Supreme Court To Decide Whether To Nullify Election In Unprecedented Meeting

[Plus]

If EC takes responsibility and resigns before endorsing Senate elections there will be no one to appoint the new EC, no Senate, no Lower House - nothing.

[ColPyat]

The People's Alliance for Democracy renewed demands for Mr Thaksin to keep his pledge not to take the job of prime minister again.

In an open letter, the alliance, instrumental for Mr Thaksin's current political hiatus, maintained Mr Thaksin is the root of all problems and social division.

hahahaha... that Sodhi... what a kidder.. always joking around...

actually, a letter is fairly tame... and hopefully won't constitute as "chest-pounding" by ando's standards...

- BP

Thaksin is the "root of all probems and social divisions". LOL!

Right, never mind that todays problems are a logical consequence of decades of mismanagement. As if Thaksin is responsible for the triumvirate of Phin Choonhavan, Fieldmarshal Pibunsongkram and Police General Pau, and every other vile dictator Thailand has seen. Never mind that Thaksin was still an infant when the course for the present problems was set.

Right, whitewash the past in order not to have to face today's real problems. Typical.

Thailand is in for a rude awakening very soon.

[sriracha john]

Just Sodhi being jovial and having a bit of fun....

meanwhile... on the serious side of things...

Constitution Court begins reading verdict

The Constitution Court is holding a session at 10 am to deliver opinions of each judge regarding the April 2 election's validity.

[sriracha john]

Constitution Court said the April 2 election is unconstitutional

Constitution Court will invalidate the controversial April 2 election and order new election to be held, Judge Ura Wang-ormklang said.

Ura said the Court will officially issue its ruling in the afternoon.

He was speaking with some reporters as the judges have their lunch break after the meeting started at about 10am.

Ura said eight judges ruled in favour of nullifying the April 2 election which they found unconstitutional while six other judges ruled against. In separate ruling, nine ruled in favour of having new election while five others are against.

The ruling came after two groups of people filed complaints with Constitution Court, alleging that the election is unconstitutional.

The complaints -- filed by a Thammasat University law lecturer and the People's Network for Elections, a Thai watchdog -- argue that the April 2 date was chosen unfairly, that the winners were improperly certified, and that the ruling party had financed campaigns by fringe groups.

- TN

Edited May 8, 2006 by sriracha john

[stumonster]

Thai court calls for fresh election

From correspondents in Bangkok

May 08, 2006

THAILAND'S Constitutional Court today ruled the inconclusive April 2 general election was unconstitutional and a new poll should be held, one of the 14 judges said after a meeting of the court.

"The Constitutional Court voted 8 to 6 that the elections were unconstitutional and voted 9 to 5 to hold a new election," Judge Ura Wangomklang said.

A court spokesman was due to address a news conference later.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story...89-1702,00.html

[sriracha john]

Thai court says election "unconstitutional"

08/05/2006

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand’s Constitutional Court ruled on Monday that the inconclusive April 2 general election was unconstitutional and a new poll should be held, one of the 14 judges told reporters after a meeting of the court.

"The Constitutional Court voted 8 to 6 that the elections were unconstitutional and voted 9 to 5 to hold a new election," Judge Ura Wangomklang told reporters. A court spokesman was due to address a news conference later.

[sriracha john]

Thai court rejects April elections

Constitutional court calls for new parliamentary poll

Monday, May 8, 2006

BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) -- Thailand's Constitutional Court on Monday nullified the country's April 2 parliamentary elections and ordered fresh polls in a bid to end the country's months-long political crisis, a court official said.

The court's 14 judges voted 8-6 to nullify the election, said a court official speaking on condition of anonymity ahead of a news conference planned to formally announce the decision.

The ruling was widely expected after Thailand's revered monarch, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, sternly told the top courts last month to find a way out of what he called the country's political "mess."

[Gonzo the Face]

Thai court rejects April elections

Constitutional court calls for new parliamentary poll

Monday, May 8, 2006

BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) -- Thailand's Constitutional Court on Monday nullified the country's April 2 parliamentary elections and ordered fresh polls in a bid to end the country's months-long political crisis, a court official said.

The court's 14 judges voted 8-6 to nullify the election, said a court official speaking on condition of anonymity ahead of a news conference planned to formally announce the decision.

The ruling was widely expected after Thailand's revered monarch, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, sternly told the top courts last month to find a way out of what he called the country's political "mess."

It seems a bit funny or then again maybe not,,,, but this story has been printed in many papers around the world, including on CNN and even in the Nation here in Thailand... but strangely nothing in Bangkok Post , even in their breaking news section.

[sriracha john]

Thread: PM Thaksin Resigns

Time to recharge the batteries now that mission #1 has been accomplished.

("Mission Impossible" was what many people thought)

Thai court rejects April elections

Constitutional court calls for new parliamentary poll

Monday, May 8, 2006

Another month... another mission accomplished.... #2 and counting....

[sriracha john]

It seems a bit funny or then again maybe not,,,, but this story has been printed in many papers around the world, including on CNN and even in the Nation here in Thailand... but strangely nothing in Bangkok Post , even in their breaking news section.

and 12 minutes later...

Bangkok Post at 13:48 =

Constitution Court annuls April 2 election

Constitution Court judges voted 8-6 on Monday to annul the April 2, 2006 general election called by caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Mr Thaksin called the election three years early in an attempt to end the mounting protests by the opposition that he was corrupt and had abused power.

The main opposition parties refused to put up candidates in the April 2 contest and in 278 out of 400 constituencies Mr Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai party ran unopposed.

However, more elections followed in an attempt for candidates to win the required 20% of votes needed to become MPs.

On April 25, 2006, His Majesty the King asked the country’s top courts to help solve the crisis.

On Monday the Constitutional Court judges also voted 9-5 for a new general election to take place.

[bobfla]

Thai court rejects April elections

Constitutional court calls for new parliamentary poll

Monday, May 8, 2006

BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) -- Thailand's Constitutional Court on Monday nullified the country's April 2 parliamentary elections and ordered fresh polls in a bid to end the country's months-long political crisis, a court official said.

The court's 14 judges voted 8-6 to nullify the election, said a court official speaking on condition of anonymity ahead of a news conference planned to formally announce the decision.

The ruling was widely expected after Thailand's revered monarch, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, sternly told the top courts last month to find a way out of what he called the country's political "mess."

It seems a bit funny or then again maybe not,,,, but this story has been printed in many papers around the world, including on CNN and even in the Nation here in Thailand... but strangely nothing in Bangkok Post , even in their breaking news section.

Funny even the UK BBc carry it but not a court official speaking on condition of anonymity, they have it as a Judge Ura Wangomklang said the court had decided by nine votes to five that the 2 April poll was unconstitutional.

Funny (strange) all of this!

[Plus]

Are they going to let the same EC to manage the next elections?

[bobfla]

Are they going to let the same EC to manage the next elections?

Seems so pointless if the same EC manage the next elections!

"Who keeps the keeper, who watches the watcher and WHO guards the guard.........?"

[ando]

Well, a least some sanity has finally prevailed.

Wonder if Sondhi and PAD will continue to overshadow the Democrats in the media in the run up to the new elections? Or perhaps the Democrats might start to figure out that they actually have to come up with some policies to get enough votes to win power.

[Plus]

Seems so pointless if the same EC manage the next elections!

Yes, that's the point I started this fine day, it's at the top of the page - EC is the only existing body left in the country, if they resign, then what?

[sriracha john]

Well, a least some sanity has finally prevailed.

Wonder if Sondhi and PAD will continue to overshadow the Democrats in the media in the run up to the new elections? Or perhaps the Democrats might start to figure out that they actually have to come up with some policies to get enough votes to win power.

Actually, it seems that it's the TRT Party in-fighting...and disavowing the Court's authority to act... and threats of this sort and that that seem to be the media highlights lately.

It's the MP's who have just lost their "pseudo-elected" seats that seem to be most vocal.

Will they stage a PAD-like rally now?

[sriracha john]

I'm waiting for one to make a Freudian slip and complain bitterly about how he had paid a lot of good money in order to obtain his MP seat and now some stupid court has taken it all away.....

[lopburi3]

Topic closed. Chapter II here.