Thai Ruling Party At Risk As Court Mulls Key Case

[Lite Beer]

Thai ruling party at risk as court mulls key case

BANGKOK, July 5, 2012 (AFP) - Thailand's Constitutional Court on Thursday began hearing an incendiary charter amendment case that could lead to the dissolution of the ruling party and tear open the kingdom's bitter political rifts.

The court is set to rule over claims that plans by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's party to amend the constitution are a threat to the deeply-revered monarchy.

Opposition Democrats also accuse Yingluck's party of seeking to redraw the country's charter to enable the return of her divisive brother Thaksin, who was ousted from power in a coup by royalist generals in 2006.

"There is no action or intention to do anything as it (is) claimed in the complaint," Noppadon Pattama, Thaksin's legal advisor and a member of Yingluck's Puea Thai party told reporters on Thursday.

"If the court finds (Puea Thai) guilty... I am afraid that it will affect balance of power between the legislative, administrative and judiciary and have a negative effect on democracy."

Constitutional Court judges have until the end of Friday to announce a verdict or indicate when they will deliver their ruling.

If they find that the amendment plans threaten the monarchy, it could lead to the dissolution of the party -- although would not necessitate Yingluck's departure -- risking a potential fresh wave of unrest in the volatile nation.

Thailand has been riven by spiralling political tensions since huge anti-Thaksin rallies helped topple the tycoon, who draws support from rural and working class "Red Shirts" but is reviled by the Bangkok-based elite and military.

Two pro-Thaksin premiers were forced from office in 2008 in judicial rulings, making way for the Democrats -- who have not won an election in 20 years -- to take power in a parliamentary vote.

Puea Thai swept to power last year on a wave of Thaksin support following deadly 2010 Red Shirt street protests.

Amending the constitution, which was drawn up under the post-coup junta in 2007, was a key plank of the party's election campaign, Noppadon said, adding: "We promised the people and will carry it out."

Any suggestion of a return for Thaksin, who now lives in self-imposed exile to avoid a jail term for corruption, is hugely controversial in the deeply divided nation.

Democrats have stymied previous legislative attempts to engineer his return, while the monarchist Yellow Shirts took to the streets.

Last month Yingluck's party was forced to postpone a parliamentary vote on controversial "reconciliation" proposals strongly opposed by opposition MPs and the Yellow Shirts, who fear they will be used to grant an amnesty to Thaksin.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2012-07-05

[ratcatcher]

The plot thickens. Stay tuned.

[rubl]

"There is no action or intention to do anything as it (is) claimed in the complaint," Noppadon Pattama, Thaksin's legal advisor and a member of Yingluck's Puea Thai party told reporters on Thursday.

"If the court finds (Puea Thai) guilty... I am afraid that it will affect balance of power between the legislative, administrative and judiciary and have a negative effect on democracy."

The court may drop the 'threat to the monarchy' bit, but decide that the 'bring back Thaksin' bit has merit.

Of course, any negative ruling against the current government (which is mostly Pheu Thai party) will have affects. Not necessarily negative affects though.

BTW the Pheu Thai party list MP and UDD leaders have told their followers to prepare to fight a while ago already. So no need to worry.

[MaiChai]

Get tired of quotes like 'reviled by Bangkok based elite and military'. I think its more appropriate to say 'reviled by the middle and ruling classes and military'. Anyone who can think for themselves would see through the Red shirt ideology.

[MunterHunter]

The Plot thickens... what happens to the country if the courts find the ruling party guilty and disbands them.... do we re-enter the cycle of protest, arson, bombings and elections?

Not actually sure which is worse, having the corrupt thaksin party in power or civil war... whilst i am not a fan of PTP, i think civil war would be much worse (short term)

[whybother]

The Plot thickens... what happens to the country if the courts find the ruling party guilty and disbands them.... do we re-enter the cycle of protest, arson, bombings and elections?

Not actually sure which is worse, having the corrupt thaksin party in power or civil war... whilst i am not a fan of PTP, i think civil war would be much worse (short term)

If the PTP was disbanded, it would be likely that the Executives would also be banned. The MPs that are not executives would move to another party (new or existing). By-elections would be held to replace any banned constituent MPs. Existing party-list MPs that are not banned can continue on. I'm not sure what happens to the positions of banned party-list MPs.

In 2008, the PM was also an executive, so a new PM needed to be elected. In this case, I don't believe Yingluck is a party executive (for this very reason), so there would be no change of PM.

[OzMick]

Get tired of quotes like 'reviled by Bangkok based elite and military'. I think its more appropriate to say 'reviled by the middle and ruling classes and military'. Anyone who can think for themselves would see through the Red shirt ideology.

Can we add to that "Any suggestion of a return for Thaksin, who now lives in self-imposed exile to avoid a jail term for corruption..." which noticeably omits the fact that he is also avoiding prosecution on many more serious charges.

[saltandpepper]

Get tired of quotes like 'reviled by Bangkok based elite and military'. I think its more appropriate to say 'reviled by the middle and ruling classes and military'. Anyone who can think for themselves would see through the Red shirt ideology.

Can we add to that "Any suggestion of a return for Thaksin, who now lives in self-imposed exile to avoid a jail term for corruption..." which noticeably omits the fact that he is also avoiding prosecution on many more serious charges.

Should we need to put everything, we are going to greatly affect the bandwidth

[OzMick]

Has there been any news re the previous announcement that a decision by the CC was imminent, concerning the disbandment of PTP for use of banned politicians (Thaksin) in the election campaign, and the nomination of unsuitable persons (red shirts charged with terrorism and other offenses, plus the ineligible Jatuporn)as party list candidates?

[Skywalker69]

The plot thickens. Stay tuned.

Yes......Not even Hollywood could make this up.

[Moruya]

Has there been any news re the previous announcement that a decision by the CC was imminent, concerning the disbandment of PTP for use of banned politicians (Thaksin) in the election campaign, and the nomination of unsuitable persons (red shirts charged with terrorism and other offenses, plus the ineligible Jatuporn)as party list candidates?

That card has not been played yet but I've noted the timing of the recorded speech.

[MILT]

Here comes the 110 and 1 to follow new Pardon Thaskin party with PM. <deleted> at the helm

[animatic]

Change leaders and keep dancing on the

graves of the poor and needy pawns of the big would-be players.

Edited July 7, 2012 by animatic

[h90]

The Plot thickens... what happens to the country if the courts find the ruling party guilty and disbands them.... do we re-enter the cycle of protest, arson, bombings and elections?

Not actually sure which is worse, having the corrupt thaksin party in power or civil war... whilst i am not a fan of PTP, i think civil war would be much worse (short term)

Well there wouldn't be civil war for sure, but arson, bombing etc etc and Thaksin has already a new party to continue the game....

[nurofiend]

The Plot thickens... what happens to the country if the courts find the ruling party guilty and disbands them.... do we re-enter the cycle of protest, arson, bombings and elections?

Not actually sure which is worse, having the corrupt thaksin party in power or civil war... whilst i am not a fan of PTP, i think civil war would be much worse (short term)

they won't be disbanded, the democrats have always used this spiel against thaksin.

it keeps the pad frothing too.

well they shouldn't be disbanded but who knows here. imo it definitely won't be a decision that favours them no matter how clear cut and solid their case is legally.

Edited July 7, 2012 by nurofiend

[h90]

The Plot thickens... what happens to the country if the courts find the ruling party guilty and disbands them.... do we re-enter the cycle of protest, arson, bombings and elections?

Not actually sure which is worse, having the corrupt thaksin party in power or civil war... whilst i am not a fan of PTP, i think civil war would be much worse (short term)

they won't be disbanded, the democrats have always used this spiel against thaksin.

it keeps the pad frothing too.

well they shouldn't be disbanded but who knows here. imo it definitely won't be a decision that favours them no matter how clear cut and solid their case is legally.

disbanding isn't such a big problem the parties have all registered new parties already.

Just a slight name change.