TRT Targeted For Dissolution

[stumonster]

In hindsight, it may have been better to have let finish Thaksin finish his term until 2009.

The problem with allowing mr't' to continue is he would have kept at his strategy of subverting the controls that are supposed to be in place to stop the sort of governace that was occuring. mr't' would have continued to stack with his cronies which would have allowed him and the rest of the tribe to continue well past 2009. he would have made himself immune from prosecution , which is something I think both he and his missus( the real boss of thailand) are very worried about.

[Jai Dee]

Interim senators seek a Constitution Court ruling on the status of the caretaker PM

Twenty-nine interim senators yesterday submitted a petition to the Constitution Court to rule the premiership of Pol. Co. Thaksin Shinawatra to end immediately after he took leave on April 5.

The petition was lodged via interim senate speaker Suchon Chaleekrua (สุชน ชาลีเครือ) who made the Senate Secretariat spokesman accept it for him.

Interim senator Somkid Srisangkhom (สมคิด ศรีสังคม) said Pol. Co. Thaksin allegedly violated the constitution by returning to work as his premiership had already been terminated once he took a break from his duty.

It was also illegitimate for the cabinet to continue working, Col. Somkid said.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 15 June 2006

[sriracha john]

ok, it's gotten to 7 pages... I'll join in on this thread, too :

Political parties return to fray

Political factions that have been locked in intense conflict since last year renewed their skirmishing yesterday after having suspended their wars of words for weeks out of respect for His Majesty the King’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

Even before all the royal guests who toasted His Majesty’s health at the royal banquet on Tuesday night have left the country, political pressure that has been building up for the past month was released on several fronts.

Resuming his tussling with regular opponents, caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday filed libel suits at the Criminal and Civil courts seeking 800 million baht compensation from the Democrat party and three major newspapers.

Refusing to be outdone, Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva stepped up efforts to have Thaksin’s Thai Rak Thai party dissolved, confidently claiming yesterday that evidence uncovered by his party will make TRT’s dissolution inevitable.

Political pundits had predicted that the conflict over the legitimacy of the Election Commission (EC) would also resume once the royal celebrations were concluded.

Abhisit, whose Democrat party has been engaged in a bitter political fracas with TRT since boycotting the failed April 2 general election, visited the EC’s headquarters to answer charges of election violations brought against the Democrats by TRT.

Abhisit maintained that the six TRT accusations, which include attempting to topple the government and hiring small parties in order to then accuse TRT of hiring them, were false and had been mounted solely to divert attention from TRT’s culpability.

“They have pointed to clear violations of election laws and the EC must consider [the accusations] according to the facts and submit the case to the Constitutional Court without any conditions,” Abhisit said.

Reiterating Democrat suspicions of EC bias, Abhisit warned the election commissioners to deal with charges against TRT in a fair and transparent manner.

In his testimony at the EC, Abhisit, who was accompanied by Democrat Secretary-General and party stalwart, Suthep Thaugsuban, said his party’s actions against TRT were not simply a political ploy to taint TRT ahead of the new general election tentatively planned for October 15.

Meanwhile, a group of 29 caretaker senators also increased the pressure on Thaksin by petitioning the Constitutional Court yesterday to rule on his status as caretaker Prime Minister.

The outgoing anti-Thaksin senators, including Karun Saingam, Nirand Pitakwatchara and Chirmsak Pinthong, who tried but failed many times during their tenure in the Upper House to question the TRT government about corruption and abuse of power allegations, claimed that Thaksin had ready lost his position when he submitted his leave of absence to the Cabinet in April.

Their petition was submitted by caretaker Senate Speaker, Suchon Chaleekrua, who was required under the Constitution to forward it to the Constitutional Court.

In another development, the Supreme Court yesterday criticized suggestions that the EC was preparing to alter its organizational structure to allow the involvement of the Supreme Court president.

“If a Supreme Court judge was involved in any EC process, then he or she will not be able to sit on cases involving the EC should the matter reach the judicial process,” said a source at the court. “It would be an attempt to create a good image for the EC that they are working transparently with the involvement of judges.”

- TD

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

it's a race to see which is dissolved first.... the TRT or the EC...

EC trio must go, say business leaders

Many of the country’s top business leaders want the remaining three election commissioners to resign as they brace for an economic slowdown during the next six months.

“The second half is definitely going to be slow,” Twatchai Yongkittikul, secretary-general of the Thai Bankers’ Association, said in an interview this week. “Right now many in the business community have a wait-and-see attitude towards the political situation.”

“Whether or not the problems concerning the Election Commission will be solved are of more immediate concern than the results of the next election,” he added. “I think the election commissioners should go. There is no question about it.”

Business leaders have anxiously waited for some semblance of normalcy to return to the political sphere after months of idly watching a street-based campaign to oust Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra blossom into an unprecedented deadlock between the country’s highest institutions. The prolonged political uncertainty, coupled with soaring energy prices and inflation worries, have led the government and most brokerages to revise growth forecasts downward to between four and five percent.

With a fully functional government months away, local and foreign investors are holding onto their money. First quarter economic statistics released by the government planning agency last week showed private investment expanding 7.2 percent in the first three months of the year, down from 9.3 percent growth in the fourth quarter of last year.

“New investment is not foreseeable because there is no policy right now,” Pornsil Patchrintanakul, deputy secretary-general of the Board of Trade, said in an interview yesterday. “An increase in production capacity depends on the export market, and exports are not good right now. Consumption is bad and interest rates are going up. Everything is bad right now.”

The Thai Chamber of Commerce typically does not involve itself in political affairs, but many leaders see the removal of the election commissioners as the final step towards a smooth election four months from now.

“Many members think the election commissioners should resign,” said a senior official at the chamber, speaking on condition of anonymity. “The only problem left is the Election Commission. Once that clears up, the country can move forward.”

“But I am still very pessimistic,” the official added. “Even if you have a new government by December, it will only be an interim government that will focus on clearing the problems of the Constitution. If potential investors have alternatives in the region, such as Malaysia or Vietnam, they will go there.”

Evidence of lost investment is still largely anecdotal, but foreign investors and diplomats say other countries look more attractive at the moment.

“The concern is that if a company wants to make an investment in ASEAN, and the political situation in Thailand will not be clarified until December, then the company will likely just go to another country,” said a Western diplomat who monitors economic developments, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Although the country’s economic prospects look grim in the short term, many business leaders are still confident that the economy will strengthen once the political uncertainty dissipates.

“We will face a tough time the next few years,” said a division chief of the Federation of Thai Industries, speaking anonymously because the organization attempts to stay politically neutral. “The basic structure of the economy is quite good, but the Thai people must learn how to live with democracy.”

Referring to the election commissioners, the official said: “By law they do not have to step down, but many businessmen want them to because it will help solve the political problem.”

Meanwhile, the government is trying to keep loan rates low to promote investment. Last week, the Finance Ministry urged the Bank of Thailand (BoT) to keep interest rates at five percent.

Although many analysts believe the BoT will keep the benchmark rate at five percent for the rest of the year, it remains to be seen if it will hold rates steady if the US Federal Reserve opts for another increase of 25 basis points. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke expressed concern about the inflation rate last week, leading to speculation that the US central bank will again increase rates later this month.

If the BoT does not follow the Federal Reserve, the baht could weaken in the latter part of the year and help boost exports. During the first quarter, exports grew 20 percent year-on-year, boosted by strong sales of automobiles, automobile parts, electronics and petrochemicals.

“Exports in the second half of the year could be better if the baht weakens,” said Thianchai Mahasiri, chairman of Thai Garment Manufacturers Association.

“We haven’t heard any good economic news lately, but I think the country can recover at anytime,” he added. “Everything depends on the government. The private sector is ready to go - we are just waiting for the government to get its act together.”

- TD

Edited June 15, 2006 by sriracha john

[jdinasia]

one more day! ... then we get the next round of silliness!

[Jai Dee]

DPM refuses that he handed a resignation letter today

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam (วิษณุ เครืองาม) denies that he has submitted a resignation letter today. He stated further that the media has to closely monitor the news closely everyday.

News reports regarding the possible resignation of Mr. Wissanu have surfaced after former Cabinet Secretary-General Bawornsak Uwanno submitted his resignation letter in the Cabinet meeting on June 6th. Mr. Bawornsak is now a Buddhist monk at Sraket Temple.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 16 June 2006

[Jai Dee]

Mr. Abhisit The resignation of Gen. Thammarak has no effect on the consideration of dissolving TRT party

Democrat Party Leader Abhisit Vejjajiva (อภิสิทธิ์ เวชชาชีวะ) has stated that if Gen. Thammarak Isarangura Na Ayutthaya (ธรรมรักษ์ อิศรางกูร ณ อยุธยา) decides to his step down, his resignation would have no effect on the consideration to dissolve the Thai Rak Thai Party. He has reasoned that the error has already happened.

Mr. Abhisit stated that the Constitutional Court will be responsible in considering the decision to dissolve the political parties. He said the issue should be treated fairly and in accordance to the facts. He believes the moral system will ease up the political turmoil.

The Democrat Party Leader has also urged the Election Commission to help solve the ongoing issues and carry out the next general election transparently.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 16 June 2006

[Jai Dee]

Khunying Sudarat: news of the resignations of Gen. Thammarak and Mr. Pongsak are only rumors

Thai Rak Thai Party Deputy Leader Sudarat Keyuraphan (สุดารัตน์ เกยุราพันธ์) stated that the news reports of the resignations of Defense Minister Thammarak Isarangura Na Ayutthaya (ธรรมรักษ์ อิศรางกูร ณ อยุธยา) and Transport Minister Pongsak Raktapongpaisal (พงษ์ศักดิ์ รักตพงศ์ไพศาล) are just rumors, and they are not factual.

Khunying Sudarat said she has not talked about the matter with both ministers yet. She, however, said that she had a chance to meet both of them during the auspicious event to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of His Majesty the King’s Accession to the Throne, but she indicated that they did not even talk about this issue.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 16 June 2006

[Jai Dee]

OAG will not decide for EC if TRT breaks the Political Parties Act

The Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) wants the Election Commission (EC) to make it clear whether the Thai Rak Thai Party (TRT) has violated the Political Parties Act and if TRT has to be dissolved.

The poll agency submitted its investigation report on allegations that TRT had bribed small parties to contest the April 2 snap election to OAG for forwarding to the Constitution Court, which has power to dissolve political parties.

OAG spokesman Atthapol Yaisawang (อรรถพล ใหญ่สว่าง) said the law requires the EC to say what offence a party has committed and if it should be dissolved.

An OAG panel screening the investigation report resolved yesterday to return the report to the EC for a review, Mr. Atthapol said.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 17 June 2006

[sriracha john]

UPDATE

Ruling next week on dissolution of parties

The Constitution Tribunal is likely to make a ruling next Tuesday on whether to dissolve the country's two largest political parties, its secretary-general Paiboon Warahapaitoon said yesterday.

Paiboon said the judges would consider the cases involving the Thai Rak Thai and Democrat parties at the meeting.

Thai Rak Thai is accused of bankrolling minor parties to contest the April 2 general election so that it could avoid the 20 per cent minimum vote requirement needed by unchallenged candidates.

The Democrats are accused of having asked for a royal appointment of a non-elected prime minister and having presented false witnesses to accuse Thai Rak Thai of electoral fraud.

These allegations are covered by Article 66 of the Political Party Act, which states that any party acting to overthrow the country's democratic system should face dissolution by the Constitution Court.

The Office of the Attorney-General has petitioned for the two parties to be dissolved and separately, the Political Party Registrar has asked for the Thai Rak Thai to be disbanded.

Paiboon, speaking after a meeting of the court's judges yesterday, said they still had to hear 31 petitions, which had been received before the September 19 coup.

He said the judges yesterday began considering the petitions regarding the three minor parties linked to the cases. They are the Progressive Democratic, Pattana Chart Thai and Thai Ground parties.

"The judges have read written explanations from the accused parties. But the Pattana Chart Thai Party has not yet submitted its defence statement to the court," said Paiboon.

- The Nation

[ColPyat]

These allegations are covered by Article 66 of the Political Party Act, which states that any party acting to overthrow the country's democratic system should face dissolution by the Constitution Court.

The irony...

[ilyushin]

Goodbye TRT! Glad to see the end of the party (TRT)!

[sriracha john]

UPDATE

Court debates political parties' fate

The Constitution Tribunal will convene this afternoon to begin proceedings on electoral fraud against five political parties. Thai Rak Thai is accused of bankrolling smaller parties to run in the April 2 general election while the Democrat Party is accused of making false statements against Thai Rak Thai executives and blocking a candidate from a small party from contesting a by-election on April 23. The tribunal could disband both of the country's two biggest political parties. Three small parties face the same possible fate: the Progressive Democratic, Pattana Chart Thai and Thai Ground parties.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=114595

[Jai Dee]

Off-topic posts deleted.

Play nicely please people.

[Mid]

Thaksin to be witness in trial of TRT for electoral fraud

Thursday November 30, 2006

The Thai Rak Thai party yesterday announced that deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra would be a key witness in an electoral fraud trial as it prepared to join the Democrats in the Constitution Tribunal's briefing on proceedings today. Both Thai Rak Thai and the Democrats expressed confidence that they would be able to clear themselves of the charges and survive party dissolution in the trial, which also involves three smaller parties.

Thai Rak Thai deputy leader Pongthep Thepkanchana said Mr Thaksin would be among dozens of witnesses. But this would be in the future, and he may testify through a video conference link.

oh boy , the possibilities .........................

[Jai Dee]

Trial against Thai Rak Thai begins Jan 16

The Constitution Tribunal Thursday grouped the charges against five political parties into two cases with the trial of first case against the Thai Rak Thai and two other parties beginning on January 16.

The five parties were accused of having violated the law warranting to be dissolved.

The tribunal decided Thursday to group Thai Rak Thai, the Thai Ground and Pattana Chart Thai in one case as the Thai Rak Thai was accused of bankrolling the two parties to contest the April elections.

The trial of the first case would begin on January 16, the tribunal announced.

The Democrat and Progressive Democratic parties were grouped in another case whose trial would begin on January 18.

Source: The Nation - 30 November 2006

[sriracha john]

Tribunal sets dates for poll fraud trials

First up will be TRT and two small parties

The Constitution Tribunal yesterday set the dates for deliberations for the dissolution trials of five political parties accused of electoral fraud, with Thai Rak Thai and two small parties to be the first to stand trial on Jan 16. The nine-member Constitution Tribunal yesterday called a meeting with representatives of the five parties _ Thai Rak Thai, the Democrats, Pan Din Thai, Pattana Chart Thai and Prachatippatai Kao Na _ to explain trial procedures. Thai Rak Thai is accused of bankrolling smaller parties to run in the April 2 general election to avoid meeting the requirement for its lone candidates to win at least 20% of the total vote in their constituencies. Tribunal judge Somchai Pongsatha said the tribunal resolved to set the date for TRT, Pan Din Thai and Pattana Chart Thai to submit lists of their witnesses, documents and evidence on Dec 12. The tribunal will examine those documents on Jan 3 and start the first hearings of the witnesses for those parties on Jan 16. During the trial, the accused parties will be allowed to submit their written defences. Witnesses will also be allowed to submit their written statements, said Mr Somchai. The tribunal yesterday rejected Thai Rak Thai's request for it to postpone the trial procedures. The tribunal would examine the evidence on Jan 4 and begin cross-examining the witnesses on Jan 18. The tribunal will allow witnesses to testify through a video conference link. Acting TRT deputy leader Pongthep Thepkanchana, head of the party's defence lawyer team, said former party leader Thaksin Shinawatra would be a prime witness in the electoral fraud trial. The party agreed that the deposed prime minister should be among the dozens of witnesses testifying in its defence. So far, Thai Rak Thai has not discussed with Mr Thaksin the prospect of his appearing before the court via tele-conference. A source said only a few members of TRT showed up to hear the trial procedures yesterday. Among them were party legal expert Vichit Plangsrikul, Kuthep Saikrachang and Atthasit Khankhai. Many Democrat heavyweights, including party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, former leader Banyat Bantadtan and other party executives arrived at the tribunal office to hear the procedures.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/01Dec2006_news12.php

[sriracha john]

EC wants maximum penalty for electoral fraud

The Election Commission (EC) asked public prosecutors on Friday to seek maximum punishment for alleged electoral fraud involving five political parties, including the Thai Rak Thai Party.

"Under a new penalty decreed by the Council for Democratic Reform Announcement No. 27, party executives will have their voting rights revoked for five years if found guilty of fraud," EC chairman Apichart Sukhagganond said.

He expected the prosecution to petition the Constitution Tribunal to factor in the new penalty during the sentencing review.

The new penalty came into force after the September 19 coup and was designed to wipe out cheats from the politics.

The cancellation of voting rights will mean mandatory disqualification to contest elections. The other penalties for electoral fraud include party dissolution and a two year ban on convicted party executives managing or forming other parties.

The Thai Rak Thai Party faces charges of allegedly bankrolling small parties to contest the April 2 general election.

EC member Prapun Naigowit said the Constitution Tribunal was expected to rule whether the new penalty could be imposed in cases of fraud committed before its enactment.

The tribunal on Thursday decided to split the electoral fraud charges into two cases. One case is centred on the charges against Thai Rak Thai and two small parties. The other involves the Democrats and another small party allegedly attempting to frame Thai Rak Thai. Hearings of the cases will begin in full swing next month.

After being informed of the tribunal's new procedures Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said he expected a speedy conclusion of the trial.

Thai Rak Thai acting leader Chaturon Chaisang said he would have to wait for the tribunal's ruling on the enforcement of the new penalty before commenting on the issue.

The Nation

[sriracha john]

UPDATE

Trial against five parties expected to be completed in May

The judicial review on alleged electoral fraud involving five political parties, including Thai Rak Thai, is expected to be completed by May ahead of the next general election, the prosecution spokesman said Thursday.

"The punishment of party dissolution, if happened, will take place before the promulgation of the new constitution paving way for the elections," Attaphol Yaisawang said.

Acting on the request of the Election Commission, the prosecution asked the Constitution Tribunal to hand down maximum penalties, he said.

The penalties include the five-year cancellation of voting rights for party executives involved in bankrolling the April 2 election. The ban will lead to the mandatory disqualification to contest the elections.

The prosecution is expected today to submit a list of 50 witnesses, 30 video CDs and 300 sets of documents as evidence for the case involving Thai Rak Thai and two small parties, Thai Ground and Pattana Chat Thai

The Nation

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

well, for anyone to ask where the evidence is... it seems like it's been piling up by pallet load.

no wonder it's going to take some time to sift and sort through all of this and then present it.

Edited December 7, 2006 by sriracha john

[sriracha john]

Thaksin may yet return to testify

A return to Thailand by deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to give courtroom testimony is a decision for the Constitution Tribunal, the Thai Rak Thai Party said yesterday.

Thaksin will be called as a witness for the party in its defence before the tribunal of allegations of electoral fraud.

A decision was scheduled for January 3, a party lawyer said.

Wichit Plangsrisakul said the party submitted names of witnesses it wished to call and the tribunal now had to rule if Thaksin could deliver his testimony. He can appear in person or teleconference, he added.

If the tribunal allows a personal appearance, the party's chief defence lawyer Pongthep Thepkanchana will ask the Council for National Security to expedite Thaksin's testimony, he said.

Former Democrat member of Parliament Thepthai Senpong alleged Thai Rak Thai was generating publicity about a possible Thaksin return to sway the tribunal.

Discussion about a return is meaningless until the tribunal decides it will hear the former leader's evidence, he said.

- The Nation

[sriracha john]

Thai Rak Thai to present Thaksin as witness

Two major parties, Thai Rak Thai and Democrat, Tuesday submitted the lists of defence witnesses for their respective cases on electoral fraud stemming from the bankrolling for the April 2 election.

"Thai Rak Thai is gearing to call ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra as its first defence witness," party's lawyer Somsak Toraksa said.

The party plans to call a total of 77 witnesses and confirms about Thaksin's upcoming testimony, he said, noting that Thaksin would either take the witness stand in person or via the teleconference from Beijing.

He said his party would not be dismantled as speculated because of fresh evidence not available to the investigation into the alleged fraud.

Thai Rak Thai's fellow defendant, Pattana Chat Thai Party filed its list of 14 witnesses.

The Constitution Tribunal is expected to examine the defence evidence for the Thai Rak Thai case on January 3.

In the separate filing, the Democrats named 40 defence witnesses and a set of 215 defence documents.

The tribunal will rule on the Democrat evidence on January 4.

The Nation

[sriracha john]

'Decision on Thaksin's testimony up to court'

The government will not intervene in the Constitution Tribunal's deliberations if deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra returns to the country to testify in the party-dissolution case, Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said yesterday.

"The court has full authority to decide on the case," he said. "The government, as the administrative branch, has no power over it."

Surayud said the judges were welcome to discuss the issue with him, though he would not tell them what to do.

The Nation

[Jai Dee]

TRT attorney affirms former PM to testify in TRT dissolution case

The attorney to the Thai Rak Thai party affirms that former Prime Minister Thaksin would testify in his own party's prosecution as he was one of the defendants and also the head of the party.

Thai Rak Thai attorney Somsak Thowraksa (สมศักดิ์ โตรักษา), said that the investigation of key witnesses in the dismantling of the Thai Rak Thai party would be divided into real witnesses, material witnesses, and physical evidence. 77 live witnesses have been selected, while 99 material witnesses have also been prepared. The Constitutional Court has deemed all of these witnesses relevant to the prosecution.

Mr. Somsak added that Mr. Thaksin would testify in the proceedings as he was an important witness, a defendant in the case, and founding members of the Thai Rak Thai party. Mr. Somsak firmly believed that Mr. Thaksin would be cleared of all charges.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 03 January 2007

[hammered]

TRT attorney affirms former PM to testify in TRT dissolution case

The attorney to the Thai Rak Thai party affirms that former Prime Minister Thaksin would testify in his own party's prosecution as he was one of the defendants and also the head of the party.

Thai Rak Thai attorney Somsak Thowraksa (สมศักดิ์ โตรักษา), said that the investigation of key witnesses in the dismantling of the Thai Rak Thai party would be divided into real witnesses, material witnesses, and physical evidence. 77 live witnesses have been selected, while 99 material witnesses have also been prepared. The Constitutional Court has deemed all of these witnesses relevant to the prosecution.

Mr. Somsak added that Mr. Thaksin would testify in the proceedings as he was an important witness, a defendant in the case, and founding members of the Thai Rak Thai party. Mr. Somsak firmly believed that Mr. Thaksin would be cleared of all charges.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 03 January 2007

An interesting comment considering it is the Thai Rak Thai party which is charged.

[slimdog]

An interesting comment considering it is the Thai Rak Thai party which is charged.

The original charge came as a result of the Nam Yimyaem report which stated:

"There exists enough evidence that the [violations] committed by [some people as] representatives of the Thai Rak Thai Party is in effect equal to an act committed by the party itself. The sub-committee investigating the truth unanimously agrees that charges should be filed against Thaksin Shinawatra, caretaker prime minister, as head of Thai Rak Thai Party, and [calls for] further investigation of the case in accordance with regulations."

source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/05/30...es_30005257.php

[Jai Dee]

TRT at Constitution Tribunal calls for Thaksin as first witness

BANGKOK, Jan 3 (TNA) - The Thai Rak Thai Party (TRT) has reconfirmed to the investigating Constitution Tribunal, handling vote-rigging charges against the once-ruling party, that its former leader Thaksin Shinawatra be subpoenaed as its first defendant witness.

Vichit Plangsrisakul of the TRT's legal staff made his statement to the Constitution Tribunal during Wednesday's handover of a list of 77 witnesses and an estimated 200 items of material evidence and documentation in defense of the party which could be dissolved if found guilty as charged.

Mr. Thaksin, who has gone into exile overseas following the September 19 military coup, should top the list of the TRT personal witnesses, Mr. Vichit insisted.

According to the charges, the TRT allegedly hired little-known parties, namely the Pattana Chart Thai and the Pandin Thai parties, as token rivals to contest the April 2 general election so that certain TRT candidates did not have to win a minimum of 20 per cent of total eligible votes as required by law.

The Democrat Party is scheduled to hand over a list of its witnesses and evidence to the Constitution Tribunal Thursday.

Security at and around the Constitution Court remained tight, with all visiting automobiles, briefcases and baggage being scanned for explosives.

Source: TNA - 3 January 2007

[Jai Dee]

Thaksin can testify through documentation: Constitution Tribunal

The Constitution Tribunal has agreed to hold the first trial in the alleged electoral fraud case against Thai Rak Thai and two small parties on December 16, with former Thai Rak Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra scheduled to testify as a witness on March 6.

However, Thaksin can testify and provide evidence through documentation and doesn't have to appear in person unless the Attorney-General or other parties request more evidence. In that case, he might be tried using video conferencing, the Tribunal said.

The Constitution Tribunal Wednesday summoned representatives from the Thai Rak Thai, Pattana Chart Thai and Thai Ground parties to hear verification of their filed witness and evidence lists, and to find out if the Tribunal allows the use of the witnesses and evidence and whether all the parties involved accept them.

The tribunal will summon the Democrat and Progressive Democratic parties to hear the verification of their witness and evidence lists Wednesday. The Democrats will send Suwaroj Palang, Nipit Intarasombat and Wirat Kalayasiri as representatives.

Source: The Nation - 4 January 2007

[sriracha john]

Judges agree to ex-PM appearing as first witness

Constitution Tribunal judges yesterday offered no objection to Thai Rak Thai's demand that former leader and ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra be allowed to appear as the party's first defence witness in the hearing on electoral fraud charges.

Tribunal secretary-general Paibul Warahapaithoon said it has agreed to Thai Rak Thai's request but added the final decision will rest with the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG).

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/04Jan2007_news09.php

[ilyushin]

Sooner the better.

[aaaaaa]

Trial against five parties expected to be completed in May

thanks for quoting this article - I've started to wonder if anyone will even notice that it is 5 parties, not just TRT which are very likely to be dissolved.

so much fuss about TRT, even whole thread is named "TRT dissolution". while I remember since the begining of all the talking has started last year - it has always been mentioned few parties, including Democrats, which somehow were the darlings of most of posters here on TV.

so, why not discuss the consiquences of dissolution of ALL 5 parties instead of only TRT, huh? I bet itis much more interesting, since there are a lot more implications and possibiliteis and twists of likely scenarios of what will happen if not only TRT, but Democrats and other 3 parties will be dissolved !

[John K]

So if all five go down that would leave the Dr. Pat Pong Party as the most popular party?