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

[opengoal]

The problem with this government and all the others here, there is no thai thai people in positions of power. Until there is a balance between thais and thai chinese we will get new scandals every week

[sriracha john]

Thai parliamentary speaker resigns ahead of vote fraud trial

BANGKOK - Thailand's parliamentary Speaker Yongyut Tiyapairat announced Wednesday that he was resigning from his post ahead of his trial later this week for alleged electoral fraud.

Yongyut, who is also Deputy Leader of the People Power Party (PPP), stands accused of bribing officials in northern Thailand to campaign for his party ahead of the December election, which the PPP went on to win.

'I resign from the position of House Speaker and President of Parliament... it would not be dignified to have the head of the legislative branch being tried in court,' he told reporters.

Yongyut, who is a close ally of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra, said he had intended to quit when the allegations surfaced earlier this year, but had been urged to stay on as long as possible by his colleagues.

The former environment minister denies the allegations.

The Election Commission brought the charges to the Supreme Court in February, and the trial is due to open on Friday.

If convicted, Yongyut could be stripped of his seat in parliament. A conviction could also open the door to a broader investigation by the commission into the operations of the PPP itself.

That would be a risky development for the party, which supporters of Thaksin built up in less than a year to contest the December elections.

The PPP could face dissolution if the Election Commission decided to keep pursuing the case.

Yongyut was instrumental in building Thaksin's support in rural areas, particularly among poor farmers whose support also helped propel the PPP to victory on December 23.

- AFP / 30.04.08

[sriracha john]

Democrat Leader suspicious of Yongyuth departure

Democrat Party Leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Thursday he believes Yongyuth Tiyapairat's decision to stand down as House Speaker on Wednesday was politically motivated. Mr Abhisit said Yongyuth's departure paves the way for a new House Speaker during this moment when the PPP is trying to push for a constitutional amendment. He urged the new House Speaker to be politically neutral, but condemned the government for being insincere. Somsak Kiatsuranont, the First Deputy House Speaker, has said he is willing and ready to take the position because in the past he worked closely with Yongyuth and the Second Deputy House Speaker. The PPP has yet to propose a candidate to replace Yongyuth before the House of

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=127417

[sriracha john]

Senator Prasarn says Yongyuth resigned to allow PPP to control charter amendments

Senator Prasarn Maruekhapitak said Thursday that Yongyuth Tiyapairat resigned as House Speaker so that the People Power Party could appoint a new one to control the charter amendments process. Prasarn said Yongyuth did not resign to show his spirit as claimed.

Had Yongyuth not resigned, Senate Speaker Prasopsook Boondej would be in charge of charter amendments and the outcome would not be the way the People Power Party wants.

- The Nation (today)

Edited May 1, 2008 by sriracha john

[sriracha john]

Four PPP bigwigs in running for Speaker

Four key members of the People Power Party (PPP) yesterday stood out as favourites to replace Yongyuth Tiyapairat as House Speaker.

Somchai Wongsawat, Sompong Amornwiwat, Somsak Kiatsuranont and Chai Chidchob will be discussed among PPP executives before the party nominates a sole candidate.

PPP spokesman Kuthep Saikrachang said yesterday the executives would meet on Tuesday to select a candidate to replace Yongyuth, who quit on Wednesday. "The party needs to find the right person to replace Yongyuth," Kuthep said. "The executives will select a candidate on Tuesday and ask for the House's approval the next day. The process should not take long because Parliament is about to debate the charter amendment soon," he said.

Yongyuth, who is a PPP Deputy Leader, announced his immediate resignation, saying he did not want to show up as Head of Parliament before the Supreme Court tomorrow over election fraud.

He is facing three election-related cases. In one, the Supreme Court is considering whether to endorse the Election Commission's decision to disqualify him as an MP for vote-buying.

Somchai, Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister [and Thakins's brother-in-law], said yesterday that as he had only assumed the post of Education Minister two months ago he just wanted to focus on how to achieve his goals related to the government's education policies.

Justice Minister [and close Thaksin friend] Sompong also dismissed speculation he would take the House Speaker post, saying he was not fit for the role of heading the legislative branch.

Deputy House Speaker Somsak - believed to be another choice if Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej does not want to reshuffle the Cabinet - said he was ready to succeed Yongyuth.

However, the final decision would come from the party's executives, he added. Senior PPP MP Chai has remained silent on the issue. He is said to have support from his son Newin Chidchob, a close aide to former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

Meanwhile, Senator Prasarn Maruekhapitak believed Yongyuth's departure was a tactic to reassert full control over Parliament before the process to amend the Constitution begins in the next few months.

He said Yongyuth had resigned to pave the way for a new PPP man to control the charter's amendment.

Had Yongyuth not resigned, Senate Speaker Prasopsook Boondej would have been in charge of charter amendments and the outcome would not go the way that People Power wanted, he added.

- The Nation

[sriracha john]

Four BMW motorcycles, each worth more than 1.5 Million Baht, will join the motorcade for House Speaker and his deputies. The Secretariat of the House of Representatives paid for these vehicles.

PPP factions vying for speaker's post

Chai Chidchob, Somsak Kiatsuranont top contenders

Factions in the ruling People Power Party have kicked off a new round of internal power play following Yongyuth Tiyapairat's resignation as House Speaker.

Power struggles among the factions has kept undermining the party's integrity since it defeated the Democrat Party in the December 23 election. In the absence of "actual" PPP leader, Thaksin Shinawatra, the factions have jostled to control as many Cabinet seats and key Parliament posts as possible.

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej knows his job is to keep the PPP running before the real boss returns to the political field, so he will not interrupt their games as long as the fighting does not plunge the whole party into a crisis of faith.

Ahead of Tuesday's meeting of the party's executive board, PPP cliques are pushing for their men to become the new head of the legislative branch.

Chai Chidchob and Somsak Kiatsuranont stand out as favourites to become the sole PPP candidate to replace Yongyuth when House members vote on the issue on Wednesday.

Northeastern MPs under Newin Chidchob's shadow have sent a strong message to the party that they want Chai to become Speaker.

Chai is not only Newin's father but also a long-time House member. Since he is the oldest of the House's 480 MPs, Newin's men claim he has the seniority required for the post.

The Newin gang had earlier fought with the followers of Sudarat Keyuraphan, another close aide to Thaksin, for seats in Samak's Cabinet.

The rise of Chai will reassert the power of his son Newin, who is banned from running in elections for five years.

Somsak represents the other group of party MPs from the Northeast. Although he has less support from local MPs, he is an acceptable choice for other House members, even for government-coalition or opposition parties.

Somsak is preferred over Chai in terms of having a clean record. Chai is facing a charge involving him with a land scandal in his home province of Buriram.

Meanwhile, Somsak has proved in recent years that he is tough enough to control House sessions, in which government and opposition MPs had tried to attack each other.

Other candidates - including Somchai Wongsawat, Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister, and Justice Minister Sompong Amornwiwat - are believed to have less of a chance because Samak is unlikely to think of a Cabinet reshuffle after spending only three months in office.

- The Nation (today)

Edited May 3, 2008 by sriracha john

[sriracha john]

Court Hearing into Yongyuth's Poll Fraud Charge Kicks Off

The Supreme Court has set May 8th for its hearing involving the former House Speaker from People Power Party, Yongyuth Tiyapairat.

The Supreme Court's division in charge of election-related cases has set May 8th as the date for its hearing for Chaiwat Charngkaokum, the plaintiff's key eye-witness in the alleged vote-buying charge filed by the Election Commission against former House Speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat and his siter, Chaing Rai's constituency 3 People Power Party MP,

Laong Tiyapairat.

The defendants' lawyer, Pichit Chuenbarn, has presented a list of 16 eye-witnesses, but the court will allow only 14 of them to take part in the hearing. Most of the defendant's eye-witnesses are chiefs of sub-districts in Chiang Rai Province.

However, the eye-witnesses who were removed from the list will be able to present their testimonies to the court.

At the same time, Yongyuth and Laong are allowed to present the testimonies of three onlookers to back their claim that Yongyuth's meeting with the northern chiefs in Bangkok was not an attempt at vote buying, but rather an attempt to ask for a debt repayment.

Pichit also requests that the court summon six members of the investigation panel in charge of Yongyuth's fraud case to testify at the hearing, as all of the evidence presented by the plaintiff is against the accused and Yongyuth claims he was set up by the panel.

The court has also set May 12th, 13th, 14th, and 20th as the dates for the hearing for the 14 eye-witnesses to be presented by the accused.

- Thailand Outlook / 02-05-08

[sriracha john]

Newin lobbies to get father Speaker's job

Attempts are under way to push First Deputy House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont out of the race for the post of Speaker when the PPP selects a candidate to replace Yongyuth Tiyapairat on Tuesday. Newin Chidchob has reportedly been lobbying a group of senior northeastern MPs who back Somsak to change their minds and support his father, Chai, instead. The lobbying was made through Transport Minister Santi Prompat, a close aide to Pongsak Raktapongpaisal, one of the 111 former TRT Party executives banned from politics for five years after the party was dissolved for poll fraud. During a dinner on Thursday at a hotel in Bangkok, Santi asked the northeastern MPs to drop their plan to nominate Somsak. However, the MPs disagreed and insisted on nominating him for the post. They would also seek a meeting with PM Samak to voice their discontent. Newin was also reported to have lobbied Somsak's supporters, through Deputy Transport Minister Songsak Thongsri, to switch sides. One of Somsak's backers, Nakhon Phanom MP Paijit Sriworakhan, said his group would also lobby factions from the South, Central Plains and Bangkok for support. Following Yongyuth's resignation as House Speaker, Somsak emerged as a strong favourite to succeed him. He is known for his politeness, fairness and strict enforcement of House meeting regulations.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.net/News/03May2008_news14.php

Edited May 3, 2008 by sriracha john

[Tony Clifton]

Newin's father would be a fine candidate m, true to the TRT/PPP tradition as he was busted recently by an ASTV reporter over land encroachment with falsified documents, bribes and crooked land officials in Buriram.

[sriracha john]

Matichon Editorial:

The resignation of Yongyuth Tiyapairat as House Speaker has touched off a scramble for his replacement among key figures of the ruling People Power Party. Yongyuth said last Wednesday his resignation was meant to protect the dignity of the legislature as he was about to appear in court to fight vote-buying charges in connection with last December's general election. He won a party-list seat in Chiang Rai province under the PPP banner. The Election Commission endorsed the victory before he was elected speaker. The House will call a meeting to elect a new Speaker. This is not a complicated matter. The PPP, the largest coalition partner, only has to call a meeting of its executive members to pick Yongyuth's successor, and forward a name to the House. With a clear majority, the PPP's nomination will sail through. However, the PPP must choose a successor with great care. The new speaker must be well versed in the constitution and House rules. More importantly, he must be impartial and fair. This quality is crucial given the prevailing conflict over the PPP's attempt to amend the constitution. And last, but not least, he must be able to maintain public confidence and respect in

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/05May2008_news98.php

Edited May 6, 2008 by sriracha john

[sriracha john]

Newin's father [Chai Chidchob] would be a fine candidate, true to the TRT/PPP tradition as he was busted recently by an ASTV reporter over land encroachment with falsified documents, bribes and crooked land officials in Buriram.

He's looking exceptionally haggard these days...

PPP MP: Thaksin's return not involved with speaker selection

The People Power Party's Northeast MP Chairman confirmed that the former premier's return has nothing to do with the House Speaker.

Deputy Transport Minister Songsak Thingsri said, as the PPP's Northeast MP Chairman, that former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's return is not related to the deciding of the Lower House Speaker position. Thaksin himself did not bring up the subject when he arrived in Thailand yesterday.

Songsak noted that difference of opinion about the new House Speaker is not a cause for a rift within the party and the topic has not been discussed at party meetings.

He personally believes that a qualified person must be recognized by members of both houses, as well as the opposition.

Many agree that Chai Chidchob is right for the post, as he has not record of misconduct in his long service in the House.

Samart Kaewmeechai the PPP's MP for Chiang Rai's first constituency admitted to having been approached by party members to take the Second Deputy Speaker post. This is to ensure that representatives from the north, northeast, and central regions make up the legislative body.

A conclusion will be reach at the northern MPs' meeting on May 6th. The meeting will determine whether to nominate Somsak Kietsuranan or government whip chief Chai Chidchob for house speaker on the same day.

- Thailand Outlook / 5 May 2008

[sriracha john]

NEW HOUSE SPEAKER

Chai Chidchob emerging as favourite

With time running out, PPP may decide nominee today

People Power Party executives could decide on the new House Speaker candidate today, spokesman Kuthep Saikrachang said yesterday.

Kuthep said the meeting of Party MPs will take place as usual and the House Speaker candidate is expected to be discussed. However, it was still uncertain whether the executive board, which is authorised to decide the issue, will make a decision on a candidate today.

If the executive board does choose a candidate, the name will be nominated at the House meeting this week. The Party must nominate a candidate to the House by next week, while the House is still in session, he said.

MPs have the right to vote in the House meeting, but not in the Party's nomination. MPs' opinions were personal and may vary, he added.

The names of 80-year-old MP Chai Chidchob and Deputy House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont were mentioned as possible candidates. Some MPs from the Northeast supported Chai, the father of Thaksin's close aide Newin, while MPs from the North and some from the Northeast supported Somsak for the post.

A PPP source, who asked not to be named, said the Party MPs had agreed to let Chai Chidchob be the sole candidate for the post as they wanted the public to see the Party's unity.

Lack of unity would allow others to attack the party. The MPs then agreed to change their position from supporting Somsak Kiatsuranont to Chai.

Former House Speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat did not oppose the idea, and any disagreement between the MPs from the North and the Northeast was only during an initial survey, the source said.

Furthermore, ministers would not want to resign for the House Speaker's post, which needed knowledge and skills in moderating House of Representative meetings.

Deputy PPP Secretary-General Noppadon Pattama said he believed party MPs would all vote for the same candidate. MPs should discuss any disagreements within the party so as not to confuse the public, he said. The Party's MPs will have to scrutinise the names carefully before nominating a candidate in Parliament, as a House Speaker must be accepted by Opposition MPs.

Thaksin had nothing to do with the decision, he added.

Nakhon Panom MP Paichit Sriworakhan said he would respect the Party's resolution no matter who the chosen candidate was. Chai is experienced while Somsak is a young man with bright future. However, the House Speaker must represent not only the Party's MPs but also the Legislative branch, so the selection must be done carefully, he added.

Khon Kaen MP Panya Sripanya said the House Speaker must be senior and knowledgeable. From discussions with other MPs, Chai's age should not be a problem as he is experienced as he has been an MP for many terms and is hard-working. Coalition parties would not oppose either of the candidates as they did not propose any of their own, he said. Former Thai Rak Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra had not given support to any candidate and had let the Party's MPs to decide on their own, Panya said.

- The Nation

[sriracha john]

The next House Speaker???

People Power Party MP Karun Hosakul (left) and Chief People Power Party Government Whip Chai Chidchob after Karun attempted to physically assault Democrat Party MP Somkiart Pongpaibool in Parliament.

[sriracha john]

Taking off his Foreign Minister hat for awhile and putting back on his old Personal Spokesman for Thaksin hat is Noppadope... what a shame to Thailand's face that he belittles the country in front of the world with these charades...

Foreign Minister assures that return of deposed PM not related to House Speaker issue

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Secretary-General of the People Power Party (PPP) Noppadol Pattama affirmed that the returning of former PM Thaksin Shinawatra to Thailand is not related to the current search for a new House Speaker to take the place of resigned PPP member Yongyuth Thiyaphairat.

Noppadol revealed that the PPP is currently dealing with the various opinions on replacing the House Speaker amongst its members, but assured that each legitimate member of the party has been given an equal chance to voice their ideas. All members of the PPP however have agreed that Yongyuth's replacement must be a qualified individual with a grasp of politics.

On the issue, Noppadol also affirmed that there has been no bias push to allow Chai Chidchob to assume the role of House Speaker. *even though that contradicts many other news reports*

- ThaiNews (today)

[sriracha john]

PPP backs Chai Chidchob for House Speaker post

Executives of People Power Party decided to back veteran Buriram MP Chai Chidchob as candidate for House Speaker, PPP spokesman Kudep Saikrachang said Wednesday. Chai is the father of banned Thai Rak Thai party executive Newin.

The search for the new House Speaker began after Yongyuth Tiyapairat decided to step down from the post to fight electoral fraud charges in relation to

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=127537

[sriracha john]

Samak calls an urgent party meeting to nominate the House Speaker

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej called an urgent meeting of his People Power Party executives for Wednesday's afternoon at 4.30 pm in the wake of his party's infighting over the nomination of the House speaker.

"Samak has notified every party executive to attend the meeting in full force in order to finalise the decision on who should be the House Speaker," party executive and MP Nisit Sithuprai said.

- The Nation

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

Chai nominated as House Speaker

The executive board of the People Power Party on Wednesday decided to nominate MP Chai Chidchob for the position of House Speaker, replacing Yongyuth Tiyapairait who resigned to fight his court battle on electoral fraud.

The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej.

- The Nation

[sriracha john]

Newin's father ready to become House Speaker

Government Chief Whip Chai Chidchob has expressed readiness to serve as the new House Speaker to replace Yongyuth Tiyapairat who recently resigned. He admitted being unaware of the People Power Party's support for him to become the new House Speaker, but was confident that he would be able to do the job if his name was approved by the PPP and by parliament members. He then defended himself in a case involving a land encroachment case in Buriram province saying the piece of land was legally acquired. Chai dismissed claims that ousted PM Thaksin Shinawatra had ordered PPP members to support him as Yongyuth's replacement saying he never met with or held talks with Thaksin. He stressed that his son Newin Chidchob's close ties with Thaksin has nothing to do with him.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=127525

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

The second and last sentences in particular demand that the obligatory BS card to be thrown...

===========

*edit*.... Hi Golf... I see just now that you are reading this. Post up.

Edited May 8, 2008 by sriracha john

[sriracha john]

Yongyuth hears testimonies against him

Former House Speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat arrived at the Supreme Court on Thursday morning to attend the hearing on case in relation to the electoral fraud case against him and his sister, Chiang Rai MP Laongdao. The court scheduled the trial with the testimony of prosecution witnesses comprising of Chaiwat Changkaokam, Pat Kang-ornta and Boontham Kamka. Mr Boontham, the kamnan of Mae Chan district in Chiang Rai province, claimed to have been bribed by Yongyuth in an attempt to sway votes for People Power Party candidates.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=127549

[sriracha john]

Thai ex-House Speaker tried on vote-buying charges

BANGKOK, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's former House Speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat attended the first hearing at the Supreme Court on his alleged involvement in vote-buying Thursday morning.

Yongyuth heard the testimony of prosecution witnesses at the court.

One of the witnesses, Boontham Kamka, the head of Mae Chan district in Chiang Rai province, claimed that Yongyuth had bribed him in an attempt to sway votes for People Power Party (PPP) candidates in the December general election.

Thursday's hearing was the first session of a trial on electoral fraud charges against 47-year-old Yongyuth, a party-list MP and former Deputy Party Leader of the ruling PPP.

He announced resignation from the post of House Speaker and President of Parliament on April 30, after the Supreme Court accepted the appeal by the Election Commission (EC) which accused Yongyuth of bribing 10 district and village heads in exchange for mobilizing voters' support for him in the Dec. 23 general election.

According to the EC's probe, 10 village heads and sub-district chiefs in northern province Chiang Rai, where Yongyuth won a seat in the 480-member House of Representatives as a PPP candidate, had testified that they had each received 20,000 baht in cash during the run-up to the December election in exchange for local voters' support for Yongyuth.

Yongyuth denied the charges, which he had branded as a "set-up" by political opponents, and said he resigned to uphold the dignity of the Parliament while fighting the court battle.

Yongyuth was elected as the House Speaker and President of Parliament on Jan. 22, after the PPP declared victory in the Dec. 23 election.

If convicted by the Supreme Court, Yongyuth would lose his seat as MP and face a five-year ban from electoral process.

A conviction will also give ground to the EC to appeal to the Constitutional Court to dissolve PPP for the alleged offenses of Yongyuth, in line with the 2007 Constitution.

In that case, 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, replaying what has taken place with the former ruling Thai Rak Thai Party (TRT), founded by ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

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

Many former TRT members then joined the PPP, which won the post-coup general election last December and formed a coalition government with five other parties.

Yongyuth has dismissed speculation that his resignation was aimed at clearing the way for the PPP-led coalition government to place a new House Speaker in order to facilitate the Samak government's plan to amend the 2007 Constitution. He said a caretaker speaker could perform his job.

The PPP-led push to amend the 2007 Charter has been criticized by opponents as an attempt to rescue the PPP and two other coalition parties facing charges of electoral fraud.

On Wednesday, executives of PPP agreed unanimously to choose veteran MP Chai Chidchob

as its candidate to be new House Speaker.

[sriracha john]

Kamnan tells court he was paid B20,000 by Yongyuth

Former House Speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat asked 10 kamnan from Chiang Rai to help his sister win a seat in the Dec 23 general election, the Supreme Court was told on the opening day of a vote-buying case against him. At the Supreme Court's election cases division, Chaiwat Changkaokham, a kamnan of Chiang Rai's Mae Chan district, testified in a case brought by the EC. Chaiwat said each of the kamnan was paid 20,000 baht. He said that in October last year he was contacted by Yongyuth's aide, asking him to travel to Bangkok to meet Yongyuth, with fellow kamnan from the same district and Banjong Yangyuen, municipal mayor of tambon Janjawa. His group agreed to travel to Bangkok on Oct 28, 2007. They met Yongyuth at a hotel.

Yongyuth asked them to help canvass for his sister, La-ong Tiyapairat, a constituency MP candidate for the PPP, and other PPP candidates, Chaiwat told the court. After his group agreed to support La-ong and other candidates who were Mae Chan natives, Yongyuth left the hotel room where they met, Chaiwat said. Banjong then allegedly gave each member of the group an envelope containing 20,000 baht in cash, saying: ''The boss asked me to give this to you.''

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/09May2008_news07.php

[sriracha john]

Coalition divided over vote to install Chai as Speaker

Some members of the coalition government will likely abstain or vote against Chai Chidchob as the new House Speaker today.

Sources from the Chart Thai and Puea Paendin parties, two of the six government parties, said the choice was not widely supported by the public, so some government MPs would not cast a vote for Chai.

"We're also upset by the fact that the vote was hastily moved to tomorrow so as to pressure coalition parties into supporting Chai. We can expect some MPs to abstain during the vote," a Chart Thai source said yesterday.

Banharn Silapa-archa, Chart Thai's leader and an MP for Suphanburi, said he would not attend today's election as a gesture of opposing the government's tactics.

Chart Thai has 37 MPs while Puea Paendin has 24 in the 315-MP government in which the ruling People Power Party (PPP) controls 233 MPs.

Chai is a veteran politician and the father of Newin, a close ally of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who is banned from politics.

Yongyuth Thiyapairat, a PPP Deputy Leader, quit as Speaker as he faced a court case involving election fraud.

Kuthep Saikrachang, spokesman for PPP, said the Chai nomination would sail through as 90 per cent of the government MPs were expected to support it.

- The Nation (today)

[sriracha john]

BREAKING NEWS:

Chai Chidchob Voted as House Speaker

The most senior member of the House of Representatives, Chai Chibchob, has been voted as House Speaker. He replaces Yongyuth Tiyapairat who resigned from the post on April 30, 2008. Chai is the father of Newin Chidchob who's a former executive member of the disbanded Thai Rak Thai Party.

- Thailand Outlook

Edited May 12, 2008 by sriracha john

[sriracha john]

Bangkok Post reports:

Offended Chart Thai leader rejects Chai as Speaker

The Chart Thai party will abstain from voting for Chai Chidchob as the new House Speaker, because it is offended by the way it has been treated by the People Power Party. Chart Thai made the decision at an urgent meeting yesterday as party leader Banharn Silpa-archa complained emotionally about the PPP's approach to securing the votes of coalition parties. Banharn said he should have been informed personally of today's special House session. The PPP informed its coalition allies by fax and other short messages.

The PPP had also assigned Deputy Transport Minister Songsak Thongsri to seek the coalition parties' support. Banharn said Songsak is a follower of Newin Chidchob, Chai's son. Selection of a speaker was an important issue and the PPP should have asked a key figure to approach him. Many key PPP figures had approached him personally when the party needed Chart Thai to help form the coalition. "Just who is Songsak?" said Banharn.

A PPP meeting voted 94-24 yesterday to back Chai for the position. Nine MPs abstained. He was the only nominee.

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

PPP ignores Chart Thai disapproval over Chai

The People Power Party has ignored Chart Thai party leader Banharn Silpa-archa’s public disapproval over the nomination of Chai Chidchob as the new House Speaker. First Deputy House Speaker Somsak Kiartsuranand said he is ready to chair a meeting to vote for the new House Speaker on Monday and assured that the PPP will propose Chai as a candidate despite Chart Thai party’s decision to abstain from the voting process. Somsak said of Chart Thai party’s decision that it was a personal right and that he had no further comment on the issue.

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

Parliament votes for Chai as new House Speaker

Parliament voted 283 to 158 in favour of Chai Chidchob becoming the new House Speaker to replace Yongyuth Tiyapairat on Monday morning with 12 abstentions. As expected, the special house session voted for Chai, a party list MP for the PPP, beating the Democrat party’s candidate Banyat Bantadtan who receieved 158 votes.

[sriracha john]

Yongyuth calls 4 people to rebut witness testimony

The Supreme Court yesterday heard four defence witnesses in the electoral fraud case involving People Power Party MP Yongyuth Tiyapairat.

Defence lawyer Pichit Chuenban called the four witnesses to rebut last week's testimony of a star prosecution witness, kamnan Chaiwat Changkhaokham, who outlined how Yongyuth had allegedly made payments to 10 kamnan in exchange for canvassing for votes in the December election.

Defence witness, Senior Sgt-Major Theprat Khuenkhuna, said under oath that he had had no role in arranging the meeting between Yongyuth and the 10 kamnan in Bangkok, as claimed by Chaiwat

- The Nation (today)

[sriracha john]

Former House Speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat testifying before the Supreme Court

Former House Speaker Testifies before Supreme Court in Electoral Fraud Case

The former House Speaker insisted at his court hearing today that he did not commit electoral fraud, claiming his poll victory came from his strong popularity in the area.

People Power Party-list MP and former House Speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat testified before the Supreme Court today over the electoral fraud charge filed against him by the Election Commission or EC.

At the hearing, Yongyuth insisted he did not commit vote-buying, claiming his success in the recent general election came from strong popularity as he has devoted himself to help people and community leaders in his area.

He said he doubts whether the investigation team set up by the EC has the authority to oversee the case.

Meanwhile, former Chiang Rai Councilor and Yongyuth's close aid, Chuchart Chantuan, said the meeting between Yongyuth and some local chiefs from Mae Jan District was not intended to talk about vote buying. He said they begged him to help ask for debt repayment from other local chiefs in the area.

The Supreme Court has set May 20th to hear from the remaining eye-witnesses, including six members of the investigation team set up by the EC's panel responsible for the charge against Yongyuth.

- Thailand Outlook (today)

[sriracha john]

Call for Court Hearing into Yongyuth's False Testimony

A key eyewitness in the electoral fraud case against former House Speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat has filed a complaint with the Supreme Court, accusing Yongyuth of making a false testimony.

Village headman Chaiwat Changkawkam of tambon Janjawa in Chaing Rai's Mae Jan District, a key eyewitness in the fraud case against party-list MP of the ruling People Power Party, Yongyuth Tiyapairat , filed a complaint today to the Supreme Court's division for electoral cases, accusing Yongyuth of presenting a false testimony and asked for a hearing.

Chaiwat claims that though the evidence presented by Yongyuth shows he registered as a member of the opposition Democrat Party on September 20th, he insists he has never been a member of the Democrats.

Chaiwat therefore believes some EC staff might be involved in the falsification of the evidence on his membership status, to help for the former House speaker survive the vote-buying charge against him.

People Power Party deputy leader Police Lieutenant Karn Thienkaew earlier filed a complaint with the Crime Suppression Police accusing Chaiwat of making a false testimony before the Supreme Court as well.

- Thailand Outlook

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

It wouldn't be the first time that PPP has been accused of falsifying membership registrations.

[sriracha john]

*double post*

Edited June 12, 2008 by sriracha john

[sriracha john]

Democrat executive member Sirichok Sopa calls for Election Committee to investigate an allegation of falsifying documents which involved former House Speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat.

The Nation

Another time when Yongyuth's People Power Party tried to get away with forgery... in the Sithichai Kowsurat case...

Edited June 12, 2008 by sriracha john

[sriracha john]

Poll fraud document may be forged

Witness in Yongyuthcase demands inquiry

The EC has found that a document, part of the evidence in a vote-buying case against former PPP Deputy Leader Yongyuth Tiyapairat, has been tampered with. EC Commissioner Prapun Naigowit said he had been told that the document, which has been submitted to the Supreme Court, was signed by someone who was not authorised by the poll agency. The document said that Chaiwat Changkaokham, who is a key witness in the vote-buying case against Yongyuth, was a member of the Democrat Party. "If it is found that the signature has been forged, the EC will take legal action against those responsible," Prapun said. EC Chairman Apichart Sukhagganond said a panel will look into the affair, and report back within 7 days. Sirichoke Sopha, an executive member of the Democrat party, claimed that Yongyuth conspired with the poll agency to falsify evidence. "Yongyuth must take responsibility," Sirichoke said. Yongyuth's claim that Chaiwat and the Democrats plotted together to frame him was a serious charge, he said. Efforts had been made to tamper with the EC's database on political parties so the information on Chaiwat's PPP membership could not be found. According to Sirichoke, Chaiwat had confirmed all along that he was a PPP member.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.net/News/13Jun2008_news04.php

[sriracha john]

Chaiwat seeks Democrat Party proof

A key witness in the electoral fraud case against former house Speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat yesterday called on the Democrat Party to check whether someone had fabricated his signature to become a member.

Chaiwat Changkaokam, the kamnan of Tambon Chan Chawa, Chiang Rai's Mae Chan District, went to Democrat headquarters with his lawyer to ask to see his supposed application form.

Chaiwat's party membership became a hot topic after the Election Commission ordered an investigation into who fabricated the evidence that showed Chaiwat was a member of the Democrats. The membership was endorsed by a person with no authority and was submitted as additional evidence in the Yongyuth case to the Supreme Court.

Critics believe the move was an attempt to discredit the witness.

Chaiwat said he believed the document showing he was a Democrat member contained a fake signature. He said many political parties had come to his village to persuade people to become members.

Democrat Deputy Secretary-General Thepthai Senpong said he needed to check if the application form was still there,

and whether it was in accordance with the party regulations. If it was there, the signature must be verified since Chaiwat said he had never been a party member. He said it may be hard to check because the party always updated its database on members and there were some human errors.

He cited the case of Democrat Party advisor Banyat Bantadtan who had been a party member since 1975, but the party's database showed he became a member in 2000.

Thepthai said if Chaiwat had been a Democrat Party member since 1995, and then became a Thai Rak Thai member in 2005, but did not resign from the Democrat Party, it would mean he had broken Election Commission regulations.

Since the Thai Rak Thai Party was now dissolved, Chaiwat's membership in the party was invalid.

- The Nation (today)