Breaking News: Constitutional Court Nullifies Elections

[asd]

PAD adds to pressure on EC to resign

Election body warned it will have to accept full responsibility if court rules that April 2 poll was illegal

The election commissioners should resign to show responsibility if the Constitution Court rules today against them about the legality of the April 2 election, the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) said yesterday.

The court is set to make a landmark ruling today as major political parties are getting ready for the possibility of a new election in the event of the polls being declared void.

PAD spokesman Suriyasai Katasila yesterday called on Election Commission members to resign if the Constitution Court annulled the April 2 election, in a show of responsibility for setting the election date too close to the time of the House dissolution by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Members of Election Commission

Police General Wassana Permlarb : Chairman of the Election Commission

Mr. Parinya Nakchatri

Mr. Weerachai Naew-bun-neang

General Jarupat Ruengsuwan

The PAD is the political movement that has spearheaded campaigns to oust Thaksin.

"If they do not resign, the PAD will seek to remove them by filing complaints with the Supreme Court or the Constitution Court," he said.

In the event of the Constitution Court ruling today that the April 2 election is valid, the PAD can still seek a further ruling by the Supreme Court, Suriyasai said.

Similar cases on the questionable validity of the April 2 polls are also pending in the Administrative Court and Suriyasai said that the PAD could pin its hope on those cases if the Constitution Court ruled that the polls were valid.

The Constitution Court is scheduled to meet and announce its ruling on the validity of the April 2 election at 10am today, said one of the court's judges, Jumpol na Songkhla.

He said the court has worked on the case without any outside pressure and denied speculations that the judges have faced heavy lobbying from certain political figures.

"However, I cannot guarantee whether the court's ruling will be what is expected by the general public or not," he said.

Another Constitution Court judge, Manit Wityatem, said he has studied evidence including tapes and documents submitted by the EC several times, and has already reached his personal verdict to be presented to the full-bench of the court today.

Sucheera Pinijparakarn,

Suphon Thanukrit

The Nation

-------------------------------------------------

Suriyasai Katasila: a man of the future

Suriyasai Katasila has proved himself to be one of Thailand's foremost political activists.

A spokesman of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), Suriyasai has been standing in the front line, challenging and fighting the Thaksin regime in the name of people power.

Only in his early 30s and with enormous energy and an endless fighting spirit, he is sharp and knows how to think strategically to achieve political objectives.

Over the past three months of a gruelling political battle against the Thaksin regime, Suriyasai has played a key role in designing both the offensive and defensive strategies of the PAD.

Both the Thaksin government and the PAD have had equal intelligence information about their moves and countermoves while trying to outwit each other for political advantage.

The PAD is a political phenomenon, a reaction against the repressive Thaksin regime. Although Thais in general do not trust some key members of the PAD, they are willing to give the organisation the benefit of the doubt as it focuses its energy on resisting the Thaksin machine.

There were some 10 million "no votes" on April 2, reflecting widespread resentment against Thai Rak Thai among middle-class voters.

A protege of Phiphop Thongchai, Suriyasai has risen to meet the challenge of Thai politics being at a crossroads. Over the past two years, he succeeded in becoming secretary-general of the Campaign for Popular Democracy. The organisation's aim is to enhance the role of people's politics.

You must agree that Suriyasai has passed a critical test. He now has the larger-than-life image of a political activist. Speaking to Manager Online, Suriyasai said he slept very few hours at the height of the battle.

With his busy travel schedule, he has had to snatch naps in taxis, buses and planes. When the PAD camped out at Sanam Luang or Government House to rally against Thaksin Shinawatra, he could wake up late.

But then he'd have to travel upcountry to meet with PAD supporters.

It was probably the most intense period of his life, and he admitted to taking precautions. He received late-night calls threatening his life.

Sometimes he deliberately avoided answering his mobile phone, resulting in some 50 or 60 missed calls.

When meeting strangers, he had to keep his guard up. If they were friends, then it was all right; otherwise, he had to stay alert.

He spoke a little about his private life, how he now had little time for subjects close to his heart. But he may plans to go to the US or the UK for three or five years after this episode. Or he may set up a political party. He'll decide next year.

For now, Suriyasai can bask in his success, which has come at a big price, because his life has completely changed, for better or for worse.

Keep an eye on the future of this young man, who will be a force in Thai politics for decades to come.

The Nation

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[Sandstone Art]

BEST NEWS so far

[dotcom]

Yes our hosts get to piss away another 3 billion baht.

Poor these folks ain't.

[dotcom]

Thai court rejects April elections

Constitutional court calls for new parliamentary poll

Monday, May 8, 2006 Posted: 0743 GMT (1543 HKT)

BANGKOK, Thailand (CNN) -- Thailand's Constitutional Court ruled Monday that last month's parliamentary election was unconstitutional and ordered new polling.

The court announced in a news conference that the April 2 snap poll was called too soon under Thai election law and was fraught with other irregularities.

The vote was boycotted by all three main opposition parties.

The court voted 8-6 to invalidate the April election, and 9-5 to hold a new vote.

No date was immediately set for the new election.

Despite winning last month's balloting, Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra announced he was resigning amid mass protests and lackluster results at the polls by his ruling Thai Rak Thai party.

The prime minister called the election three years early, even as demonstrators filled streets demanding his ouster.

The protests started earlier this year, with critics accusing Thaksin of widespread corruption and abuse of power. He was also blamed for mishandling a Muslim insurgency in southern Thailand and stifling the country's once vibrant media.

Thaksin dissolved Parliament in February and called snap polls. His Thai Rak Thai party won 57 percent of the vote, but millions of Thais cast protest votes and the opposition boycott left the lower house without the full 500 lawmakers required for Parliament to convene.

Days after the election, Thaksin announced he was taking "a break" from politics to restore national unity and passed his duties to his deputy, Chitchai Wannasathit.

Copyright 2006 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report

[bquick]

500 baht a vote from TRT?

My wife said she only got 400 baht. maybe if TRT's own people didn't screw over the locals even then the most important time they would have more luck.

it's such tiny money and absolutely nothing relative to say increasing tax on drink. N-word money as they say.

Edited May 8, 2006 by bquick

[sriracha john]

JUDGEMENT DAY

Court orders new poll; pressure mounts on EC

Commissioners plead for time amid chorus for them to quit; govt claims no legal alternative to oversee new poll

The Election Commission yesterday pleaded for time to study the Constitution Court's ruling before deciding whether to resign over the botched April 2 poll and how it should set a date for a new ballot.

The EC's four members appeared under stress amid calls for their heads in the wake of yesterday's verdict to cancel the election results.

Meanwhile, caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was still keeping quiet about his future, declining to say whether his pledge to take a break from politics would remain after the court ruling.

And government powerbrokers claimed there was no legal alternative - the current EC had to conduct the new election, they said.

EC chairman Vasana Puem-larp refused to comment until he read the full text of the verdict.

He was heard telling a group of supporters from the Northeast: "Wherever you see me next time, please come and say hello to me."

Fellow EC member Virachai Naewboonnien said he had no time to think about his future as he was devoting his attention to managing the new election.

"I am not thinking about my career because I must organise the new polls," he said, adding that the government may have to issue another royal decree to specify the election date.

But the government appeared to disagree.

"The EC will have to consult with political parties to set the new election date without government involvement," Cabinet secretary-general Bowornsak Uwanno said.

The court cited the layout of the ballot booths as grounds to abandon the vote, Bowornsak said.

This meant the royal decree for the April 2 election was "still intact" and the EC was obliged to complete the electoral process by calling new polls after consulting the political parties, he claimed.

The verdict did not mention the House dissolution, which prompted the government's decision to issue the original decree calling the election, he said.

Bowornsak said the government would get involved in procedures relating to the convening of a new House after the EC completed the new election.

The new poll will follow precedents set by the Senate ballots in 2000, which took almost six months to complete, he said.

Bowornsak said the term of MPs would begin on April 2 and not on the date of the new election.

He condemned pressure to force the EC's resignation as counter-productive because elections could not take place without commissioners in place.

"Should the EC resign now, the electoral process will reach a deadlock with no solution prescribed under the Constitution," he said.

At present, the selection committee for commissioners could not be activated due to the lack of a quorum and relevant provisions to empower the full bench of the Supreme Court to act in the absence of the EC, he claimed.

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said he was pleased with the verdict, which give the electoral process a fresh start.

"I see this as the end of the political crisis," he said.

The EC should consult political parties over the election date and pave the way for political reconciliation, he said.

Wissanu admitted that the EC had probably lost the credibility required to manage the polls but said politicians might have to tolerate its shortcomings because there was no alternative.

"Trust in the EC is dependent on the views of many individuals and organisations and I hope we can all learn to forgive it," he said.

Wissanu could see no hope of starting a selection process for fresh commissioners before the convening of a new House and Senate and neither chamber could be filled without the EC.

Although some legal pundits argued that the Supreme Court could intervene to nominate EC candidates, this would happen only if the EC selection committee had already come into existence but failed to fulfil its responsibility, he claimed.

No selection committee would exist before Parliament was in session, Wissanu said.

The Central Administrative Court is set to rule next Tuesday on whether the EC violated the Constitution by configuring polling booths in a way that prevented voters from casting their ballots in private.

Calls for the election commissioners to quit grew yesterday as opposition figures, academics and political activists agreed the "EC Four" should take responsibility for what happened.

Democrat Party secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban and Mahachon Party leader Sanan Kachornprasart said the EC members no longer had the legitimacy to remain in office.

Sombat Thamrongthanya-wong, a political scientist from the National Institute for Develop-ment Administration, said all four EC members should resign immediately after the Constitution Court ruling. In principle, whenever someone makes a mistake they should take responsibility, he said.

"Don't worry about who will organise the next election if there is no EC - but if they are still on duty the elections may fail because people no longer have faith in them," Sombat said.

The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) will hold a meeting today to discuss its stance.

PAD spokesman Suriyasai Katasila said they would discuss how the EC and Thaksin should take responsibility for the invalid election, and would also consider Thaksin's return to the race.

Suriyasai called on the EC members to resign because the court's ruling showed the EC had failed to manage a fair election.

- TN

[CSX]

Invalidated Election????? This is Thailand! No surprise to me in the LOS . Business as usual.

[sriracha john]

The woes of a once-mighty leader are many... under assault from more sides than he could have ever imagined... he yearns for the day when his control was unquestioned, his wealth was boundless, and his power undisputed...

His once-glorious world is crumbling.... "cracked", if you will, like a new airport's runway.

Is he just yet another Suharto.... another Marcos... to be discredited and discarded to the trash bin of history. No. Their regimes lasted for decades... his is potentially over at a mere 5 years.

ANALYSIS

Thaksin's path strewn with legal landmines

The cheeky silence from the Thai Rak Thai camp on Thaksin Shinawatra's immediate future may not be just another strategy.

Rather, observers believe, the party must have started to become very concerned about legal threats that lie ahead, especially after the usually friendly Constitution Court coldly snubbed him.

Is the nullification of the April 2 election a serious warning to Thaksin and his party? Nobody knows for sure.

What is certain is that there are cases, small and big, pending in court, whose outcomes can drastically alter the course of Thai politics.

Political analysts are paying special attention to a low-profile criminal charge filed against Thaksin by an American businessman a few days ago. Buoyed by a victory in a civil court battle, William L Monson from Seattle is taking criminal action against the caretaker prime minister, accusing him of theft and fake charges in a dispute that goes back to 1989. Monson's charge carries a maximum penalty of seven years imprisonment.

The legal wrangling involves a cable TV joint venture between the two called International Broad-casting Corp (IBC). The American claimed Thaksin violated an agreement, seized transmission equipment from his Seattle-based company and made wrongful charges against him and his staff.

The first hearing of Monson's complaint will start on June 19. As to Thaksin ending up being found guilty - which would immediately rule him out of politics - this is a far-fetched scenario. But the case has already generated political intrigue after Monson went to Parliament to organise a press conference last week along with Senator Kraisak Chonhavan, acting chairman of the Senate committee on foreign affairs.

Meanwhile, more "conventional" political cases are in store. The embattled Election Commission (EC) has received complaints from the People's Alliance for Democracy, which has accused Thaksin of vote-buying when he donated money to a vocational school and when he promised at a political rally to give notebook computers to all children including kindergarten students.

These are minor complaints, compared with another case in which the Thai Rak Thai Party is accused of hiring candidates of small parties to run in the April 2 election. The alleged hiring was said to be a ploy to side-step a constitutional requirement that candidates without competition must receive at least 20 per cent of support from the constituencies they run in.

The EC has already dissolved two small parties allegedly "hired" to compete in the election. It's now in the process of considering whether there is enough evidence to find the Thai Rak Thai Party "guilty", which could lead to the unthinkable possibility of the party being disbanded.

However, Thai Rak Thai and Thaksin can take heart in the fact that the EC itself is facing a legal battle, after the Democrats filed a suit with the Criminal Court accusing the commission of malfeasance. Moreover, with the April 2 election now nullified, cases related to it might be considered null and void, too.

But the ruling camp and Thaksin can never rest assured that they will easily escape legal threats in the future. The Administrative Court has proven a thorn in the government's side in political cases. The Constitution Court, for the very first time, has dealt Thaksin a blow. The Criminal and Supreme courts will have to be very straightforward when dealing with facts and figures.

And there can be more cases. The Temasek deal can still come back to haunt Thaksin, for example. This is not to mention that the upcoming constitutional amendment will reinforce restrictions against conflicts of interest and make it far easier for Parliament to grill the next prime minister.

The aforementioned legal threats, of course, may or may not materialise. And, like it or not, they will be linked with whether Thaksin decides to keep a low profile. In other words, his opponents now have come to realise that, with the judiciary shaping up, it's easier to take him on legally, rather than politically.

As he keeps everyone guessing about his immediate plans, Thaksin Shinawatra must have found that if he wants a quick return to power, the road ahead is fraught with landmines that will threaten not only his political career but also his business fortunes.

- TN

[jezchesters]

Its something that had to happen if the country was ever going to get back on track.

There are several key issues that led to the impasse,---

1. The big anti-Thaksin street protests by PAD;

2. The snap election of April 2;

and,

3. The boycott of the afore said April election by the opposition.

Now we have progressed to the point where fresh elections have been called. And The opposition has agreed to participate. The only thing that could derail the recovery process now is if PAD provokes civil unrest again. I seriously doubt the powers in Thailand would again let PAD get away with a re-run of the sequence of events that led to this mess in the first place. Sondhi wont be allowed to pervert the course of democracy again. Even if he did manage to rally a few thousand hard core protesters on the streets they would be "persuaded" to abandon their interference in the democratic process. I think that 95% of the people that got sucked in to Sondhis personal vendetta against Thaksin last time would not participate in disrupting the elections this time round.

What Thaksin decides to do is anyones guess. I suspect he will lead the TRT to victory again in the absence of any real policies by the Democrats. But I also suspect he will honour his word not to run for PM in the new government. The ball is pretty much in his court as he sits back considering his next strategy and keeps us all guessing.

Up to your old tricks again ando?

For the very, very last time:

Peacefully demonstrating is not, to quote you:

'provoking civil unrest'; 'perverting the course of democracy'; or 'interfering in the democratic process'

New thread, same old ando

[sriracha john]

Sounds like the Supreme Court has a plan if the EC resigns, as they should:

HEAT TURNS UP ON EC

Supreme Court wants to supervise fresh elections

The Supreme Court wants to have a hand in supervising fresh elections following the Constitution Court's verdict yesterday annulling the April 2 general election. Virat Chinvinijkul, secretary to the Supreme Court, said the courts of justice will be supervising the general election whether or not the four members of the Election Commission (EC) stay on or decide to resign in the wake of mounting pressure for their departure.

Supreme Court president Charnchai Likhitjittha called an urgent meeting of senior judges of the court after the Constitution Court ruled yesterday that the April 2 snap polls were unconstitutional and ordered fresh elections.

Mr Virat said that if the EC stays on, it will be asked to seek the Supreme Court's help in organising fresh elections under the constitution's article 145.

The Supreme Court plans to propose an election-supervising committee comprising representatives of the Supreme Court, the Administrative Court and the Constitution Court, he said.

This committee will help see the new elections through - from candidacy registration to poll complaint investigation.

Mr Virat also allayed fears of a deadlock in case the EC resigns, saying the Supreme Court is ready to nominate 10 candidates for the Senate to select as new poll commissioners under article 138 (3).

''If the EC resigns, the court won't be worried about the selection at all. There are judges and former judges who have shown interest in applying to sit on the EC. And, of course, they are all well respected,'' he said.

The Supreme Court will wait for the EC's next move. After that, the presidents of the three courts will meet to discuss what to be done.

''Normally, we don't take an aggressive approach like this. But when the three courts work closely together, here it is,'' said Mr Virat.

The Supreme Court's intervention follows His Majesty the King's remarks on April 25 advising the three courts to help resolve the current political crisis.

Meanwhile, the EC held talks yesterday after learning of the Constitution Court's ruling. It later said it would not make any decision before seeing the court's verdict in writing.

EC chairman Wassana Permlarp said he had strictly followed all relevant laws and legal procedures in performing his duty for the past 4-5 years. hmmm.... yeah, right.

Commissioner Veerachai Naewbunnian dismissed as groundless reports that he was preparing to resign.

In response to calls for the EC to disband, cabinet secretary-general Bavornsak Uvanno warned of a possible deadlock if that really happened, reasoning that a committee responsible for selecting new poll commissioners could not be set up at the moment.

The Constitution Court has yet to select its president who is duty-bound to chair that selection committee, he said.

''The constitution should be studied carefully. Elections cannot be held without the EC,'' Mr Bovornsak added.

Mr Bovornsak and Vorajet Phakheerat, a law lecturer at Thammasat University shared the same view that there is no need to issue a new decree because the Constitution Court only invalidated the election process.

Former opposition parties and anti-Thaksin groups yesterday insisted the EC must disband.

Democrat party secretary-general Suthep Thuagsuban said the EC has lost its legitimacy.

''This day wouldn't have arrived if the EC had organised fair and transparent elections,'' he said.

Suriyasai Katasila, coordinator of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), said the group's five core leaders will meet today to discuss various issues including whether caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra should be allowed to run in a fresh general election.

Witthayakorn Chiangkul, dean of Rangsit University's social innovation faculty, said the majoirty of people had lost faith in the EC which was facing lawsuits over alleged lack of transparency in its organisation of the April 2 snap election.

''The commissioners should be ashamed of themselves and should resign as quickly as possible without waiting for the people to oust them,'' he said.

- BP

[sriracha john]

Let the scheming and conniving begin.... or... "How to Lie Without Really Lying":

Thaksin will top TRT list

Won't be PM, unless popularity demands it

Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will run in the coming general election at the top of the Thai Rak Thai party list, highly placed sources inside the party said yesterday. However, on registration day he will announce that he would not take the position of prime minister.

The sources said Mr Thaksin needs to contest the election so he can help his party's candidates campaign for votes.

There is a possibility of the party leader making a return as prime minister if during the campaign his popularity rises substantially, the sources said.

Party deputy leader Sudarat Keyuraphan is likely to be second on the party list, instead of party secretary-general Suriya Jungrungreangkit, the sources said.

Key party members met last night to discuss who should be proposed as the next prime minister if Mr Thaksin has to take a back seat, one source said. Some members still want him to lead the next government if the party wins the elections.

In a statement after the court's decision to overturn the April 2 general election, the party said it had the utmost respect for the ruling and was prepared to contest a new general election.

Khunying Sudarat read out the statement.

''We accept the court's ruling hands down, even though our party has never violated the constitution and our MPs were elected according to law. We have no objections,'' she said.

She thanked the 29 million Thais who voted on April 2 and pleaded with the 16 million who voted for Thai Rak Thai to once again comply with the democratic process.

The former opposition bloc led by the Democrat party boycotted the April 2 polls.

Wang Nam Yom faction leader Somsak Thepsuthin said the court's ruling was a victory for those who boycotted the polls.

Pho Mod Dum faction member Sutichai Chanarak said many members from the Northeast who won the April 2 polls had met to discuss their next step.

''The party has the means and resources to win the next poll, but if there is no Mr Thaksin our supporters would surely lose faith in the stability of the party and whether we would be able to to carry out the promises we make. As a result we would lose votes,'' he said

- BP

[sriracha john]

BURNING ISSUE

TRT candidates reluctant to foot bill

Election campaigns are costly ventures and if Thaksin chooses not to run, just who will bankroll Thai Rak Thai?

The Constitution Court yesterday ruled the April 2 election invalid and ordered a new poll. Opponents of caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra are delighted. But the premier and his ruling Thai Rak Thai Party are in a different mood.

The new election does not only bring the political equation back to square one, where a landslide for Thai Rak Thai is far from guaranteed. The Democrats, Chat Thai and Mahachon parties have all decided to run candidates.

But a big question also looms within the party leadership: Who is going to "pay" for the party's next campaign?

Since founding Thai Rak Thai in 1999, Thaksin, with the support of his wife Pojaman, has been the party's single largest donor, contributing significantly to its triumphs in the 2001 and 2005 polls.

Thaksin, in the meantime, has sought relief for his bank accounts, asking faction leaders within the party to share the burden. It is well known he rewarded people with deep pockets with "political posts" or even a place in the Cabinet.

However, the April 2 election is a special case in this context.

Thaksin dissolved the House on February 24, calling an election to stop the massive street protests demanding his resignation in Bangkok and other major cities. He claimed he wanted to return power to the people, so they could decide if they still supported him as premier.

Other Thai Rak Thai faction leaders were reportedly unhappy with the decision, because they were staring in the face of new electoral "battles", just one year into a four-year term.

Shortly after the dissolution, Thaksin reportedly asked Thai Rak Thai leaders to prepare for the upcoming poll at their own expense. They refused to pay up, however, claiming Thaksin had caused the whole problem in the first place. They argued he should foot the bill for "unnecessary" campaigns.

Even in the depths of the political tension that gripped the Kingdom leading up to the April 2 election Thaksin managed the seemingly impossible - a runaway victory for Thai Rak Thai candidates, with a tally of almost 500 House seats.

But with the Constitution Court ruling the poll invalid, however, the party now faces a big obstacle.

Thaksin is uncertain whether to make a return after announcing he would not assume the premiership.

If he extends his break from politics further, it is unlikely Pojaman would take a gamble with her husband absent from the game.

The burden would then switch to other Thai Rak Thai faction leaders - including Suriya Jungrungreangkit, Somsak Thepsuthin, Pongsak Ruktapongpisal and Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan - who would have to "feed" 500 candidates, 400 in constituencies and 100 on the party-list.

Even if Thaksin decides to contest the poll as number one on the party-list, will the faction leaders pay? After all, they still regard the election as having been brought about because of a "fault" in Thaksin's leadership.

The new government will probably rule the country for about a year, as its main duty is to lead the Constitutional amendments before dissolving the House for another national poll, but the rival parties are not planning to scale down their campaigns.

The more seats they win, the more potential they create for securing more at the next election.

The fight to lead the country is shaping up to be as fierce as any other election.

Whoever in the Thai Rak Thai camp takes the financial responsibility in the end, they'll end up shelling out a lot of money.

- TN

[ando]

Let the scheming and conniving begin.... or... "How to Lie Without Really Lying":

Thaksin will top TRT list

Won't be PM, unless popularity demands it

I guess its Sondhis move now.

Will it be the massive street protests he promised, or will it be just a quiet little rally in the park?

Interesting how Thaksin is letting others do the talking for him. It leaves him an out if he changes plans.

[Plus]

People are somewhat tired of demonstrating at the moment, but after HM's celebrations next month they will feel re-invigorated.

[Scott]

I think people are forgetting that Thailand doesn't have a long history of democracy. It has a relatively new constitution and many of the institutions in the gov't are pretty new. Knowing the generally conservative nature of people here, I'm sure it took a pep-talk from the King to get everyone moving.

The situation over the past year has to be seen as part of a process of growth and change. I think you will see a big strengthening of gov't institutions (such as the court), a weakening of Prime-ministerial powers and other positive changes.

One of the basic messages that the king gave was that the legal institutions could/should handle it. They have the strength, experience and expertise to wade in and start setting some precedences for the future.

If some of the MP's don't have enough money to "buy" votes then they are going to have to do like many more developed democracies do and "buy" votes with promises of what they will do.

It would be interesting to come back in 150 years and see how things are going here.

[ando]

I think you are pretty close on the mark there Scott.

Thailand has a long history of coups and official corruption. Democracy is relatively new and a cultural transition is taking place. The Thais are a very adaptive people and I am sure they will embrace democracy. One of the big problems they have there at the moment is that democracy threatens to upset the old class structure. There is a big division in wealth in Thailand and unlike most developed democracies the poor make up the majority of voters. As time and democracy progress the wealth gap will narrow and people will be able to focus on more important political issues rather than where the next meal is coming from.

Thaksin, for all his faults, was the first of the new breed of politicans to recognize that in a democracy you need votes to win government. He went out and wooed the votes of the poor majority. The other political parties will, in due course, also recognize the need to give the rural poor a better deal in order to win government.

The old days where a popular (in the city at least) uprising can overthrow a democratically elected government are now gone. It is a credit to the military that they have stayed neutral at this critical point in Thailand's history. It is also to Thailand's credit that they have such a wise and impartial King who is so highly respected across the board that he was able bring the country back from the edge of another coup.

I really think Thailand has turned the corner now to a better and fairer society through democracy. They were on the edge of chaos, anarchy and a political deadlock that would have certainly ended up in another coup had it gone on long enough. Now they have found a way through it and are getting on with the democratic process. The corruption and the constitutional loop holes will be addressed in due course. That can only happen under a proper elected democratically elected government.

[marshbags]

I think people are forgetting that Thailand doesn't have a long history of democracy. It has a relatively new constitution and many of the institutions in the gov't are pretty new. Knowing the generally conservative nature of people here, I'm sure it took a pep-talk from the King to get everyone moving.

The situation over the past year has to be seen as part of a process of growth and change. I think you will see a big strengthening of gov't institutions (such as the court), a weakening of Prime-ministerial powers and other positive changes.

One of the basic messages that the king gave was that the legal institutions could/should handle it. They have the strength, experience and expertise to wade in and start setting some precedences for the future.

If some of the MP's don't have enough money to "buy" votes then they are going to have to do like many more developed democracies do and "buy" votes with promises of what they will do.

It would be interesting to come back in 150 years and see how things are going here.

................................................................................

..............................................................

This is a good unbiased and realistic view of the situation.

Just to add, no matter who you support or what your take on it all is.

One thing is for sure.

WE have all been witness to historic changes in the Thai institutions and the real start of change

to democracy and what it can achieve, peacefully

In my humble opinion Thai history will quote these last few weeks as as a unique period and the start of something that has changed societies outlook forever.

Yes we where all observing and debating the different aspects and possible senarios and by doing this we where all part of the discussions and pursuance of it.

And with no bloodshed spilled between us either i am pleased to say.

This is in my humble opinion of course as always.

Thailand has a truly wise and humble monarch to be proud of if i might be allowed to say,

and that,s a fact.

marshbags

[Bryan in Isaan]

Good posts everyone. I believe that when the dust finally settles, the country will have moved ahead. It is good to see that in spite of so much contention there is still relative stability and almost no violence. That is the sign of a real democracy. And let healthy debate continue. My congrats to HM the King and the people of Thailand.

Edited May 9, 2006 by Bryan in Isaan

[jdinasia]

I've seen everything since November as a good thing for Thailand ....

just gotta work on those balances and institutions to keep one man from having too much power

[sriracha john]

A solution to getting things back on track...

Top Courts will supervise the new election and EC should resign

Three top courts have suggested that Election Commission resign to pave the ways for the judicial power to handle the election to ensure that it is free and fair, Supreme Court's Secretary General Charan Pakditanakul said on Tuesday.

"EC should resign for the sake of the country. Their resignation will allow the judicial authorities to supervise new election and recruit new EC members," Charan said.

He was speaking after attending a meeting of senior judges from the Administrative, Supreme and Constitution Courts. The meeting on Tuesday was the second of top courts after HM the King suggested the courts to help break the country's political stalemate.

"The meeting agreed that the three top courts will exercise their power regarding the new election and will be in charge of the new election to ensure that it would be free and fair," he said.

The Courts will supervise the election and work until the country has elected MPs and the Parliament can open, Charan said.

The Constitution Court on Monday nullified the April 2 election because it was unconstitutional and ordered the new election to be held. The rulings have put EC into hot water and many sectors of the society have called them to resign.

Representing in the Tuesday meeting were Charnchai Likitjitta, president of the Supreme Court, Pan Chantarapan, acting president of the Constitution Court and Akarathorn Jularat, president of the Administrative Court.

- TN

[sriracha john]

Although not everyone shares the same view on the solution above...

I can make my own decisions: Vasana

Election Commission chairman Vasana Puemlarp was adamant Tuesday in reaction to an advice by presidents of the three top courts that the election commissioners should resign to make way for a "smoother and more credible election".

"I can make my own decisions. There's no need for anyone to guide me," Vasana told reporters when asked to comment on the matter.

"I have dignity and I'm not a street dog. I won't allow them to drive me away," a source quoted Vasana as saying when over 100 EC officials offered the four embattled commissioners moral support.

- TN

[jdinasia]

The EC has lost it's credibility completely now .... doubt any of them will be able to hold on to their jobs

[Pui]

Curious to find out what actually defines a “Banana Republic”

Just ran a google search and came with this. It’s rather fitting on most counts.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana_republic

[mskiller]

ok...they nullify election so that mean another election will come...the problem is, and that is my thinking as a french guy, democracy can't be here in thailand until school teach student how to think by themself and vote for who they want instead of vote for money or under different way of pressure...so all these post are almost for nothing, we have to remember that we are foreigner here and only thai people can change that, it's take time for a country to become a full democracy, and, it's still my thinking no harm to anyone, thailand is still far from it because of thai people don't really know how to use their right.... Hope time will give sense to all of this.

[Hermano Lobo]

The likely date of the new election?

[lukamar]

I don't have a problem with new elections or the fact that the courts nullified them. It will give us more time to argue about electoral politics and hopefully it will end in a decent manner with more diverse representation.

The nagging question that I have since the Constitutional Court ruling is why did it take an intervention by the palace to get them to do their jobs. Surely they could have commented on items like the ballot box placement as being in contravention of the constitution at the same time they ruled on the stamp issue. It also looks like the courts want a more proactive role in the running of future elections, even to the point of taking the place of the EC, this could lead to problems if they have to rule on an issue they have created. Courts must be independent without a vested interest to make sound decisions.

The EC has taken a lot of heat for months. I'm not saying that they are not at fault but the political situation added enormous pressure to their job. They had a tremendous workload in the lead up to the two elections. That workload was not helped by the constant protests and challenges to almost every candidate put up for election. Hopefully this time there will be more campaigning and less complaining from all sides. Whatever the EC becomes and who they have at the helm, they will always be in an unenviable position caught in the tug of war between all the parties.

[britmaveric]

New elections surely won't change TRT majority. (seems we are back where be began prior to the snap election) The more things change the more they stay the same.

[sriracha john]

TRT pressures PM to decide on future

Prommin Letsuridej, the most trusted aide of caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, believes Thaksin will contest the new general election, but may not accept the post of prime minister.

"I believe he will be an MP candidate, but he will play other roles," Prommin said. "The party will have to discuss it. It is too soon to make the decision now and I cannot answer on behalf of the prime minister."

The Thai Rak Thai Party met yesterday to analyse the political situation and came to the conclusion that the Election Commission will resign soon, following the suggestion of the Administrative, Supreme and Constitution courts, a source in the party said.

The party also calculated the new general election would be held within 120 to 150 days because the process of selecting a new election commission will take about 60 days.

Khunying Pojaman Shinawatra told the party meeting that if Thai Rak Thai won the next election, Thaksin would not accept the post of prime minister. .... and whatever she says will happen, happens...

She said party leaders should share the costs of the election campaign because in the April 2 election, "other party leaders" did not share the costs. In the new election they should help by meeting half the expense. ...she also stated that the Shinawatra clan was running low on money...

Party leaders have yet to agree to Pojaman's proposal, the source said.

Thaksin said he would "take care of the party members". Whoever wanted to defect could do so, but he wanted them to remain political allies and not enemies, the source said.

Wang Nam Yom faction member Sophon Phetsawang told reporters his faction, which has 120 members, is not planning to defect. He urged Thaksin to call a meeting to decide on his political future.

"He has to make clear whether he will fight as the party leader or he will take a political break," he said.

Sophon said he believes Thaksin will take a break and his decision will not affect the party's popularity because voters choose Thai Rak Thai because of its populist policies. ...however he did concede that without Thaksin, that TRT Party will flounder about like a fish out of water... and would likely disband within a year...

However, Sophon urged Thaksin to decide who will re-place him if he decides to take a break. ... he went on to plead with Thaksin to say something instead of allowing even his own party leaders to speculate wildly during this period of muteness of his...

- TN

[sriracha john]

EC commissioners defiant

Election Commission (EC) chairman Vasana Puemlarp met a group of supporters from Ayutthaya in the afternoon, when he reiterated that the election commissioners had performed their duty honestly and in line with the law.

"I don't want to talk much as it looks like I'm finding excuses. I believe in the law of karma," he said.

The chiefs of the Supreme Court, Constitution Court and Supreme Administrative Court agreed at their meeting yesterday that the four EC members should step down to pave the way for judicial intervention aimed at restoring the credibility of the electoral process, according to Jaran Pakdithanakul, secretary to the Supreme Court president.

"The management of the electoral process remains problematic and people have lost trust in the Election Commission," Jaran said. He was briefing the press after a second judicial summit convened to resolve the political crisis.

However, none of the election commissioners have expressed a desire to quit, said EC secretary general, Ekkachai Warunprapha, who also dismissed press reports that certain EC members had their belongings moved from their offices.

Ekkachai yesterday led a large group of EC officials to offer the four commissioners moral backing. No reporters were allowed at the meeting, described by the EC as an internal affair.

Former EC secretary-general Vijit Yoosupap, said at a panel discussion yesterday that the EC members had told him they would definitely not resign their seats as they believed they had done nothing wrong.

Meanwhile, Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday expressed support for calls for the EC members to step down. He said he did not think there would be any legal problems involving the selection of new EC members with the absence of a functioning House of Representatives, as suggested by Deputy Premier Wissanu Krea-ngam.

Chat Thai Party leader Banharn Silapa-archa yesterday said he did not think the EC members would be able to remain defiant for long. "I think it will be clear in a few days whether they will resign," he said.

In a related development, Constitution Court acting president Parn Jantaraparn, yesterday said the court's written verdict on the case against the EC would be forwarded to the agency today. The court on Monday nullified the April 2 general election and ordered a new poll. The EC chief declined to comment until he had read the full text of the verdict.

Parn said the verdict stated a new election should be held within 60 days after a new royal decree calling the new election had been issued. It was the duty of the EC to determine when the new decree should be issued, he said.

Supreme Court president Chanchai Likhitjittha hosted yesterday's summit of the court chiefs. He welcomed counterparts Parn and Ackaratorn Chularat from the Supreme Administrative Court.

At their first summit last month, the three agreed to divide responsibilities relating to the April 2 vote to speed up the process. This led to the Constitution Court ruling on Monday cancelling the flawed ballot and calling for a new election.

At yesterday's summit, Parn explained the court's ruling that the EC had violated the Constitution by mismanaging the election.

The summit acknowledged the judicial order for a new vote, Jaran said. They discussed how the judiciary could ensure a future election is fair with the Supreme Court outlining possible options, he said.

If the EC was allowed to manage the next poll, it might delegate part of its responsibilities to the courts, as per Article 145 of the Constitution, Jaran said.

But the judges viewed this as impractical because the courts would have too little involvement to ensure the vote was fair, he said.

Jaran said the second summit deemed it necessary for the courts to intervene and supervise the electoral process in order to guarantee fairness.

Article 138 of the Constitution empowers the Supreme Court to nominate election monitors but this can only happen if the EC resigns, he said.

"To end the crisis, the EC needs to make a bold and sacrificial move by resigning," he said.

Speaking after the meeting, Parn said he and his two counterparts agreed that Article 138 was the best option to manage the polls if the EC decided to leave office.

"The judicial intervention should not be construed as pressure for the EC to resign but as an attempt to ensure a fair election," he said.

"All three courts agree on the necessity to invoke Article 138 and have not discussed any alternative should the EC decide to remain in office," he said.

- TN

[sriracha john]

Meanwhile... the mute PM is followed by the press for the day... and reveals some insight into his life and thoughts...

Thailand's Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra visits a library at Thai Rak Thai party headquarters in Bangkok May 9, 2006.

Thailand's Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra (L) and his wife Pojamarn visit a shopping centre in Bangkok May 9, 2006.

Thailand's Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra visit a shopping mall in Bangkok May 9, 2006.