Deputy Leader Of The People Power Party To Stand Trial For Attempted Murder

[yoshiwara]

TRT/PPP always arrogantly thought that they were the only show in town......only when they disown Toxin will the floor stop being slippery

[Bryan in Isaan]

There is still an awful long way to go before the PPP can be dissolved. The Yongyuth case has to be forwarded to the Supreme Court. If the Supreme Court finds him guilty of election fraud, then the EC would have to put a case together showing that the PPP benefited. If they can put such a case together, then it has to be forwarded to the Constitutional Court to decide. This could go on for years with many, many road blocks in place. Too many in my opinion.

It should take a long time. In other democracies this is called due process. It is not a light thing to overthrow the vote of the people.

No it is not, however it is part of the constitution the people voted for. As I recall Thaksin’s people were very busy in Isaan trying to shoot the constitution down and Isaan was about the only part of the country that did not approve it. Probably because Thaksin’s people knew they could and would not play by the rules. This apparently is the result of that inability to play by the rules. So essentially the Thais have already approved if the PPP go down. They want a good government and not one who cant be in office more than a few days without violation of the laws. Did I forget to mention this group was already banned once and should not even be there to begin with.

As I recall, during the run up to the constitution vote, there was martial law in the Isaan and there was a prohibition against large gatherings of people, I suspect to prevent "Thaksin's people" or anyone else from protesting the junta promoted constitution. The junta controlled television and newspapers to a much greater degree than Thaksin ever did. People from the Isaan didn't want to "play by the rules" of the junta, hence the censorship and martial law.

Many people from the north and northeast support Thaksin. However, I don't accept the popular notion on this forum that they are incapable of voting, protesting or expressing an opinion without being paid by Thaksin.

TRT/PPP always arrogantly thought that they were the only show in town......only when they disown Toxin will the floor stop being slippery

The pro TRT PPP and the alliance of smaller parties is not the only show in town, just the majority, despite the best efforts of their political opponents.

Edited February 19, 2008 by Bryan in Isaan

[younghusband]

There is still an awful long way to go before the PPP can be dissolved. The Yongyuth case has to be forwarded to the Supreme Court. If the Supreme Court finds him guilty of election fraud, then the EC would have to put a case together showing that the PPP benefited. If they can put such a case together, then it has to be forwarded to the Constitutional Court to decide. This could go on for years with many, many road blocks in place. Too many in my opinion.

It should take a long time. In other democracies this is called due process. It is not a light thing to overthrow the vote of the people.

No it is not, however it is part of the constitution the people voted for. As I recall Thaksin’s people were very busy in Isaan trying to shoot the constitution down and Isaan was about the only part of the country that did not approve it. Probably because Thaksin’s people knew they could and would not play by the rules. This apparently is the result of that inability to play by the rules. So essentially the Thais have already approved if the PPP go down. They want a good government and not one who cant be in office more than a few days without violation of the laws. Did I forget to mention this group was already banned once and should not even be there to begin with.

The proposition is fundamentally flawed, specifically the assumption the constitution has genuine mass support.Despite the best efforts of the junta to pervert the peoples' will, the vote on the constitution came as a major slap in the face.Furthermore, given that the junta had undertaken to impose their version in event of rejection, much of the so called support simply represented a pragmatic choice to rid the country of incompetent miltary bunglers and return to democracy.

[Plus]

99% of the population didn't even read the constitution, yet everybody had to vote.

People voted yes just to get on with it, people voted no just because they could (and they were told to do so, too).

It's not like the constitution was widely read and discussed in Isan and so they voted against it on its merits.

TRT had stronger machinery to manipulate voters in Isan, so they won, and they've lost the grip on the rest of the country, btw.

[Jai Dee]

EC to finalize case against House Speaker

An Election Commission (EC) meeting taking place today is expected to yield a finalized decision on an electoral fraud case from voting districts in Chiang Rai province. The case is being closely watched as it involves House Speaker Yongyuth Thiyaphairat (ยงยุทธ ติยะไพรัช) who is also a member of the People Power Party.

The red carding of Mr. Yongyuth would immediately revoke his position as Chairman of the House of Representatives but moreover would have the implication of disqualifying his entire party if the EC decides his actions were condoned by the party. The People Power Party is the leading member of the coalition government.

The EC will also consider and approve the selection of 74 senators selected by a special committee to be submitted to the Royal Gazette.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 19 February 2008

[John K]

99% of the population didn't even read the constitution, yet everybody had to vote.

People voted yes just to get on with it, people voted no just because they could (and they were told to do so, too).

It's not like the constitution was widely read and discussed in Isan and so they voted against it on its merits.

TRT had stronger machinery to manipulate voters in Isan, so they won, and they've lost the grip on the rest of the country, btw.

Thanks Plus, you saved me the need to post. My words exactly.

[Bryan in Isaan]

99% of the population didn't even read the constitution, yet everybody had to vote.

Agreed.

People voted yes just to get on with it, people voted no just because they could (and they were told to do so, too).

It's not like the constitution was widely read and discussed in Isan and so they voted against it on its merits.

Just like in the rest of the country, as you said in your first sentence.

TRT had stronger machinery to manipulate voters in Isan, so they won, and they've lost the grip on the rest of the country, btw.

What machinery is that, their memory? The TRT formal party and their power to campaign has been gone for a year. If there was any "machinery", it was grass roots activism. The Bangkok people still can't grasp that.

The north is still pro TRT, though the TRT doesn't have any "grip" on them or anyone else.

Edited February 19, 2008 by Bryan in Isaan

[Plus]

What machinery is that, their memory? TRT has been gone for a year. If there was any "machinery", it was grass roots activism. The Bangkok people still can't grasp that.

TRT might have been banned but their people on the ground were very much alive and active - from MPs to canvassers, the usual channels they use for electioneering, moving large crowds to rally venues, distributing t-shirts, rice, fish sauce, vote buying etc. etc.

Are you denying this network exists?

[John K]

The machinery was and is there still. It was just keeping it’s head down, thus the underlying reason for martial law.

[Bryan in Isaan]

Sorry, I was still editing while you guys were replying.

In a sense, yes, there has always been a "network". It is a democratic process with former party members and supporters all over the country. It is not a highly centralized conspiracy with all the NE Thais following like zombies. The TRT was popular and still is throughout the N and NE. The "machinery", the supposed Thaksin controlled media and money machine, was for the most part shut down during the junta but it did not make much of a difference.

[Bryan in Isaan]

What machinery is that, their memory? TRT has been gone for a year. If there was any "machinery", it was grass roots activism. The Bangkok people still can't grasp that.

TRT might have been banned but their people on the ground were very much alive and active - from MPs to canvassers, the usual channels they use for electioneering, moving large crowds to rally venues, distributing t-shirts, rice, fish sauce, vote buying etc. etc.

Yes! I couldn't have said it better myself. That is Thai democracy. The other parties could do that too, just not as well. The vote buying - it seems whichever political party is going through the village passes out goodies, bags of rice etc. TIT. As I recall, even that "vote buying" was only for local elections, not national elections.

Are you denying this network exists?

As you described it here, no, I don't deny it. What I deny is some unfair advantage by Thaksin or Samak to influence the election.

Edited February 19, 2008 by Bryan in Isaan

[Jai Dee]

Update: Yongyuth reprieve

The Election Commission (EC) has postponed the announcement of its decision into an electoral fraud case against House Speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat for at least a week, to hear more testimony. It now is hoped the EC will be able to reach a conclusion on February 26 - Tuesday of next week.

EC chairman Apichart Sukhakkhanont said the election body still needs to interrogate one more witness in connection with the case against Mr Yongyuth, a party list MP for the People Power party (PPP) in the December 23 election. “We will need seven more days to deliberate before reaching a conclusion on the case,” Mr Apichart said. “Mr Yongyuth still wants one more witness to testify in his favour.”

More from the Bangkok Post here.

[sriracha john]

Poll Panel Postpones Deliberation of House Speaker's Electoral Fraud

The Election Commission chairman postponed the verdict on the electoral fraud case involving House Speaker until next Tuesday.

Election Commission Chairman Apichart Sukhagganond revealed that the panel has started its deliberations into the electoral fraud case involving House Speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat, where the EC's sub-committee conducting the preliminary investigations concluded that there is merit to find him guilty of the charge.

The EC watched a video of the Chiang Rai village headmen's trip to Bangkok, allegedly funded by Yongyuth. Each commissioner received a 15-page document, summarizing the investigation so that they can study it for a week before they meet again on February 26 to come up with a ruling on the case.

The EC also agreed to Yongyuth's request to present the testimony of an additional witness, who is a police officer, as the panel feels there is still time.

Apichart promised to disclose the EC's ruling on the case as soon as it comes out.

Election Commissioner Prapun Naigowit confirmed that today's meeting did not reach a final ruling on the case as each commissioner wanted more time to study the documents depicting the case. Their next meeting for this particular case is scheduled for February 26 but Prapun is not sure if a resolution can be reached on that day.

If the EC rules that Yongyuth is guilty of electoral fraud, the case will go to the Supreme Court for a final ruling. If the Supreme Court upholds the charge, the EC will set up a sub-committee to decide whether Yongyuth's actions were condoned by his party and if the sub-committee concludes that they were, the party will face disbandment.

- Thailand Outlook

[sriracha john]

EC postpones decision on Yongyuth case

The Election Commission has decided to postpone its decision on the elecotoral fraud case against House Speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat to Tuesday.

Election Commission Chairman Apichart Sukhagganond said after receiving the result of the investigation into the case by a fact-finding panel headed by Suwit Theerapong.

Apichart reasoned that the EC members needed time to go through lots of documents involving the case and the result of the investigation alone was 15 pages. Besides, Yongyuth had requested the EC to further question one more witness who is a police colonel.

The EC permitted the panel to question the witnesss and report on the testimony on Tuesday, the same day that the EC would meet again to make the decision.

Apichart dismissed speculations that the move to further question more witnesses was a Yongyuth buying-time tactic. He said the EC would allow only one more witness questioning and would certainly make the decision on Tuesday.

- The Nation

[John K]

Now would be a good time to watch Mr. Y. Like a Hawk. If he will do anything it will be now.

[Plus]

What machinery is that, their memory? TRT has been gone for a year. If there was any "machinery", it was grass roots activism. The Bangkok people still can't grasp that.

TRT might have been banned but their people on the ground were very much alive and active - from MPs to canvassers, the usual channels they use for electioneering, moving large crowds to rally venues, distributing t-shirts, rice, fish sauce, vote buying etc. etc.

Yes! I couldn't have said it better myself. That is Thai democracy. The other parties could do that too, just not as well. The vote buying - it seems whichever political party is going through the village passes out goodies, bags of rice etc. TIT. As I recall, even that "vote buying" was only for local elections, not national elections.

Are you denying this network exists?

As you described it here, no, I don't deny it. What I deny is some unfair advantage by Thaksin or Samak to influence the election.

Thai democracy... That's what's called now.

It's a sham, but TRT was very successful in convincing people that this IS democracy. Yes, they love it now - bring us some food, give us some sweet talk, leave some money on the way out, and we'll vote for you. This is how dictatorial regimes have been operating all around the world since forever. Very few stay in power by military strength only. North Koreans, for example, firmly believe that they live in the freest country in the world and that they are the shining example of democracy for all to follow - they've been told so by deal leader who is their best friend and protector.

As for the network - it's purpose is to control and direct how people vote. It's a centrally controlled electioneering apparatus. Earlier you said something about grassroot activism. These two are mutually exclusive.

[Maizefarmer]

So there's nothing legitimately wrong with a commando team shooting 200 rounds into an innocent elderly couple's home?

:D

No John ... ...........you'v being here long now, you should know such conduct is perfectly acceptable !!

[sriracha john]

Top officer transferred

A police station chief based in Chiang Rai who had a conflict with canvassers for House Speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat prior to the general election on December 23 has been transferred in a Royal Thai Police reshuffle order, reportedly as a result of political intervention.

Colonel Ekkaphong Amorn-muneephong, now Chief of Pa Sang Police Station in Lamphun, was the Chief of Mae Chan District Police Station when he intercepted a motorcade of canvassers working for Yongyuth and searched the vehicles, leading to a confrontation and an exchange of angry words that made headlines in the press.

The officer is among 55 policemen moved to new posts in the transfer order. He refused to comment on whether his transfer was politically sanctioned or was linked to his confrontation with Yongyuth's rally.

Meanwhile, an Election Commission (EC) panel has questioned a police colonel formerly posted in Chiang Rai as an additional witness at the request of House Speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat, who is being investigated for alleged electoral fraud.

Colonel Kittisin Kongthaweepan, currently superintendent of Mae Chai District Police Station in Phayao, was superintendent of Mae Chan District Police Station in Chiang Rai during the run-up to the general election in December. He is believed to have inside information about relationships of the locals in Mae Chan.

The five-member EC panel will submit the additional testimony to the commission on Tuesday.

It submitted its investigation report and recommendation on the case to the EC last week. The EC is also investigating a libel complaint against Yongyuth by General Somjet Bunthanom, Director of the Defence Ministry's budget bureau.

Somjet accused Yongyuth of defaming the military in a interview with the press in which he said he was threatened by the military. Yongyuth alleged soldiers pointed guns at the heads of his campaign workers.

The EC accepted to probe the case on January 24 and appointed an investigative panel chaired by Thawil Intornraksa. The panel summoned Yongyuth to testify on Monday.

- The Nation

[John K]

That is looking more and more like a temporary transfer. We will know more Tuesday.

[sriracha john]

Thailand's Election Commission to rule on electoral fraud case against House Speaker

BANGKOK -- Thailand's Election Commission (EC) will on Tuesday rule on an electoral fraud allegation against House Speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat, which might lead to a legal battle between the newly elected government led by the People Power Party (PPP), to which Yongyuth belongs.

EC Commissioner Prapan Naikowit said Monday there was enough evidence to issue a ruling and there was no need to question any more witness, news network The Nation reported.

A special sub-committee under EC has earlier handed over its findings on the accusations against Yongyuth to the full EC.

According to the sub-committee, 10 village heads and sub-district chiefs of northern province Chiang Rai, where Yongyuth contested victoriously as a PPP party-list MP candidate in the Dec.23 general election, have testified that they had each received 20,000 baht in cash during the run-up to the election in exchange for local voters' support for Yongyuth.

If the ruling of the five-member EC top authority upholds the findings of the sub-committee, it is expected to submit the case to the Supreme Court to seek the disqualification of Yongyuth as an elected parliament member.

If the Supreme Court accepts the EC's petition and finds Yongyuth guilty of alleged involvement in the vote-buying scam, Yongyuth must step down from the House Speaker post, and would be stripped of his MP status and banned from running in a by-election.

Yongyuth will have to fight the mandatory trial as there is no parliamentary immunity for offences under electoral law.

His possible conviction may also lead to the dissolution of his party.

If the EC finds the PPP involved in Yongyuth's alleged offences, it will move to ask the Constitutional Court to rule on whether the party should be dissolved to take responsibility for Yongyuth's alleged wrongdoing.

If the party is dissolved, all PPP party executives, most of whom are now part of the PPP-led cabinet, including PPP Leader and new Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, would automatically lose their cabinet posts and be banned from political activity for five years, repeating what has come on the former ruling Thai Rak Thai Party (TRT), founded by ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

The TRT was dissolved last May on electoral fraud charges and 111 party executives, including Thaksin, were banned from politics for five years.

Many former TRT members then joined the PPP, which won the general election last December by grabbing nearly half of the 480 seats in the House of Representatives, and formed a coalition government with five other parties earlier this year.

The 47-year-old Yongyuth was elected on Jan. 22 as the new House Speaker.

Yongyuth, former Deputy Leader of the PPP and a close aide to Thaksin, has insisted on his innocence, and alleged that it was a "set-up" to involve him in electoral fraud.

The EC's ruling would come on the same day Thaksin is expected to announce when he will wrap up his self-exile overseas and return to Thailand, where the ex-premier faces a series of corruption and abuse of power charges.

- Xinhua

[Khun Jean]

I sincerely hope so. Get rid of this bunch is off utmost importance.

And in the future not ban alcohol but give it for free before the elections. It might help to get some decent results.

[sriracha john]

Ruling on Yongyuth out today

EC says there's no need to call more witnesses for a judgement

The Election Commission will today rule on the electoral fraud allegation against House Speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat.

EC Commissioner Prapan Naikowit said there was enough evidence to issue a ruling and there was no need to question any more witness. He said the EC would rule in a straightforward manner and would not take political aspects of the case into consideration.

If the EC decides to disqualify Yongyuth, it has to seek a final decision from the Supreme Court. It will have to also probe further to see if there are grounds to dissolve the People Power Party, since Yongyuth is a Deputy Leader. Under the law, the party is held accountable for an electoral offence committed by party executives.

Election Commission member Sumeth Upanisakorn said he had received the report on Yongyuth's electoral-fraud case from the EC investigative panel headed by Suwit Theerapong.

According to Article 8 of the Constitution, the five election commissioners can reach a verdict on this case with a majority decision of three votes, and not a minimum of four as required in some cases, because Yongyuth has already been endorsed as MP.

Another EC panel investigating a complaint for allegedly defaming the Army will wrap up its probe soon, panel chief Thawil Intornraksa said.

He said Yongyuth did not show up to testify to the panel.

"He asked in a letter to postpone giving testimony, saying he was not sure in which status he was to testify, as witness or a defendant,'' Thawil said.

Thaworn Senniam, Interior Minister in the Democrat Party's shadow cabinet, said he had received a complaint that two witnesses in the Yongyuth case, Kamnan Chaiwat Changkhaokam and his son, were intimidated after security officials who were to provide them protection were withdrawn.

At the same time, Colonel Thanat Panya, a Chiang Rai Deputy Governor overseeing military affairs, was instructed to stop carrying out his duties.

Thaworn said Thanat was Chief Investigator into the charges against Yongyuth, and that all officials involved in the case were threatened not to carry out their duty.

"I hope the EC, which is making a decision today, takes into consideration the intimidation of witnesses,'' he said.

- The Nation

[sriracha john]

EC will rule on Yongyuth case today

The Election Commission (EC) will today give its ruling in the poll fraud case against House Speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat, who is also being investigated for allegedly defaming a military officer. The EC is considering two cases involving Yongyuth. An inquiry panel chaired by Suwit Theerapong has completed its investigation into an electoral fraud case in Chiang Rai province. The second case against Yongyuth involves allegedly defamatory remarks he made about the military in a press interview last year. The EC will meet today to decide whether to endorse the Suwit panel's findings in the first case. The inquiry found Yongyuth committed poll fraud in the Dec 23 general election. The panel is expected to report back on its questioning of one more witness, as requested by Yongyuth, before the EC makes its ruling today. Yongyuth was found by the panel to have bribed local administrators in Chiang Rai to campaign for votes for the People Power party. He was a Deputy Leader of the PPP at the time.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.net/News/26Feb2008_news10.php

[John K]

What time today?

[John K]

RED Card Issued

[sriracha john]

EC resolves to ask Supreme Court to give red card to Yongyuth

The Election Commission Tuesday resolved to uphold the decision of its investigative committee to issue a red card against Parliament President Yongyuth Tiyapairaj.

The EC decided to ask the Supreme Court's Election Frauds Department to annul Yongyuth's victory and remove his election right for alleged election frauds.

The EC's decision led to the suspension of Yongyuth's duty as the House speaker and parliament president pending a ruling of the election court.

The Nation

[John K]

EC finds Yongyuth guilty of electoral fraud charge

(BangkokPost.com) - Election Commission (EC) on Tuesday found House Speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat guilty of electoral fraud charge in the Dec 23 general election.

The five-member panel voted 3-2 to red-card him.

The ruling came after one-week delay, after Mr Yongyuth requested the panel to question one more witness before the ruling.

Mr Yongyuth, a list-MP for zone 1 covering Chiang Rai and other provinces in the upper North, was found by the sub-panel to have bribed local administrators in Chiang Rai to campaign for votes for the People Power party in the general election. He was a deputy leader of the PPP at the time.

More: http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=126162

[sriracha john]

The voting couldn't have been any closer....

same, same as Thaksin's asset concealment case...

Edited February 26, 2008 by sriracha john

[John K]

No doubt a combination of cold feet and threats. The next 48 hours will be very interesting as several of the players in several of the open threads will re-posture based on this information. If we hear (perhaps I should let Tony quote this one) I*’* N** F*** you will know how this played behind the scenes.

[Old Man River]

RED Card Issued

The EC barely got this one right, despite the overwhelming evidence. The closeness of this vote is a good indication as to why the PPP will never be dissolved.