Party Dissolution Threats, Charter Amendments Among Top Ec Tasks: Thailand

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Party dissolution threats, charter amendments among top EC tasks

Prapasri Osathanont

THE NATION

The Election Commission and the Constitution Court are destined to make key decisions in this new year that could rewrite the political landscape.

The EC is also facing 468 fraud complaints arising from the July general election that it has to consider within the legal time frame of one year. EC chairman Apichart Sukhagganond said yesterday that he expected many of the cases to be dropped because of a lack of evidence and that fewer than half of them would be forwarded to the court.

The high-profile cases before the EC could end up in the dissolution of the country's major political parties. Political activist Chaiwat Sinsuwong has accused the Pheu Thai, Democrat, Bhum Jai Thai, Chart Thai Pattana, Chart Pattana Puea Pandin, and Palang Chon parties of allowing banned politicians to wield influence over their executive boards.

The two largest parties - Democrat and Pheu Thai - also face separate petitions for dissolution. The Democrat Party is accused of allowing banned politicians to get involved with amending the Constitution, while Pheu Thai is accused of allowing banned politician Thaksin Shinawatra to influence its election campaign, with the slogan "Thaksin Thinks and Pheu Thai Acts".

Those cases are likely to lead to a new round of political conflict.

The EC has to organise polls for more than 3,000 local administration organisations all over the country, many of which involve the election of the mayor.

The EC will also highly likely hold a public referendum on amending the Constitution this year. However, the independent organisation has expressed its readiness to take up the task that it accomplished before on the current charter.

Last year the Constitution Court faced a severe crisis of confidence when Pasit Sakdanarong, the secretary to court president Chut Chonlavorn, was accused of secretly taping conversations of the court's judges dealing with a dissolution case against the Democrat Party. The scandal led to the dismissal of the secretary and the filing of criminal charges against him, and eventually to the resignation of his boss.

Under the leadership of new president Justice Wasant Soypisut, the Constitution Court must try hard to restore public trust while also passing judgement on at least two critical cases this year.

It will consider the MP status of Jatuporn Promphan from the Pheu Thai Party, who is also a red-shirt leader. The EC last year filed his case with the court after deciding he was ineligible by failing to cast his ballot in the July 3 election. Jatuporn at that time was remanded on criminal charges in connection with the political unrest and riots in 2010. The court trial in Jatuporn's case is likely to be held under pressure from the red shirts.

The court also is due to rule on election-fraud charges against Boonjong Wongtrairat, a deputy leader of the opposition Bhum Jai Thai Party, involving the December 2010 by-election in Nakhon Ratchasima.

The EC had disqualified Boonjong, and the Supreme Court's Division on Electoral Cases is expected to decide soon whether to confirm the EC's decision. If the EC's decision stands, the Constitution Court is likely to order Boonjong's Bhum Jai Thai Party to be disbanded because he was a party executive at the time of the alleged offence.

-- The Nation 2012-01-04

[Buchholz]

The EC is also facing 468 fraud complaints arising from the July general election

and yet some posters crow about how clean the last election was

.

[phiphidon]

The EC is also facing 468 fraud complaints arising from the July general election

and yet some posters crow about how clean the last election was

.

I'd like to think it was absent mindedness that causes your selectivity of quotes, Buchholz, rather than a deliberate attempt to mislead. The very next sentence after your "quote" qualifies the 487 complaints thus:

EC chairman Apichart Sukhagganond said yesterday that he expected many of the cases to be dropped because of a lack of evidence and that fewer than half of them would be forwarded to the court

And what percentage of those will be found as charged?

It would be interesting to see a breakdown of the complaints and who made them. I wonder if the dems have a serial complainer (apart from Abhisit) as the PAD do with regard to Lese Majeste cases.

[Moruya]

Some of these complaints are very valid and could have far-reaching consequences.

One non-partisan complaint is the more than 2 million voters were not able to cast their votes "remotely"

Another, as stated above, is that banned politician and fugitive Thaksin influenced the vote of the Pheu Thai party with the "monkey say PT do"

I am sure that hidden in there are the PTP election campaigning - and promises made to the electorate.

I am also sure that there will be complaints over the red shirt/PTP relationship and red shirt villages.

I must admit that I did wonder where they had hidden the mulberry bush.

[anterian]

This is great, lets dissolve the Pheu Thai, Democrat, Bhum Jai Thai, Chart Thai Pattana, Chart Pattana Puea Pandin, and Palang Chon parties, lets descend into anarchy, a perfect excuse for the army to step in and take over control.

Let's extend the logic further, sack the workers of any company where an executive breaks the law, imprison the family members of every convicted criminal, convict the passengers in any vehicle where the driver commits an offence. One could have real fun with this brand of logic.

[Moruya]

This is great, lets dissolve the Pheu Thai, Democrat, Bhum Jai Thai, Chart Thai Pattana, Chart Pattana Puea Pandin, and Palang Chon parties, lets descend into anarchy, a perfect excuse for the army to step in and take over control.

Let's extend the logic further, sack the workers of any company where an executive breaks the law, imprison the family members of every convicted criminal, convict the passengers in any vehicle where the driver commits an offence. One could have real fun with this brand of logic.

No mate. that would leave us with the Rak Pathet Thai Party and Chewit would be PM by default. All casinos would be closed down and every major shopping complex would offer a Turkish bath service.

[elshaheen]

Won't do any good. They will most likey be desolved and provide a new name for a political party and be back.

[Buchholz]

The EC is also facing 468 fraud complaints arising from the July general election

and yet some posters crow about how clean the last election was

.

I'd like to think it was absent mindedness that causes your selectivity of quotes, Buchholz, rather than a deliberate attempt to mislead. The very next sentence after your "quote" qualifies the 487 complaints thus:

EC chairman Apichart Sukhagganond said yesterday that he expected many of the cases to be dropped because of a lack of evidence and that fewer than half of them would be forwarded to the court

And what percentage of those will be found as charged?

It would be interesting to see a breakdown of the complaints and who made them. I wonder if the dems have a serial complainer (apart from Abhisit) as the PAD do with regard to Lese Majeste cases.

Even if just half of the cases are forwarded to the court for voter and electoral fraud, that is enough numbers to have had a different result in who becomes the government. With hundreds of elected MP's at stake.

My point in my initial post was that this purported squeaky clean election had hundreds of cases of fraud.

Sorry if it derails your stale PAD rant.

.

[animatic]

The EC is also facing 468 fraud complaints arising from the July general election

and yet some posters crow about how clean the last election was

.

I'd like to think it was absent mindedness that causes your selectivity of quotes, Buchholz, rather than a deliberate attempt to mislead. The very next sentence after your "quote" qualifies the 487 complaints thus:

EC chairman Apichart Sukhagganond said yesterday that he expected many of the cases to be dropped because of a lack of evidence and that fewer than half of them would be forwarded to the court

And what percentage of those will be found as charged?

It would be interesting to see a breakdown of the complaints and who made them. I wonder if the dems have a serial complainer (apart from Abhisit) as the PAD do with regard to Lese Majeste cases.

Indeed, that doesn't mean there was no basis for the charges,

just that thy evidence was not strong enough to finish the kill.

That still leaves, oh a rough figure of, 234 case that WILL make it to court

or just under HALF the MP body itself.

Clean as a whistle! Coated in desiccated turds.

Your point is? ( oh wait that was just desperation)

Edited January 4, 2012 by animatic

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

This is great, lets dissolve the Pheu Thai, Democrat, Bhum Jai Thai, Chart Thai Pattana, Chart Pattana Puea Pandin, and Palang Chon parties, lets descend into anarchy, a perfect excuse for the army to step in and take over control.

Let's extend the logic further, sack the workers of any company where an executive breaks the law, imprison the family members of every convicted criminal, convict the passengers in any vehicle where the driver commits an offence. One could have real fun with this brand of logic.

No one of any importance ever actually goes to jail in Thailand... They could convict the entire lot.... and what would it change... Just shuffling the deck chairs on the Titanic... and bring back the same parties with new names.

[phiphidon]

Even if just half of the cases are forwarded to the court for voter and electoral fraud, that is enough numbers to have had a different result in who becomes the government. With hundreds of elected MP's at stake.

My point in my initial post was that this purported squeaky clean election had hundreds of cases of fraud.

Sorry if it derails your stale PAD rant.

.

I'm PAD now! Excellent, that's a new one

[TAWP]

He meant 'rant about PAD' - which you knew but pretend to not understand.

[phiphidon]

He meant 'rant about PAD' - which you knew but pretend to not understand.

Has he lost his voice, or are you his clone?

[TAWP]

He meant 'rant about PAD' - which you knew but pretend to not understand.

Has he lost his voice, or are you his clone?

I passed by and pointed out something that most posters understood but you pretended not to so you could steer the argument into some childish word-game again.

[Gary A]

It is quite obvious, at least to me that there are many naive farangs who believe that one party is more honest than another party. The sad facts are that Thai people respect wealthy people regardless of how they got their money.

[Buchholz]

He meant 'rant about PAD' - which you knew but pretend to not understand.

Has he lost his voice, or are you his clone?

I passed by and pointed out something that most posters understood but you pretended not to so you could steer the argument into some childish word-game again.

It's what the red shirt apologists have been reduced to. Trolling the semantics with feigned misunderstandings....

.

[phiphidon]

He meant 'rant about PAD' - which you knew but pretend to not understand.

Has he lost his voice, or are you his clone?

I passed by and pointed out something that most posters understood but you pretended not to so you could steer the argument into some childish word-game again.

It's what the red shirt apologists have been reduced to. Trolling the semantics with feigned misunderstandings....

.

No, I'm sorry I genuinely thought you used the english language as your first language. The way it read accused me of being PAD - that amused me seeing all the other things I have been called. No big deal as far as I'm aware but TAWP obviously thought you needed backing up. Oh well...........................

[TAWP]

No, I wanted to stop the tread go completely off-topic again over some feign misunderstanding. I didn't succeed.

Edited January 5, 2012 by TAWP

[OzMick]

This is great, lets dissolve the Pheu Thai, Democrat, Bhum Jai Thai, Chart Thai Pattana, Chart Pattana Puea Pandin, and Palang Chon parties, lets descend into anarchy, a perfect excuse for the army to step in and take over control.

Let's extend the logic further, sack the workers of any company where an executive breaks the law, imprison the family members of every convicted criminal, convict the passengers in any vehicle where the driver commits an offence. One could have real fun with this brand of logic.

While I doubt the country will plunge into chaos, I must comment on what you think an unlikely scenario.

My sister- and brother-in-law accepted a cheap ride in the back of a pick-up from Sukhothai to return to work in BKK. When the vehicle was stopped and searched, ya ba was found in a bag and ALL EIGHT (paying) passengers were charged and convicted of possession, 12 years each. The driver did not face court for unknown (but suspected) reasons.

[OzMick]

It is quite obvious, at least to me that there are many naive farangs who believe that one party is more honest than another party. The sad facts are that Thai people respect wealthy people regardless of how they got their money.

I am not naive enough to think that any political party in Thailand is totally honest. But I have observed over some time here that one party seems to have the interest of the nation at heart, while another seems to concentrate on pillage and maintaining power at any cost. The saddest fact is that though many Thais preferred the former party's policies, recognising their benefit for the country I assume, through propaganda and various fiscal inducements were persuaded to vote for the thieves.

[anterian]

This is great, lets dissolve the Pheu Thai, Democrat, Bhum Jai Thai, Chart Thai Pattana, Chart Pattana Puea Pandin, and Palang Chon parties, lets descend into anarchy, a perfect excuse for the army to step in and take over control.

Let's extend the logic further, sack the workers of any company where an executive breaks the law, imprison the family members of every convicted criminal, convict the passengers in any vehicle where the driver commits an offence. One could have real fun with this brand of logic.

While I doubt the country will plunge into chaos, I must comment on what you think an unlikely scenario.

My sister- and brother-in-law accepted a cheap ride in the back of a pick-up from Sukhothai to return to work in BKK. When the vehicle was stopped and searched, ya ba was found in a bag and ALL EIGHT (paying) passengers were charged and convicted of possession, 12 years each. The driver did not face court for unknown (but suspected) reasons.

I think there is no such thing as an unlikely scenario in Thailand, it is a country where fact is often stranger than fiction. A scientist will tell you that the test of a theory is that you get the same experimental results every time and every place. As this does not apply in Thailand it is probably why there are so few Thai scientists.