand Outlook

I must rememeber to count to ten next time

[John K]

I am getting confused again.

[hammered]

I am getting confused again.

in out in out shake it all about.......

[sriracha john]

Lawyer of Thaksin to take legal action against Prachai

Deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's legal adviser, Noppadol Pattama, plans to file a lawsuit against former Matchima Thipataya Party Leader Prachai Leophairatana for libel next week.

According to lawyer Noppadol’s allegation, Prachai claimed that ousted Prime Minister Thaksin influenced the court in order for him to be imprisoned for three years and fined 6.9 billion baht. In response, Noppadol says no figure can interfere with the court in reality, and his client still has many legal cases to deal with.

However, Noppadol says the intention of this lawsuit is to protect his client’s rights and credibility, not to create adversaries.

- ThaiNews

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Interesting the Deputy Leader of one political party, in his capacity as an attorney, is going to sue the Leader of another political party.... and have it not involve either political party, but in the interests of a third party (not a political one, a legal one) who has "quit politics."

Edited December 5, 2007 by sriracha john

[Tony Clifton]

Yet another Thaksin lawsuit through the justice system in front of which he refuses to appear for fear of apparently not receiving fair treatment.

[sriracha john]

Canvasser and candidate killed

In Prachuap Khiri Khan, Prachamati Party candidate Supot Pisutsiang, 59, was stabbed to death at a guesthouse. His belongings, including a bag containing 50,000 baht cash, a gold necklace and a car, were missing. Investigators said the motive was most probably robbery rather than politically-related.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/03Dec2007_news06.php

It wasn't robbery per say...and it wasn't politically-motivated... It was....

Young woman held for murder of candidate

An 18-year-old woman was arrested yesterday in connection with Sunday's brutal murder of an election candidate in Prachuap Khiri Khan. Yuwadee Tuansiri, a resident of the province's Bang Saphan district, surrendered after a warrant was issued for her arrest.

She confessed to killing Prachamati Party candidate Supoj Pisutsiang, 59, and insisted the murder was not politically motivated, as had been suspected.

Supoj was found dead from multiple stab wounds in a guest-house room in Bang Saphan.

Police charged the suspect with premeditated murder and robbery, Deputy National Police Chief General Wongkot Maneerin told a press conference at Royal Thai Police headquarters yesterday.

The suspect, an employee at Supoj's farm, said she was angry that he had spread false rumours damaging to her reputation. She claimed the rumours had led her boyfriend, who had planned to marry her, to suspect that she might have contracted HIV.

Yuwadee said that on the day he was killed, Supoj picked her up telling her that he had some work for her. He later drove her to the guest-house where the murder took place.

The suspect said she believed he was going to rape her, so she pretended to consent. While he was taking a bath, she brought a hammer from his car. She then blindfolded him in a supposed foreplay.

Yuwadee said she later hit him on the back of the head and when he started to fight back, she pounded him repeatedly and stabbed him with a knife. She then drove away in his car.

Prachamati Party Leader Pramuan Ruchanaseree earlier said that he suspected Supoj's murder was politically-motivated, as he was among the local front runners for the upcoming general election.

- The Nation

[sriracha john]

Khaosai Galaxy

Sura Saenkham

Former boxing champ Sura finds voters are indifferent

Sura Saenkham has not visited his native Phetchabun often and voters are having second thoughts about electing the former world boxing champion in the Dec 23 general election. Mr Sura, also known by the boxing alias of Khaosai Galaxy, may now wish he enjoyed greater prominence. The former super flyweight champion of the World Boxing Association (WBA) appears to be out of favour with many voters. Running for the Puea Pandin party on its party list in Zone 2, Sura's popularity in his native Phetchabun has nose-dived despite rigorous efforts by his campaign team to remind people of his meteoric rise many years ago as one of the country's most celebrated boxing heroes. Phetchabun is in the Zone 2 provincial cluster and Sura is struggling even in his own province. The election campaign is run by a handful of volunteers including Nikhom Saenkham, Sura's younger brother. Money to drive the campaign is short, Mr Nikhom said, and the candidate himself was unable to help.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.net/News/06Dec2007_news07.php

[sriracha john]

well, the U-turn is all official now..... well, at least for the next 48 minutes it is....

Prachai's about-turn to lead and contest the polls

Matchima Thipataya Party Leader Prachai Leophairatana on Thursday rescinded his resignation and reaffirmed to continue leading his party to contest the December 23 election.

"All party members have given their moral supports to my leadership, hence I will continue to serve them," he said. Prachai spoke following a meeting with ranking party members and party-list and constituency candidates who turned out in full force to ask him to reconsider his decision to leave the party.

He said he is back in the race, quelling speculation about his party's disintegration ahead of the polls.

He announced his resignation on Tuesday in the wake of his Monday's conviction of stock manipulation.

- The Nation

[sriracha john]

EC pressures probe on Thaksin website

Related agencies are being pressured by Election Commission (EC) member Sodsri Sattiyatham to speed up an investigation into the hi-thaksin.net website, formed by staunch supporters of the ousted PM Thaksin Shinawatra. The investigation was ordered after People Power Party Leader Samak Sundaravej recently claimed through the website that Thaksin had already returned to Thailand. Thaksin is currently in self-imposed exile in London after he was forced from power in a military-backed coup in September 2006. "These kinds of claims could have a drastic affect on national security," she warned." The EC has no authority to close down the website, but I urge those who do, to seriously consider the appropriateness of the site’s content.” Over at the PPP camp, promises are already being thrown around to make Thaksin the party’s Chairman of the Advisory Board, if PPP won the election. "The EC has already advised all 111 former TRT Party executives on what should and should not be done. The EC has full authority to order the dissolution of any party found to

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=124267

Edited December 6, 2007 by sriracha john

[sriracha john]

Thailand Outlook Channel is also broadcasting an item about how also on his website, he's re-emphasizing to all readers that

a vote for PPP is a vote for him, raising further questions about his compliance with the cease and desist order placed on the Rogue 111 by the Election Commission.

Edited December 6, 2007 by sriracha john