Thai Government Supporters Block Court Ahead Of Ruling

[sabaijai]

Thai government supporters block court ahead of ruling

Tue, Dec 02, 2008

AFP

BANGKOK - HUNDREDS of Thai government supporters sealed off Bangkok's Constitutional Court early on Tuesday, forcing a key hearing on the possible dissolution of the ruling party to move, a court official said.

Judges are set to hear closing arguments on Tuesday, and will then consider whether to disband three parties in the ruling coalition because some of their executives were convicted of vote fraud after elections in December 2007.

No date for the verdict has been set, but the court hearing comes as thousands of anti-government protesters in the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) continue a crippling week-long blockade at Bangkok's two airports.

Expecting the verdict to go against the ruling People Power Party (PPP), the government supporters in red shirts massed around the court building and set up makeshift stages on trucks, witnesses said.

'The final hearing will now begin at the Administrative Court building,' a court spokesman said.

Protesters wore headbands and scarves reading 'Against Dictatorship' and 'Love Thaksin', a reference to ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra. They have begun moving to the Administrative Court.

Hundreds of police armed with batons stood guard at the Constitutional Court and soldiers were also deployed around the building, amid fears of clashes between the PAD and pro-government groups as tensions escalate.

The PAD launched its campaign in late May, accusing the government elected in December of acting as a proxy for Thaksin.

Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat - Thaksin's brother-in-law - would be forced to step down and banned from politics for five years along with all other PPP leaders and executives if the court dissolves the PPP.

[bkkjames]

Thanks for the update JD, but apparently those who had statements to make, made them. PPP is abscent.

[Plus]

This thread is misleading, the hearing is proceeding nicely. It should be merged into "Ec rules that matchima ..."

[h90]

This thread is misleading, the hearing is proceeding nicely. It should be merged into "Ec rules that matchima ..."

Or wait a bit and merge it with "PPP is disolved" thread which we will see soon.

[neverdie]

This thread is misleading, the hearing is proceeding nicely. It should be merged into "Ec rules that matchima ..."

Or wait a bit and merge it with "PPP is disolved" thread which we will see soon.

OR you could wait a little bit longer and merge the lot with the tread, "PAD protests leave Bangkoks airport & the PPP supporters move in"

[Plus]

In fact the current situation warrants just one big thread "The country is f*cked.. Discuss."

[TAWP]

So sad that the hardest punishment cannot be a capital one... it is the only way forward.

[Lorin]

This thread is misleading, the hearing is proceeding nicely. It should be merged into "Ec rules that matchima ..."

Or wait a bit and merge it with "PPP is disolved" thread which we will see soon.

Amen

[PhilHarries]

So sad that the hardest punishment cannot be a capital one... it is the only way forward.

So sad that whatever the verdict the same band of crooks just carry on regardless, maybe they'll need to buy some new hats but nothing will change.

Except for the puppet, sorry I mean man, at the helm. He may change but the strings will stay the same.

[h90]

So sad that the hardest punishment cannot be a capital one... it is the only way forward.

So sad that whatever the verdict the same band of crooks just carry on regardless, maybe they'll need to buy some new hats but nothing will change.

Except for the puppet, sorry I mean man, at the helm. He may change but the strings will stay the same.

yes unfortunately you are right.

There will be a time without government. what happens if PAD blocks parliament? a new government can't be formed and no one can order the police?

[jingjingna]

verdict being announced on Thai television channels now.

[bubba]

verdict being announced on Thai television channels now.

And the verdict was announced: PPP must be dissolved, with 37 PPP members, including PM Somchai, barred from politics for five years.

What vacuum this creates.

[easybullet3]

So sad that the hardest punishment cannot be a capital one... it is the only way forward.

jesus!! - youre kidding, right? what country are you from? (america I presume!!) capital punishment the way forward?? are you out of your mind? !!!

capital punishment is stone age and the most inhumane way to deal with a crime.

yes, it is a deterrent, but its far from civilized. it hardly stopped people in america from killing. theres still people out on death row, (as proof that its not a proper deterrent).

if thailand had capital punishment, the international eyes would view thailand as even worse than current.

[Moonrakers]

So sad that the hardest punishment cannot be a capital one... it is the only way forward.

jesus!! - youre kidding, right? what country are you from? (america I presume!!) capital punishment the way forward?? are you out of your mind? !!!

capital punishment is stone age and the most inhumane way to deal with a crime.

yes, it is a deterrent, but its far from civilized. it hardly stopped people in america from killing. theres still people out on death row, (as proof that its not a proper deterrent).

if thailand had capital punishment, the international eyes would view thailand as even worse than current.

Thailand does have capital punishment.

[percy2]

So sad that the hardest punishment cannot be a capital one... it is the only way forward.

jesus!! - youre kidding, right? what country are you from? (america I presume!!) capital punishment the way forward?? are you out of your mind? !!!

capital punishment is stone age and the most inhumane way to deal with a crime.

yes, it is a deterrent, but its far from civilized. it hardly stopped people in america from killing. theres still people out on death row, (as proof that its not a proper deterrent).

if thailand had capital punishment, the international eyes would view thailand as even worse than current.

I agree with the sentiments , but Thailand does have capital punishment.

Cheers

[TAWP]

So sad that the hardest punishment cannot be a capital one... it is the only way forward.

jesus!! - youre kidding, right? what country are you from? (america I presume!!) capital punishment the way forward?? are you out of your mind? !!!

capital punishment is stone age and the most inhumane way to deal with a crime.

yes, it is a deterrent, but its far from civilized. it hardly stopped people in america from killing. theres still people out on death row, (as proof that its not a proper deterrent).

if thailand had capital punishment, the international eyes would view thailand as even worse than current.

One doesn't have to be from the US to see the need to deal with the cancer of society the only way - cut it off.

China has capital punishment for corruption. While it doesn't keep the politics clean it sure makes sure they cannot be repeat-offenders like the current bunch of clowns acting as MPs or 'MPs in the next electio'n (read: slap-on-the-wrist-banned from holding a seat but still actively involved in politics, which goes against the spirit of the law).

[flanker]

So best case scenario at this point would be that ppp is banned again, the red shirt people decide to be peaceful about it since they know they will regroup and win the next election again, and the yellow elitists withdraw from the airport peacefully.

bad other scenarios: ppp banned & redshirt people riot and violently confront yellows or yellows stay at airport anyways even if ppp is banned

or ppp wins and then yellows will stay at airports..

[Ricardo]

The mob of red-shirts attempts to block entrance to the court-hearings, which had been moved elsewhere, to confuse them. Happily a fairly-peaceful demonstration, as were most of the PAD ones, to be honest.

Standby for posts, from people who condemned the PAD as domestic terrorists, explaining how the actions of the PPP/Thaksin supporters are a totally different case, or otherwise eating humble-pie.

Capital punishment ? Would be totally over-the-top, and wrong, IMO.

Banning proven-cheats from political-involvement for 5 years, as has been happening to several parties since the last election, is however a workable step towards cleaner politics. Get the crooks, whoever they are, out of politics !

[Ricardo]

TPBS TV-news is just reporting that the red-shirts are reluctant to let the judges leave the court, following the ruling, hopefully this is just a temporary ill-thought-out reaction, and not a hostage-situation.

[Sunderland]

There are not many red shirts left there now. TPBS was reporting from in front of the court just now. There was one guy in a red shirt dancing and clapping his hands and a few bored looking women chatting in front of the court. Hardly the stuff of nightmares.

[2169]

The mob of red-shirts attempts to block entrance to the court-hearings, which had been moved elsewhere, to confuse them. Happily a fairly-peaceful demonstration, as were most of the PAD ones, to be honest.

Standby for posts, from people who condemned the PAD as domestic terrorists, explaining how the actions of the PPP/Thaksin supporters are a totally different case, or otherwise eating humble-pie.

Capital punishment ? Would be totally over-the-top, and wrong, IMO.

Banning proven-cheats from political-involvement for 5 years, as has been happening to several parties since the last election, is however a workable step towards cleaner politics. Get the crooks, whoever they are, out of politics !

if u proven cheat, never again back in politics, cause they will do it again as proven in the past