Election Commission Rules That Chart Thai & Matchima Thipataya Parties Be Dissolved

[Moonrakers]

Deputy Public Health Minister and PPP MP Wicharn Meenchainant

PPP wants Democrat to pay for re-election

Deputy Public Health Minister and PPP MP Wicharn Meenchainant on Wednesday demanded the opposition Democrat Party pay for the Bangkok gubernatorial re-election, following Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin's announcement to step down after being found guilty in the fire engine purchase scandal. According the the Election Commission, the Bangkok governor election would cost about 150 million baht. The PPP will still support MRTA former Governor Prapat Chongsanguan in the upcoming poll, but the party also has another choice, if he refuses, the

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http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=132136

Two words: Stones and Greenhouses.

[sriracha john]

House Speaker and People Power Party Member Chai Chidchob

House Speaker Denies Being Next in Line for Premier Post

House Speaker Chai Chidchob has denied being next in line for the premier post if the People Power Party is forced to dissolve Parliament as the Party dissolution case looms.

As the dissolution case against the People Power Party approaches, many media organizations are widely speculating on the identity of the new premier. Many believe House Speaker Chai Chidchob could be appointed as the new prime minister, replacing PM Somchai Wongsawat.

But Chai denies the speculation, saying the post of House Speaker will be the highest post he'll ever assume in his political career.

Chai is one of the most elderly members of Parliament.

- TOC / 2008-11-19

[sriracha john]

House Speaker and People Power Party Member Chai Chidchob

House Speaker Denies Being Next in Line for Premier Post

House Speaker Chai Chidchob has denied being next in line for the premier post if the People Power Party is forced to dissolve Parliament as the Party dissolution case looms.

As the dissolution case against the People Power Party approaches, many media organizations are widely speculating on the identity of the new premier. Many believe House Speaker Chai Chidchob could be appointed as the new prime minister, replacing PM Somchai Wongsawat.

But Chai denies the speculation, saying the post of House Speaker will be the highest post he'll ever assume in his political career.

Chai is one of the most elderly members of Parliament.

- TOC / 2008-11-19

House Speaker Chai Chidchob is only 80 years young.

His last name, although held in equally low esteem, is not Shinawatra.... so no chance for PM.

[sriracha john]

PPP 'not responsible' for Yongyuth's mistakes

The People Power Party is hoping to avoid dissolution by reminding the Constitution Court that it was just former Deputy Leader Yongyuth Tiyapairat who was convicted of electoral fraud and that the Party or its executives should not be held responsible for his offences, the Party's defence team said yesterday.

The Supreme Court disqualified Yongyuth over fraud in the December 23, 2007 general elections.

The Constitution Court is scheduled to meet today to consider PPP, Chart Thai and Matchima Thipataya Parties' defence documents. On November 26, the Attorney-General and defendants are scheduled to discuss the court's points of consideration.

Roi Et MP Nisit Sinthuprai insisted that the party should not be held responsible because Yongyuth had committed the offences before he became a PPP candidate. "The electoral fraud was committed on October 28, while the proportionate MP candidate registration started from November 7. Had the Party known about the offences, it would not have fielded Yongyuth," he said.

The PPP legal team has already submitted an 89-page defence document to the Constitution Court.

Apart from seeking Party dissolution, the Office of the Attorney-General also wants the Constitution Court to revoke the voting rights of 37 PPP executives for five years as per Article 237 of the Constitution. According to the Article, Party executives lose their voting rights if they are found involved in election fraud.

Yuenyat Jaisamut, a member of the legal team, said the PPP and its executives should not be punished because they did not know about the offence and therefore could not stop Yongyuth. He added that the matter would be brought up in court.

Yuenyat said the Party would also raise the fact that Election Commission member Sodsri Satayathum abstained from voting against PPP, thereby making the EC ruling unfair.

He added that dissolving political parties so easily was against the Constitution. Besides, he said, the PPP's case was different from that of Thai Rak Thai. All TRT members lost their voting rights, while in the case of the PPP only a few would be having theirs revoked.

Prime Minister's Secretary-General Choosak Sirinin said on Tuesday that the Attorney-General had asked the court to either dissolve the Party and revoke the voting rights of all members, or just revoke the rights of executives found involved.

In the defence documents, PPP said Yongyuth had been framed by the 2006 coup-makers because the Party had already warned its members about violating laws by handing out handbooks and CDs on the subject, and even sent them over to the EC for a briefing.

Nisit said that he, along with MP Songsak Thongsri, had filed defence documents with the court to protect their rights. In total, 28 executives and seven MPs have submitted their defence documents so far, while the rest will do so later.

Meanwhile, at Chart Thai Party's 34th-anniversary celebrations yesterday, Party Leader Banharn Silapa-archa said he hoped the defence documents - showing evidence that the Party Leader and executives tried their best to prevent the offence - would protect it from dissolution.

Yesterday was the deadline for Chart Thai to submit its defence documents with the Constitution Court.

"I promise that as long as I am Party Leader, I will help the Party go from strength to strength. We will not make any enemies and will work with any Party that fights for the people and respects the country, religion, and the monarch. We won't allow anybody to destroy [the institutions]," he said.

Chart Thai is accused of being linked to electoral fraud committed by its executive Monthien Songpracha in Chai Nat during last year's general elections. Banharn said the Party had survived two other dissolution attempts after the 1979 and 1992 coups, and should make it through this as well.

Meanwhile, Matchima Thipataya's defence documents said the EC and the Attorney-General had now allowed it to clarify itself.

- The Nation / 2008-11-20

[sriracha john]

Three parties submit arguments against dissolution to court

BANGKOK, Nov 19 (TNA) - Three political parties in the coalition government of Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat on Wednesday submitted evidence separately to Thailand's Constitution Court to fight against the party dissolution cases in connection with fraud during last December's general election.

The three parties are the ruling People Power Party (PPP), headed by its acting leader the prime minister himself, the Chart Thai Party, headed by former prime minister Banharn Silpa-archa, and the Matchima Thipataya Party headed by Anongwan Thepsutin, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment.

Evidences submitted by representatives of the three political parties to the Constitution Court stated that frauds committed by three executives of the three parties were committed by the three individuals without the knowledge of other executives of the parties.

If the parties are found guilty, they would be dissolved, and their senior executives banned from politics for five years.

Court judges will consider arguments lodged by the three parties Thursday.

The Constitution Court asked the three parties to send their representatives for a meeting on November 26.

[sriracha john]

Coalition parties put up a final defence

In a last-ditch attempt to escape dissolution, three coalition parties yesterday gave the Constitution Court documents to counter election fraud allegations. Three executives of the PPP, Chart Thai, and Matchima Thipataya parties were found guilty of election fraud in the Dec 23 election, putting their parties at risk of being dissolved. Members of their executive boards also face having their political rights revoked. The court will detail points to be considered with the three Parties and the Attorney-General on Wednesday before hearing witnesses. Lawyers from the three Parties gave the court the same argument - that the executive boards knew nothing about the illegal acts of the three executives. Among those found guilty by the Supreme Court was former PPP Deputy Leader Yongyuth Tiyapairat. The EC also red-carded Chart Thai Party Deputy Secretary-General Monthien Songpracha, and Sunthorn Wilawan, Deputy Leader of the Matchima Thipataya Party and a winning candidate in Prachinburi. The PPP asked the Constitution Court to allow the 35 members of its executive board, including PM Somchai, to testify as a third party in the proceedings. The request was rejected by the court, which said they could testify as witnesses. Chart Thai Party Leader Banharn Silpa-archa is worried about the fate of his veteran Party and is trying every maneuver to help it legally and spiritually. "I'm not shy to say I've prayed to gods around the country," he said. Matchima Thipataya Party lawyer Chatchai Chukaew insists his party and executive board are innocent. "The members had been in severe conflict and had no time to

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http://www.bangkokpost.net/201108_News/20Nov2008_news04.php

[Moonrakers]

What I can't help but think is:

If (when) the PPP are told that they must dissolve, will they bow out 'gracefully' or dig their heels in despite no longer being a legitimate government?

[sriracha john]

^ perhaps not too much heel digging, globalj. They seem to have the TRT --> PPP --> PTP transformation right on schedule...

Suchart to lead Puea Thai Party

Deputy Finance Minister Suchart Thadathamrongvej was elected Leader of the Puea Thai party yesterday, amid signs a major faction in the ruling PPP is being isolated.

Puea Thai Party is viewed as the fall-back Party if the PPP is dissolved by the Constitution Court. Suchart's nomination for the leadership was unchallenged.

The meeting, held at the Party's headquarters in the Shinawatra building on Rama IV road

The Party was co-founded by politicians with close ties to some of the 111 former executives of the disbanded TRT Party, who were banned from politics for five years. A source said they include Pongsak Raktapongpaisal (TRT Banned #27), Yongyuth Tiyapairat (PPP Individually Banned), and Sudarat Keyuraphan (TRT Banned #3). These former TRT executives are believed to have a strong influence in the PPP, but are reportedly up against another faction controlled by Newin Chidchob (TRT Banned #6), also one of the 111 TRT executives.

Puea Thai Chief set to step aside

Suchart Thadathamrongvech will step down as Puea Thai Party (PTP) Leader to prepare for the dissolution of the PPP and a new election, sources said yesterday. The decision was made at the meeting of the Party executive board on Monday amid anticipation that the PPP would be dissolved by the Constitution Court in mid-December for election fraud.

PPP MP for Roi Et Sakda Khongpet said voters preferred any member of the Shinawatra family to be the new PTP Leader, whether it be retired General Chaisit Shinawatra, a cousin of convicted PM Thaksin, or Thaksin's younger sister, Yingluck.

But PM Somchai yesterday told PPP members at the meeting yesterday that the government would hold on to power as long as possible

Suchart resigns as Puea Thai Party Leader

Finance Minister Suchart Thadathamrongvej said he had stepped down as Puea Thai Party Leader on Wednesday to allow the Party to appoint a new Leader and executives. Suchart said his decision to step aside would pave way for the Party to appoint a new Leader who is more senior and has more experience in politics than him. He said he is an academic, not a politician from the beginning, but he will still serve as a PTP member. The minister said his resignation would not affect his Cabinet post, but the decision lies with PM Somchai.

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Edited November 20, 2008 by sriracha john

[sriracha john]

Yingluck may be set to lead Puea Thai Party

After Finance Minister Suchart Thadathamrongvech's resignation from the leadership of the Puea Thai Party - the path looks clear for convicted PM Thaksin's younger sister, Yingluck, to take charge. Suchart maintained he was not under any pressure to quit, but wanted to make way for a more qualified person to lead the Party's 6,700 members. He remains a Party member, but was unsure if his exit will cost him his portfolio in the coming Cabinet shake-up. PTP is viewed as the fall-back Party in the event the PPP is dissolved for electoral fraud. A PPP source said Thaksin told him in China that the Party leadership was reserved for his sister, who would appeal to voters in the North and Northeast as his real representative who would carry on with PPP policies. If all went as planned, PTP would win the next general election and Yingluck would be the country's first female PM, the source said. If the PPP were dissolved, former Deputy PM Mingkwan Sangsuwan, who is not a member of the Party's board, would take over as interim prime minister, he said. But Mingkwan is among the 28 members of the former Samak Cabinet at risk from the NCCC's charge of negligence of duty and violation of the charter. PTP director Nirun Namuangrak said a Shinawatra family member would be good for the party in retaining credibility and trust of Thaksin's supporters. Another name emerging as a possible Leader for PTP is retired General Chaiyasit Shinawatra, a cousin of Thaksin.

The retired general said he had not talked with Thaksin about his political career, but he was more than happy to jump in. PTP

Registrar Kamol Bandaipetch said the internal restructuring was in

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http://www.bangkokpost.net/211108_News/21Nov2008_news08.php

[animatic]

Shiniwatra Dynastic Ambitions in full display.

He will co-opt any family member to keep the name and the fame rolling.

So Yingluck is more qualified than every one else... at what?

[sriracha john]

Shiniwatra Dynastic Ambitions in full display.

He will co-opt any family member to keep the name and the fame rolling.

So Yingluck is more qualified than every one else... at what?

At following whatever big brother wants.

She's never held public office nor has she ever worked for any other company besides a Shin one...

BUT... she has the only factor necessary for assuming the position of Leader of this Country....

DNA.

Edited November 21, 2008 by sriracha john

[animatic]

Bingo!

[Jai Dee]

Nov 26 hearing to examine evidence on party-dissolution case

The Constitution Court on Thursday convened a meeting to review and accept the defence arguments submitted by three coalition parties relating to electoral fraud punishable by party disbandment.

The high court ruled to allow the public prosecutors to access the arguments filed on Wednesday by People Power, Chart Thai and Matchima Thipataya parties.

It has scheduled a hearing on November 26 for prosecutors and the three parties to examine defence and prosecution evidence.

Source: The Nation - 21 November 2008

[sriracha john]

ooh... not sister Yingluck, but cousin Chaisit will be new Prime Minister...

Thaksin's cousin to be Puea Thai Party Leader

Former Supreme Commander General Chaisit Shinawatra, cousin of ex-PM Thaksin, announced Friday that he would enter Thai politics and is ready to take position of Puea Thai Party Leader.

He said his decision was aimed at showing anti-government protesters who occupied the Government House how to work and help the country under the democratic system.

"To be under the democratic system, ones should be member of political party and solve the country's problems through the parliament,' he said.

Chaisit said former House Speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat visited him recently to convince him to be leader of Pue Thai Party Leader.

Chaisit said at first he decided not to enter the politics after retirement. But he changed his mind after seeing what People's Alliance for Democracy and protesters did.

"The current political situation clearly showed that some people did not play by the rules and did not protec their rights by democratic means," he said. He also urged the PAD to set up a political party to contest in an election.

On Thursday Puea Thai Party leader Suchart Thadathamrongvech said that he had resigned in order to allow the selection of another capable person to lead the new party.

Suchart, who is also Finance Minister, said he had tendered his resignation as Puea Thai Party Leader on Wednesday, but he would remain as an ordinary party member.

"There have been many new party members with long political experience. I think it's time to allow one of these qualified people to take over the job," he said.

- The Nation / 2008-11-21

[sriracha john]

Ex-Army Chief Chaiyasit Shinawatra 'ready for politics'

General Chaiyasit Shinawatra, former Army Chief and cousin of ex-PM Thaksin, declared Thursday he will enter politics, but refused to confirm he will throw his hat into the ring with the fugitive ex-premier. Chaiyasit said he will enter politics because the nation is in crisis and he should work towards solving the problems. The ex-Army Chief, who retired as Supreme Commander, admitted he was contacted by Thaksin stalwart Yongyuth Tiyapairat to head the Puea Thai Party which will take the Thai Rak Thai helm if People Power Party is dissolved, but the two never talked in detail. He finally admitted to newsmen he would head Puea Thai if he were offered the position. Chaiyasit said the decision was solely his and he had yet to consult family members, nor had he talked with ousted premier Thaksin, adding he was no one's nominee. He predicted the

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[animatic]

Well seems they are going for more gravitas,

or is it just greater body fat ratio.. gravity...

[sriracha john]

General Chaiyasith Shinawatra (left) and donated balls

Thaksin cousin asked to head Puea Thai Party

General Chaiyasith Shinawatra, a retired general and cousin of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, has been approached to take over as Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the Puea Thai Party in a new line-up that would pave the way for Thaksin to return to politics.

"Since Thaksin has announced that he will return to politics there is no further need to conceal anything. He has recruited Chaiyasith to become Leader of the Puea Thai Party, which would bring the MPs under a new roof in the event that the People Power Party is dissolved," said a well-informed political source.

In the upcoming Cabinet reshuffle, Chaiyasith will also, according to the source, be appointed Deputy Prime Minister in charge of security, replacing General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, who resigned after the October 7 incident in which police shot tear gas at anti-government protesters. Chavalit has entered the monkhood in Chiang Mai following his controversial role in the October 7 incident.

During the first term of the Thaksin government, Chaiyasith was promoted to Army Chief, although he was not a strong candidate.

Later on he was reshuffled to Supreme Commander because Thaksin was not happy with his performance.

The political source said Thaksin had picked Chaiyasith for the dual government and political jobs because he could be trusted and had good connections with the military, though Chaiyasith did not listen to Thaksin during his tenure as Army Chief.

"Chaiyasith is a better choice than Yingluck Shinawatra or Pojaman Shinawatra at this point," the source said.

Earlier, a member of the People Power Party hinted that Thaksin or Pojaman might return to Thailand on December 25 in preparation for a new battle in politics.

But sources said it might be too early for Pojaman to return because of her concern for personal security. Moreover, Pojaman is still on bail in a 546 Million Baht tax-evasion case, in which the lower court has sentenced her to three years in prison.

Chaiyasith yesterday said he had not been approached to become Leader of the Puea Thai Party.

"It is merely a news report. There is no green light as yet. I had no intention of entering politics, but considering how democracy has gone off the rails, I now want to," Chaiyasith said.

He admitted that Yongyuth Tiyapairat, a key aide of Thaksin, had talked to him about taking the job as head of the Puea Thai Party.

- The Nation / 2008-11-22

[sriracha john]

Fast-tracking the Shinawatras... don't even wait for the new elections, get him in prior as Deputy PM of the current government (resulting in Thaksin's brother-in-law as PM and Thaksin's cousin as Deputy PM ); then after Somchai dissolves Parliament (either from the PPP dissolution or the Cabinet indictment by NCCC), hold new elections with the new PTP Leader taking over as full PM. Quite a plan ya got there, Thakky.

[dave9988]

latest?

[CWMcMurray]

As I understand it, all the parties buy votes. How is that some get dissolved and others don't?

Maybe you understand it wrong.

No, I think he's got it right... some parties have been disolved and others haven't .

[sriracha john]

Yingluck may be set to lead Puea Thai Party

After Finance Minister Suchart Thadathamrongvech's resignation from the leadership of the Puea Thai Party - the path looks clear for convicted PM Thaksin's younger sister, Yingluck, to take charge.

ooh... maybe not sister Yingluck, but cousin Chaisit will be new Prime Minister...

Thaksin's cousin to be Puea Thai Party Leader

Former Supreme Commander General Chaisit Shinawatra, cousin of ex-PM Thaksin, announced Friday that he would enter Thai politics and is ready to take position of Puea Thai Party Leader.

Puea Thai Party to choose Leader

The Puea Thai Party (PTP), a replacement for the ruling PPP in the event it is dissolved, will hold a general assembly on Friday to elect its Leader. Party Spokesman Sakda Noppasit said a meeting yesterday of PTP acting executives also resolved that the permanent executive board would be elected on Dec 7. It would have between 13 and 29 members. During yesterday's meeting there was no discussion about who should lead the party, he said. Former Supreme Commander and Army Chief Chaisit Shinawatra, who is a cousin of former PM Thaksin, and Yingluck Shinawatra, Thaksin's younger sister, have emerged as the strongest contenders. Tomorrow, the Constitution Court will complete the trial process in which three government coalition parties face possible dissolution for electoral fraud - the PPP, Chart Thai and Matchima Thipataya. It is possible the verdicts could be delivered tomorrow. Kamol Bandaipetch, PTP's acting registrar, said many MPs from the PPP and other government parties were expected to join the new Party after the court issues its ruling. He confirmed Yingluck and Chaisit have filed membership applications. However, the Party was worried that

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http://www.bangkokpost.net/011208_News/01Dec2008_news09.php

[Ricardo]

Thailand is indeed fortunate, that there are so many candidates able and willing to lead the country, as PM.

Unfortunately most of them bear the same family-name, this gives the misleading impression to other countries that there is a hint of nepotism at work, it must instead be pure coincidence ? Perhaps this might be avoided, by changing the family names of every Thai citizen, to Shinawatra ?

I well remember how, when PM Thaksin was in power some years ago, his supporters would often claim that he was the only person qualified to be CEO of Thailand-Inc. Three PMs later, I am relieved to find that my own view that there are thousands of possible leaders, has been justified by events.

[Miami Bob]

In the big picture it is all basically just different criminal leaders fighting amongst each other to see who can get themselves into positions of power so they can steal the most money from the people. It amazes me that supporters of the PAD can't see that and are willing to destroy the economy of Thailand to get the criminals leading their party into power. Do they really believe the PAD leaders would be any more honest!? Corruption is the Thai system.

I was hoping the silver lining in this for us ex-pats would be that the Baht would crash helping our exchange rate, but I heard on the BBC that is not happening because the BOT already sold off 12 billion US dollars over the past year in an attempt to keep the Baht from strengthening to much and hurting exports.

[sriracha john]

Court may not be able end Thailand crisis

The Constitutional Court is expected to rule in a campaign fraud case involving three political parties. It could please anti-government protesters but also stir up counter-demonstrations.

Los Angeles Times, Reporting from Bangkok, Thailand, December 1, 2008 -- With a deepening political crisis draining millions of dollars from the economy by the hour, government opponents hope a court can break a deadlock that politicians, police, and the military have failed to resolve.

But the court ruling they seek may be cause only for more turmoil.

The Constitutional Court is expected to rule as early as Tuesday whether three parties in Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat's coalition, including his own People Power Party, should be dissolved for alleged electoral fraud.

A ruling against the government and its allies, which would be welcomed by demonstrators who have seized two major airports to press for Somchai's ouster, is likely to provoke counter-protests from his supporters.

Pro-government leaders, who call their movement the Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship, suggested at a rally Sunday that the court was conspiring with the opposition by moving up the date for a ruling. They have threatened to drive the opposition from the airports if police fail to do so.

Many Thais, who don't fall into either the yellow-shirted opposition alliance or the red-shirted camp backing Somchai's government, suffer through their country's continued political instability.

For months now, each apparent solution has ushered in a new crisis, and more bloodshed. Grenade attacks on anti-government demonstrators are almost a daily event, and tensions are growing as rival camps threaten to assault each other and rumors of an impending coup spread.

The demonstrators regard Somchai as a puppet of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, his brother-in-law. Thaksin was overthrown in a coup in 2006, fled overseas and was sentence in absentia to two years in jail on corruption charges. The opposition says the National Assembly put Somchai in office in September at Thaksin's bidding.

Somchai is trying to govern from the northern city of Chiang Mai, about 400 miles from Bangkok, the capital, and his spokesman suggested early in the crisis that he was staying there because he fears for his safety.

The army's commander said last week that he would not lead a coup to oust Somchai because it was unlikely to solve the political stalemate, which has dragged on for months. But as the economic damage mounts -- the airport standoffs are costing the country $57 million to $85 million a day, according to the Federation of Thai Industries -- so does pressure from some quarters on the military to intervene.

Bangkok's 2-year-old, $3.8-billion Suvarnabhumi Airport has been shut down since Tuesday night, when thousands of protesters seized the buildings from police who put up little resistance. Two days later, demonstrators shut down the capital's older, domestic Don Muang airport as well.

Tens of thousands of travelers stranded in Thailand by the airport standoffs continued their slow, frustrating exodus Sunday from Utapao International Airport, about 100 miles south of Bangkok, which normally handles a small number of flights from two Thai airlines and charters bring vacationers to the nearby resort city of Pattaya.

Officials say 88 aircraft, from numerous foreign and Thai airlines, are stuck at Suvarnabhumi. Some of the thousands of tourists who were in the airport's departure lounge when protesters surged through police lines Tuesday have been holed up in hotels, angrily awaiting flights out.

Sunday, as a crush of tourists tried to leave from Utapao, many of whom had to camp out for at least a night, several thousand new visitors arrived on incoming flights. They streamed into the small terminal past scores of Muslims, many of them veiled women, who were napping, eating and chatting on the floor, desperate to fly out in time to reach the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, for the annual hajj pilgrimage.

Teams of immigration officers worked from a few office desks set up to handle the extra load. Travelers crowded around a single luggage belt searching for their suitcases as colored lights winked on a small, artificial Christmas tree apparently intended to add some holiday cheer.

The airport is on a naval base, from which U.S. Air Force B-52 bombers launched airstrikes during the Vietnam War.

At midday Sunday, dozens of Thai troops dozed in the shade of trees at the base's main gate, their assault rifles and helmets strewn about on the grass as hundreds of taxis, double-decker tour buses and other vehicles choked the two-lane road into the airport, inching toward the terminal.

At least 20 commercial airliners lined the tarmac. Most aircraft, including two 747s, belonged to the country's biggest passenger airline, Thai Airways International. But jets from several foreign carriers were present, including those from Malaysia Airlines, Oman Air, Russia's Aeroflot and Taiwan's EVA Air.

A FedEx jet was the lone foreign cargo plane, not enough to make a noticeable dent in the millions of dollars' worth of perishable and other export goods that are piling up in freight warehouses, waiting for flights out.

[digitele]

Fast-tracking the Shinawatras... don't even wait for the new elections, get him in prior as Deputy PM of the current government (resulting in Thaksin's brother-in-law as PM and Thaksin's cousin as Deputy PM ); then after Somchai dissolves Parliament (either from the PPP dissolution or the Cabinet indictment by NCCC), hold new elections with the new PTP Leader taking over as full PM. Quite a plan ya got there, Thakky.

Regardless SJ, get used to it.....

[jdinasia]

In the big picture it is all basically just different criminal leaders fighting amongst each other to see who can get themselves into positions of power so they can steal the most money from the people. It amazes me that supporters of the PAD can't see that and are willing to destroy the economy of Thailand to get the criminals leading their party into power. Do they really believe the PAD leaders would be any more honest!? Corruption is the Thai system.

I was hoping the silver lining in this for us ex-pats would be that the Baht would crash helping our exchange rate, but I heard on the BBC that is not happening because the BOT already sold off 12 billion US dollars over the past year in an attempt to keep the Baht from strengthening to much and hurting exports.

Thank you for that in-depth analysis! Glad to know how some people can't read at all!

[sriracha john]

Fast-tracking the Shinawatras... don't even wait for the new elections, get him in prior as Deputy PM of the current government (resulting in Thaksin's brother-in-law as PM and Thaksin's cousin as Deputy PM ); then after Somchai dissolves Parliament (either from the PPP dissolution or the Cabinet indictment by NCCC), hold new elections with the new PTP Leader taking over as full PM. Quite a plan ya got there, Thakky.

Regardless SJ, get used to it.....

As things have progressed from this 7 days ago, it certainly looks as if he will be at least attempting it.

I don't think it will happen as I don't think he'll be successful.

IF he is successful, things will become much worse. Things were bad when a previous associate (Samak) was PM. They worsened when a non-blood relative (Somchai) became PM. If he progresses to attempt making a DNA-shared Shinawatra (Yingluck and Chaisit) as the newest PM, the current airport turmoil will seem like a minor inconvenience.

Edited December 1, 2008 by sriracha john

[Jai Dee]

PPP confident it will not be dissolved, Chart Thai ready to accept any ruling

Executive board members of the People Power party (PPP) have expressed confidence that the party will not be dissolved while the Chart Thai party assures it will be ready to accept the decision of the Constitution Tribunal.

Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives and Deputy Leader of the Chart Thai Party Somsak Prissanananthakul revealed that party head Banharn Silpa-archa will attend a Constitutional Court hearing tomorrow to close the party's dissolution case. He desisted however from speculating on the court's decision but assured that the party would allow legal proceedings to be conducted and would accept the court's decision.

PPP Board member Songsak Thongsri (ทรงศักดิ์ ทองศรี), on the other hand, stated that the PPP board is confident that it's testimony to the Constitution Court would be sufficient to alleviate party executives from involvement in the dissolution case spurred by irregularities in the campaigning of party member Yongyuth Thiyaphairat.

Source: National News Bureau of Thailand - 01 December 2008

[xminator]

How many MPs will the parlament need to be "by the law"? Can they continue without the PPP, or is dissolving the PPP the same as dissolving the parlament and trigger a new election?

[sriracha john]

PPP confident it will not be dissolved

Executive board members of the People Power party (PPP) have expressed confidence that the party will not be dissolved

PPP Board member Songsak Thongsri, on the other hand, stated that the PPP board is confident that it's testimony to the Constitution Court would be sufficient to alleviate party executives from involvement in the dissolution case spurred by irregularities in the campaigning of party member Yongyuth Thiyaphairat.

Just last-minute, token and meaningless cheerleading or do now the PPP actually expect they'll be exonerated. This thread is full of past admissions from PPP that they are FULLY expecting their dissolution. It's the whole reason for the formation of PTP as their next backup. Are they all of a sudden changing their expectations or is Songsak just beating a superfluous drum as the actual hour approaches?