PM Abhisit: No Affect On Dissolution Case After Judges Quit

[webfact]

PM: No affect on dissolution case after judges quit

BANGKOK, Nov 27 -- Abhisit Vejjajiva, the 27th prime minister of Thailand, who has led the country for nearly the past two years, said Saturday he would “do anything except get involved in politics” if his Democrat Party is ordered dissolved by the Constitution Court over charges of wrongfully using a Bt29 million political campaign fund allocated by the Election Commission (EC) for election campaigning over five years ago.

The EC and Democrat Party will present closing statements in the party-dissolution case next Monday as required by the Constitution Court.

The court would then decide whether or not to deliver a verdict on that day, as was done with three previous party dissolution cases.

The Oxford-educated prime minister, who has been in power since Dec 17, 2008 and weathered both political and financial troubles in the country, also said he had no knowledge about rumours that his Democrat Party, of which he is also the leader, has set up a party called ‘Thai Khem Keng’ (Thai Strength) Party and that it would not be too difficult for members of his party to switch to other political parties if the Democrat Party was disbanded by the Constitution Court.

When asked what he would do if Thailand's oldest political party is dissolved and he were to be banned, Mr Abhisit said he would do anything that was not concerned with politics.

The six judges of the Constitution Court will rule whether the Democrat Party should be dissolved over charges of misusing election campaign funds granted by the EC ahead of the April 2005 election, failing to declare the purchase of campaign signs that were smaller and cheaper than those requisitioned.

Constitution Court judges agreed yesterday to allow their judicial colleague Jaroon Intajarn to recuse himself from hearing the dissolution case against the ruling Democrat Party, saying that Mr Jaroon had "airtight reasons" to withdraw. However, they did not allow Supot Khaimook to recuse himself.

Both judges Jaroon and Supot asked the court to remove them from the panel after they took legal action against parties involved in spreading video clips deemed detrimental to the court.

Earlier, two other judges withdrew from the trial - Wasant Soipisuth, who is engaged in a legal wrangle with politicians from the opposition Puea Thai Party, and Chalermpol Ek-uru, whose family name resembles that of a Democrat MP.

The six judges remaining in the trial are Suphot, Constitution Court president Chat Cholaworn, Boonsong Kulbupha, Jarun Pukditanakul, Udomsak Nitimontree and Nurak Mapraneet.

Asked whether there would be any problem if the court ruling was evenly split, Mr Abhisit said in that case a “consultation has to be made with the law.”

If found guilty by the court, senior leaders of the Democrat Party, including Mr Abhisit, would be banned from politics for five years as stipulated by the constitution. Mr Abhisit was a deputy leader of the party at the time of the incident.

Mr Abhisit said if he has to resign from his post because of party dissolution then it is up to members of parliament to elect a new prime minister. He said his party members would join in “deciding their fate.”

Although some Democrat Party members were confident the party would be acquitted in the cases, if the party is found guilty and Abhisit is disqualified, they said Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban --the Democrat secretary-general-- would become the acting prime minister.

However, the premier said that Mr Suthep may not be the choice as he may also be disqualified, as it depended on the details of the court's verdict.

As both supporters and opponents of the Democrat Party are expected to turn up in full force in front of the court to listen to the ruling and might cause trouble if the decision is unsatisfactory, Mr Abhisit said police would try to control the situation but so far “there is no sign of violence.”

Worries over political uncertainties in the country caused many investors to unload stocks on Friday as the Stock Exchange of Thailand index retreated 4.71 points to close at 991.71 with turnover of about Bt27.78 billion. According to stock analysts, market sentiment is expected to be subdued next week due to continued concerns over local politics and uncertainty in the global economy. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2010-11-27

[saakura]

May the judges give a fair ruling without fear or favour. May true justice prevail and the country move forward.

[whybother]

If the Democrats are not banned, there will be protests by the red shirts.

If the Democrats are banned, and the new party (Thai Strength party?) are able to keep the coalition together and therefore stay in power, there will be protests by the red shirts.

Expect protests by the red shirts.

[craigt3365]

If the Democrats are not banned, there will be protests by the red shirts.

If the Democrats are banned, and the new party (Thai Strength party?) are able to keep the coalition together and therefore stay in power, there will be protests by the red shirts.

Expect protests by the red shirts.

And such protests will be led by the esteemed Jatuporn....and of course directed by K. Thaksin....

[animatic]

If the Democrats are not banned, there will be protests by the red shirts.

If the Democrats are banned, and the new party (Thai Strength party?) are able to keep the coalition together and therefore stay in power, there will be protests by the red shirts.

Expect protests by the red shirts.

As you would expect rain in November. It's just gonna happen.

[SergeiY]

If the Democrats are banned, and the new party (Thai Strength party?) are able to keep the coalition together and therefore stay in power, there will be protests by the red shirts.

Expect protests by the red shirts.

And how the other dudes will react if the democrats are getting banned and cannot keep a coalition and a government together with a new party?

[yellow1red1]

May the judges give a fair ruling without fear or favour. May true justice prevail and the country move forward.

is that a prayer or sumthin? hah ha ha

aint gonna happen,, that is SURE

<<< let's just post this every year on Dec 1 , aight?

[yellow1red1]

If the Democrats are not banned, there will be protests by the red shirts.

If the Democrats are banned, and the new party (Thai Strength party?) are able to keep the coalition together and therefore stay in power, there will be protests by the red shirts.

Expect protests by the red shirts.

As you would expect rain in November. It's just gonna happen.

expect protests, check

only by the red shirts??? HA HA HA

[Siam Simon]

If the Democrats are banned, and the new party (Thai Strength party?) are able to keep the coalition together and therefore stay in power, there will be protests by the red shirts.

Expect protests by the red shirts.

And how the other dudes will react if the democrats are getting banned and cannot keep a coalition and a government together with a new party?

Ooops!

[whybother]

If the Democrats are banned, and the new party (Thai Strength party?) are able to keep the coalition together and therefore stay in power, there will be protests by the red shirts.

Expect protests by the red shirts.

And how the other dudes will react if the democrats are getting banned and cannot keep a coalition and a government together with a new party?

Actually, I expect that if the Democrats think they can't hold the coalition together that they will call an election (instead of calling for an election of a new PM - which the ex-PPP did, and lost).

Either way, IMO, if the PTP get control of government and start changing the constitution to white wash Thaksin's crimes, then the PAD will be protesting.

I don't believe there will be a coup (or PAD protests) just because PTP are in government.

Edited November 28, 2010 by whybother

[Thai at Heart]

If the Democrats are banned, and the new party (Thai Strength party?) are able to keep the coalition together and therefore stay in power, there will be protests by the red shirts.

Expect protests by the red shirts.

And how the other dudes will react if the democrats are getting banned and cannot keep a coalition and a government together with a new party?

Actually, I expect that if the Democrats think they can't hold the coalition together that they will call an election (instead of calling for an election of a new PM - which the ex-PPP did, and lost).

Either way, IMO, if the PTP get control of government and start changing the constitution to white wash Thaksin's crimes, then the PAD will be protesting.

I don't believe there will be a coup (or PAD protests) just because PTP are in government.

A coup isn't necessarily guaranteed if PTP get into government. I can't see Sondhi sitting at home out of the limelight if PTP get in. He won't be able to help himself.

I can just see him bellowing "half the country, ork bpai!"

[silp1979]

May the judges give a fair ruling without fear or favour. May true justice prevail and the country move forward.

lol ...you believe in ferrytales also??? come on this is thailand