Dust Whipped Up As Thai Democrats Await Dissolution Ruling

[webfact]

BURNING ISSUE

Dust whipped up as Democrats await ruling

By Somroutai Sapsomboon

Dust seems to be swirling around in politics like it was a signal that there'll be some changes.

It could be that politicians are preparing for the historical Democrat Party dissolution case.

While Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva was attending the UN General Assembly in New York last week, some names of PM candidates emerged.

First was deputy prime minister and chief adviser of the Chart Thai Pattana Party, Sanan Kachornprasart, who has tried to make himself a mediator for national reconciliation. There were reports saying Sanan's moves were an attempt by "the invisible hands" to enhance reconciliation. After the ruling Democrat Party failed to realise reconciliation, they turned to Sanan. Politicians need to create reconciliation or an "undemocratic" way may be used.

No one thinks the veteran politician is eyeing only the mediator role. In this scenario, Sanan was reportedly placed to become the next prime minister with all parties including the opposition Pheu Thai joining the coalition, except the Democrats and the Bhum Jai Thai Party of Newin Chidchob.

But after Newin joined hands with Banharn Silapa-Archa of Chart Thai Pattana to push for an amnesty bill, it seems that the Democrats might become the sole opposition party.

However, the movement for reconciliation looks in fact more like they're preparing for an upcoming political accident. It seems like they're moving to form a new government in case the ruling party was dissolved. The Constitution Court is expected to rule on the Democrat case in November, less than two months away. Apparently, all political parties and political observers believe the Democrats are doomed.

The party could be dissolved with all or some of its executives banned. But if they're banned it's possible that party leader Abhisit could not get away with it.

Besides Sanan, Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij, a deputy Democrat leader, has emerged as a candidate. Korn is reportedly supported by Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, the party's secretary-general. Suthep reportedly lobbied Newin to back Korn to replace Abhisit if he faced a political ban.

However, Suthep denied wanting to replace the premier, saying Abhisit and Korn were from different classes. But what was interesting was Korn neither confirmed nor denied the report. Observers could not help but think Korn might be eyeing the top job, in view of his several recent moves. It's like he's paving the way to become the premier. Korn always makes publicity for himself by airing his opinions on several issues through the social media.

Political observers had considered chief party adviser Chuan Leekpai as the most appropriate replacement for Abhisit. But Chuan reportedly was too hard to control.

And the latest candidate surfaced yesterday - Suthep himself.

The three branches of the Democrat Party in Surat Thani voted yesterday to field Suthep in the Constituency 1 by-election to fill the MP seat vacated by Chumpol Kanchana. Chumpol was temporarily banned from politics after the Supreme Court found him guilty of concealing debts.

Suthep stepped down as an MP in July last year after the Election Commission resolved to ask the Constitution Court to consider if he was disqualified as an MP for holding shares in firms prohibited by the charter. The court dismissed the case following his resignation. The only reason why Suthep would have to run in an election is because the Constitution requires that the prime minister be an MP.

All this depends, of course, on both Suthep and Korn emerging "unscathed" from any punishment imposed on the Democrats, if they are found guilty of offences.

The dust is still unsettled until the judgement day for the Democrats arrives.

-- The Nation 2010-09-27

[SamritT]

Go for Korn. He is supper clean stock broker. Just keep him away from the stock market manipulation (like ThaiCom, True, DTAC, ADVANC stocks), then he will be a OK PM.

[asiawatcher]

I doubt the Court will rule to dissolve the Dems. The country is just working its way up the international ladder. To throw out the Govt would be stupid. The PM is away and all the cast in the background are out there manipulating - so what's new? There is no loyalty in Thai politics and this is no different. Two years in Thai politics is a lifetime - just look at the number of coups in the last 50 years! They average 1 every three years.

If sanity and logic works its pretty head to the top of the Thai political shit heap, and the country actually back a non-corrupt PM, it may actually step out of the quagmire and move forward but all the candidates mentioned have baggage and ulterior motives for wanting to sit in the top job and the sooner the Thai populace sees that - the more likely it will grow a brain and allow the man there at present to continue to lead Thailand out of the dark ages.

Edited September 27, 2010 by asiawatcher

[animatic]

Maneuvering in case the Dems are dissolved is not the same as expecting them to go down, but anyone not thinking what if and taking measures in case, is not qualified to run a nation anyway.

It is certainly possible, but the more info coming out from the case seems to back the idea, that it was nothing but a partisan political witch hunt, based on one foolish printer trying to up his take, getting caught, and trying to spread the blame to those who didn't let him off the hook, or pay up his attempts at revenge blackmail for his self created loss. And those who see it as a possible route to removing their arch enemies from the political scene permanently.

Remember, the EC did nothing until directly threatened by Arisiman

and a red shirt mob over running their offices.

Edited September 27, 2010 by animatic