TRT Targeted For Dissolution

[aaaaaa]

perhaps that's the most likely prediction - most popular or may be the ONLY remaining party

[Plus]

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 !

It was TRT bribing three other parties - that makes four. Charges against Democrats were brought in much later, after the Nam Yeemyeam report, in fact only after the EC was charged with ignoring the report.

While the report squarely puts the blame on senior TRT executives, charges against Democrats are charges against one loose cannon they quickly disowned. The only Democrat executive involved publicly declared that he was doing it as individual, not as a party policy.

It is very UNlikely Democrats will be dissolved.

[hammered]

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 !

It was TRT bribing three other parties - that makes four. Charges against Democrats were brought in much later, after the Nam Yeemyeam report, in fact only after the EC was charged with ignoring the report.

While the report squarely puts the blame on senior TRT executives, charges against Democrats are charges against one loose cannon they quickly disowned. The only Democrat executive involved publicly declared that he was doing it as individual, not as a party policy.

It is very UNlikely Democrats will be dissolved.

Personally I thought for political expediency it was unlikely TRT would be disolved. However, with the current rise in politcal tensions I am no longer so sure as behind closed doors deals are probably close to over now and the Nam report is quite damning. However, it could be that only party executives are punished. In fact with the country in the position it is, one has to wonder if it wouldnt be better if all the politicians stepped aside or were removed to allow a new and younger generation come through. For me the thought of the return of the hero of Ban Rom Khlao and 1997 making a comeback is just about the final tragedy in politics. Sorry just dreaming.

[Plus]

There's no new generation, we are stuck with whatever politicians we have now. TRT might be resolved, it became irrelevant now. Its former MPs would do much better with Banharn or elsewhere.

[Tony Clifton]

If I remember correctly, the charges against the Democrats appeared when TRT were caught with their foot in the cookie jar, simply trying to tie other parties to their scam with ridiculous charges, as always.

[sriracha john]

UPDATE

Chaturon: The Junta Plots the Dissolution of Thai Rak Thai Party

The Thai Rak Thai Party will be dissolved as part of a predetermined junta plan, its acting leader Chaturon Chaisang predicted Sunday.

He said the decision on the party's fate was in the hands of the country's military rulers following the scrapping of the 1997 Constitution. *actually the fate is in the hands of the Constitutional Tribunal (see below)*

The party, along with the Democrats and three smaller political parties, faces charges of electoral violations in the April 2006 polls that if proved could result in dissolution. The charges are being heard by the Constitutional Tribunal due to the dissolution of the Constitution Court in the wake of the September coup.

Chaturon Sunday cited comments made by Defence Minister General Boonrawd Somtas that if the Thai Rak Thai were dissolved, political problems would be resolved.

"From what we see from the junta's actions, the Thai Rak Thai will be dissolved. The CNS [the junta] doesn't want the party to have any political role," he said, referring to the Council for National Security.

The Nation

===================================================================

His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej Sayammintharathirat Bormmanatthabophit graciously granted the interim constitution, including the provisions for the Constitutional Tribunal, on October 1 B.E. 2549 (2006)

Members of the Constitutional Tribunal are all from the previous Supreme Court and the Supreme Administrative Court, who were also Royally endorsed by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej Sayammintharathirat Bormmanatthabophit.

Edited January 14, 2007 by sriracha john

[Tony Clifton]

Chaturon: The Junta Plots the Dissolution of Thai Rak Thai Party

The Thai Rak Thai Party will be dissolved as part of a predetermined junta plan, its acting leader Chaturon Chaisang predicted Sunday.

Chaturon is announcing the dissolution of the party on behalf of the junta? Who is he to make the headlines with this statement?

Unless the party itself decides on dissolution, he should shut the F*%# up. The kind of statement the junta has asked the media to refrain from publishing or broadcasting. The only purpose for his statement is to anger remaining TRT supporters and get them pumped for more action against innocent citizens.

[Jai Dee]

Chaturon: TRT will play by the rules to defend party dissolution case

The caretaker Thai Rak Thai Party leader affirms the party will play by the rules of law to defend its dissolution case without using political movements to pressure the government.

The caretaker Thai Rak Thai leader Chaturon Chaisang (จาตุรนต์ ฉายแสง) said the party is willing to accept the Constitution Tribunal’s verdict on the case and it will not protest if it is dissolved. He also expressed his belief in the justness of the Constitution Tribunal and called for both the government and the Council for National Security (CNS) not to shed negative light on the party.

In response to the return to the country of the ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Mr Chaturon said the party is not stubborn in its stance to bring the ex-PM to appear in person before the Constitution Tribunal.

However, Mr Chaturon affirms that Mr Thaksin will be the first witness as he was the party leader when the alleged election corruption took place.

The party will leave it to the CNS to consider by which means Mr Thaksin can give his testimony.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 15 January 2007

[John K]

Well if Thaksin must testify the cctv will probably be the option seeing he can’t come in person. If I am reading this right and if memory serves the courts have always been given the authority to deal with the TRT, that was never taken from them. So I have to agree with Tony that this was just a bit of a ploy to get some press.

[Tyree D.]

names change but the game still remains...

Thais up, farangs down

[sriracha john]

The caretaker Thai Rak Thai leader Chaturon Chaisang said the party is willing to accept the Constitution Tribunal’s verdict on the case.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department

names change but the game still remains...

Yes.... There does seem to be a bit of a reoccuring theme in their statements:

Posted: 2006-03-24

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has accepted the Supreme Administrative Court’s decision ordering the cancellation of the two decrees on privatization of Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT).

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department

.... how benevolent, condescending, and "big" of Mr. Big to "accept" the Supreme Court's decision. What other choice does he have? Appeal it to the Penultimate Court?

Posted: 2006-10-28

Khunying Pojaman Shinawatra, the wife of ousted prime minister Thaksin, offered to have their assets seized if they were found to have been obtained illegally.

- The Nation

How very magnanimous of Pojaman to offer her and Thakky's assets to be seized if they're proven to be illegal. What the he11 else did she expect would happen with them? Given to Chiang Mai Night Safari???

[jbowman1993]

Cast them back into oblivion, only to resurface as the same party, with a different name.

[sriracha john]

TRT dissolution trial gets underway today

The Constitution Tribunal today begins its hearing of the attorney-general's case for the dissolution of Thai Rak Thai and two small parties. The Office of the Attorney-General is expected to call two key Democrat party members to the stand. The OAG has accused Thai Rak Thai of hiring two small parties, Pattana Chart Thai and Phaendin Thai, to run in last year's April 2 election so it could avoid having to win at least 20% of the eligible vote to win a one-candidate seat. The OAG will call Democrat secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban and former Democrat MP for Nakhon Si Thammarat Chinnaworn Boonyakiart as its first witnesses.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/16Jan2007_news15.php

[sriracha john]

Thaksin's TRT Trial Begins

Bangkok - Thailand's Constitution Tribunal on Tuesday kicked off a trial against the Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra that could lead to the dissolution of the former populist powerhouse that dominated the country for six years.

'We hope for a fair hearing,' said Thai Rak Thai (Thais Love Thais) deputy leader Pongthep Thepkanjana, who will act as the party's lawyer at the trial which may wrap up in April.

The TRT will argue that since the military's coup that ousted Thaksin and his government from power on September 19, 2006, and also cancelled the country's 1997 constitution, the tribunal has no basis for dissolving the party.

The case against the TRT is complex, and hinges on election regulations imposed by the organic laws of the now defunct 1997 constitution.

Thailand's chief opposition party, the Democrats, last year charged the TRT with infringing election laws by hiring two parties to contest the April 2, 2006, general election in order to meet requirements that each constituency be contested, or else an uncontested candidate must win at least 20 per cent of the popular vote.

The Democrats, who are popular in Thailand's southern provinces, refused to contest the April 2 election on the grounds that Thaksin and his TRT party had hijacked Thailand's political system with their populist policies and by coercing all independent bodies such as the election commission, to operate in their favour.

By boycotting the polls, the Democrats made it almost impossible for the TRT to win in the southern provinces, unless they resorted to hiring other parties to contest the election.

The Democrats evidence against TRT proved enough to persuade the constitutional court to annul the outcome of the April 2 election in July 2006, and to dismiss two former election commissioners.

Given the power of legal precedence, it is likely that the same evidence could lead to the dissolution of the TRT Party, which was set up in 1999 by Thaksin, a billionaire former telecommunications tycoon who held the premiership between 2001 until September 19, 2006, when he was toppled by a coup.

TRT's Pongthep said the party would argue that the constitution no longer applies to the case and that its stipulations were unreasonable.

'In any country when a member of a party does something wrong there is no dissolution of the party, otherwise all the political parties of the world would be dissolved,' said Pongthep before entering the court.

Pongthep also used the occasion to blast the ruling junta and its appointed cabinet for blocking television coverage of Thaksin and continuing to impose martial law nationwide, that bans political gatherings and demonstrations.

Thai authorities on Monday night blocked the domestic airing of a CNN interview with Thaksin in which he vowed not to re-enter Thai politics and denied responsibility for a spate of bombings on New Year's Eve in Bangkok that killed three people and severely undermined confidence in the current administration.

'When you shut up the media and the mouths of the people, what kind of society is that?' said Pongthep.

The TRT and Thaksin, during their six years in power, were also heavily criticized for stifling media freedom through controls on government TV and radio stations and by slapping libel suits on journalists who dared to criticize their actions and raise questions about corrupt activities.

Thaksin and many of this TRT colleagues are currently under investigation for several corruption cases.

- Deutsche Presse-Agentur

[sriracha john]

Angry start to Thai Rak Thai's poll fraud case

Defence lawyer clashes with judge over TRT right to question witnesses

A fierce war of words erupted on day one of the Constitution Tribunal hearing into alleged electoral fraud by the Thai Rak Thai Party - with disagreement between Thai Rak Thai's lawyer and a Tribunal judge on what kind of questions the defendants could ask witnesses.

The trial had a dramatic start with the party's representatives, former executive Pongthep Thepkanchana, and lawyer Somsak Toraksa, urging the Tribunal to give them the chance to make the truth apparent.

Democrat Party secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban and executive Chinnaworn Boonyakiat were witnesses for the Attorney-General, testifying as the people who first filed a complaint against Thai Rak Thai to the former Election Commission on the case.

Although some of Thai Rak Thai's key members had formerly questioned the legitimacy of the Tribunal to hear the case, its representatives said repeatedly they believed in the senior court.

However, the trial got fiercer after the first hour when Tribunal member Charan Hathagam rejected questions that Somsak asked Suthep, saying the Democrat had outlined information in his statement. And, Thai Rak Thai should have noted any objections in its document before the trial.

The Tribunal had the witnesses submit testimonies in statements seven days before the trial, then allowed the defendant to oppose any information three days before the trial. During the hearing, the Tribunal can ask more questions to clarify unclear issues and allow defendants to ask witnesses to oppose any information.

Somsak said defendants had the right to ask questions and show how weak arguments by the witnesses were, even if they were outlined in statements.

"This is an execution case for Thai Rak Thai Party. Please give us the chance to ask and oppose the witnesses' information," he said.

He repeated the same message many times when his questions were rejected.

Charan finally allowed him to ask a question, but with a voice showing he was clearly irritated.

"Yes, you can ask [suthep] then," he said.

Somsak replied in an irritated voice: "Don't use temper with me. I am a lawyer and I have my dignity. You should be well mannered with me," he said.

Before tempers got any hotter, Tribunal President Panya Thanomrod called for a break. After half an hour, Panya took his chair and allowed Thai Rak Thai lawyers to ask questions to reduce the weight of allegations - but not emotional questions.

Thai Rak Thai is alleged to have hired the Pattana Chart Thai and Thai Ground parties to compete in the April 2 election last year to avoid the "20-per-cent rule", which requires an unopposed candidate to win 20 per cent of total ballots cast in the constituency.

Suthep confirmed yesterday his written testimony that he met Boontaweesak Amornsin, leader of the Pattana Chart Thai, for the first time on March 15. He had never known Boontaweesak before but rushed to his house at 2am because he wanted information about members changing parties and evidence that party members' details had been changed so that MP candidates could compete in the election, as a favour to Thai Rak Thai.

In the afternoon, Judge Charan returned to oversee proceedings when Chinnaworn testified.

Chinnaworn said during the trial he knew from local people that party members' details filed with the EC had been changed. Then he checked and found irregularities in the EC records on March 8.

Chinnaworn last year opposed the registration of candidates who sought to become members of Parliament in Nakhon Si Thammarat, saying they were not members of political parties 90 days before registration, as required.

However, Thai Rak Thai representative Kamol Bandaipetch said that while an Election Commission officer said he had changed the party members' information before March 8, Chinnaworn said the Democrats noticed the changed lists on March 8. Therefore, the Democrats must have had "the old information". Accordingly, Suthep's claim that he went to see Boontaweesak on March 15 to get the old list was not true.

The next hearing for the Thai Rak Thai case is scheduled for Tuesday.

Meanwhile, a separate trial for alleged electoral fraud by the Democrat Party will begin tomorrow. The Democrats, who did not contest the election, have been accused of hiring the Progressive Democratic Party to frame the Thai Rak Thai.

Both cases are expected to take months to hear, but either would make history if the Constitution Tribunal decides to dissolve one of them. Thai Rak Thai became the first party to form a one-party government after winning a big majority of seats in the Parliament in 2005. And the Democrat Party, at 60, is the country's oldest political party.

The Nation

[jbowman1993]

Throw TRT into the landfill, where it belongs...

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Throw TRT into the landfill, where it belongs...

Seconded

[sriracha john]

Democrat party secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban, front, and former Democrat MP for Nakhon Si Thammarat Chinnaworn Boonyakiart arrive at the Constitution Tribunal to testify as first witnesses in a court hearing in the poll fraud case against the Thai Rak Thai party and two smaller parties yesterday.

BP

Thaksin was aware TRT bribed small parties

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was aware that his Thai Rak Thai party paid two small parties 10 million baht each to contest the April 2 election last year, Democrat secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban told the Constitution Tribunal yesterday. Mr Suthep was the first witness in the Thai Rak Thai dissolution trial, which began yesterday. He said then Thai Rak Thai deputy leader Thammarak Isarangkura na Ayudhaya and then party deputy secretary-general Pongsak Raktapongpaisal had paid the small parties, with Mr Thaksin realising what had happened.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/17Jan2007_news17.php

[Tony Clifton]

Another quote from the same article:

Thai Rak Thai chief defence lawyer Pongthep Thepkanchana asked to cross-examine Mr Suthep and play a CD to prove the Democrats were trying to frame Thai Rak Thai. Judge Jaran Hattakam denied the request, saying cross-examination would be allowed only if necessary and some matters were already covered in Thai Rak Thai's written explanation.

I am not very familiar with Thai court room proceedings, but that for me does not exactly sound like due process. The trials against TRT and Thaksin have to be by the book to be accepted, already holding these trials under an unelected military doctatorship is concerning.

The've had months to prepare, watch TRT lawyers come up with lame last minute tactics and evidence. Started on the wrong foot yesterday by throwing a temper fit.

[John K]

I am not sure but I think I like the idea that the explanation has been given in writing. I think that is how appeals courts work. They just review what was said. Facts are not fluid.

Seeing is how it took so long to get this far and the excuse was (I think) we need time to get ready meaning documents. If that was the case then they certainly better use them and they will carry weight. All each side will try to do is disprove the others side.

[jumnien]

Hmm. Let's see if Bush targets the Democratic Party for dissolution in the USA. So much easier than those pesky elections!

[sriracha john]

Ex-PM Thaksin's party resolves to remain populist, stay in Thai politics

BANGKOK - Thailand's Thai Rak Thai Party (TRT) has resolved to continue to follow the populist policies set out earlier during the time of its former leader, deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra, while new platforms are yet to be formulated in near future, according to party sources.

Acting TRT leader Chaturon Chaisaeng announced his party will go ahead with those policies which had already been proven useful to the country and the people, while others which might have been considered unsuitable will be revised. Viewpoints of the people will be considered and adopted by the party to amend any inappropriate policies.

Since Mr. Thaksin has publicly declared he would no longer be involved in politics, Mr.Chaturon said, the TRT will remain as a political institution whose survival will not be necessarily up to any individual.

The TRT is scheduled next month to make a public statement of its policies, mostly similar to those earlier declared and implemented, and to set up a working group to make preparations for naming the party's regional heads. New policies, which were not introduced during Mr. Thaksin's leadership, would be laid out in the near future, he added.

The TRT has been charged with breaking laws by illegally financing small parties to field candidates in April 2 election which court later annulled. Judges began hearing the case last week in the trial that could see the twice-elected party dissolved if found quilty.

- MCOT

[hammered]

From the Nation:

A witness told the Constitution Tribunal Tuesday that persons close to some Thai Rak Thai leaders had paid him cash to field candidates in the April 2 poll.

Rest of the Story including names at:

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingne...newsid=30024889

[Jai Dee]

From the Nation:

A witness told the Constitution Tribunal Tuesday that persons close to some Thai Rak Thai leaders had paid him cash to field candidates in the April 2 poll.

Rest of the Story including names at:

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingne...newsid=30024889

From the same bulletin:

At the hotel, the leaders of the small parties were paid some cash in advance to field candidates in some constituencies, where only TRT candidates ran for the House seats, Suksan said.

[sriracha john]

Bank-rolled party says TRT cheated on payment

The Pattana Chart Thai party chose to expose alleged bank-rolling of little-known parties by Thai Rak Thai through its arch rival due to lack of trust in the poll regulator, the Constitution Tribunal was told yesterday. Testifying against the former ruling party, Pattana Chart Thai's election director Suksan Chaithes said he opted for the Democrat party because the then-Election Commission's impartiality was in doubt. ''We were cheated. We did not get the money,'' he said. The party's leader, Boonthaweesak Amornslip, had wanted to go to the EC, ''but I told him it was pointless because those people [Thai Rak Thai] were in power,'' Mr Suksan said.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/24Jan2007_news07.php

[Mid]

Ex-PM Thaksin's party resolves to remain populist, stay in Thai politics

BANGKOK - Thailand's Thai Rak Thai Party (TRT) has resolved to continue to follow the populist policies set out earlier during the time of its former leader, deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra, while new platforms are yet to be formulated in near future, according to party sources.

Acting TRT leader Chaturon Chaisaeng announced his party will go ahead with those policies which had already been proven useful to the country and the people, while others which might have been considered unsuitable will be revised. Viewpoints of the people will be considered and adopted by the party to amend any inappropriate policies.

Since Mr. Thaksin has publicly declared he would no longer be involved in politics, Mr.Chaturon said, the TRT will remain as a political institution whose survival will not be necessarily up to any individual.

The TRT is scheduled next month to make a public statement of its policies, mostly similar to those earlier declared and implemented, and to set up a working group to make preparations for naming the party's regional heads. New policies, which were not introduced during Mr. Thaksin's leadership, would be laid out in the near future, he added.

The TRT has been charged with breaking laws by illegally financing small parties to field candidates in April 2 election which court later annulled. Judges began hearing the case last week in the trial that could see the twice-elected party dissolved if found quilty.

- MCOT

[sriracha john]

TRT Party going down.....

Thai Rak Thai deputy leader Pongthep Thepkanchana and other party members walk down the stairs after leaving a hearing in the party's dissolution trial at the Constitution Tribunal yesterday.

Bangkok Post

[sriracha john]

Anger, confusion and doubt at Democrat Party trial

A prosecution witness became confused and very angry during yesterday's hearing of the electoral fraud case against the Democrat Party in the Constitutional Tribunal.

Another witness claimed he only got his information from the media.

And a representative for the Democrats said some of the witnesses, while not politicians, had connections with the Thai Rak Thai Party.

Yesterday was the second hearing for the electoral fraud case against the Democrat and Progressive Democratic parties.

The case stems from the election in April last year. The Democrat Party is accused of hiring candidates from the Progressive Democratic Party to run in the ballot in Trang. The Democrats are also accused of hiring the leader of Better Life Party to frame Thai Rak Thai.

Many Thai Rak Thai candidates who stood in constituencies around the country failed to win seats after the April 2 poll because, as sole candidates without any rivals - because major opposition parties boycotted the election - they failed to get the required minimum of 20 per cent of total votes. If other candidates contested the same constituency, those who received the most votes had a chance to win without the minimum vote requirement applying.

Yesterday, Budsayamas Klinpetch, owner and editor of the local newspaper Trang Naewna, said she wasn't sure if she was a member of Thai Rak Thai Party , as she formerly testified to the former Election Commission.

Budsayamas said she had been a member of the New Aspiration Party but learned later that her name was listed as a Thai Rak Thai member since 2004, without her applying to the party. The New Aspiration Party was merged with Thai Rak Thai in 2001.

Democrat representative Nipit Intarasombat said Budsayamas was the only person to hear a conversation about irregularities at the candidate registration in Trang.

Budsayamas said some television reporters were with her at the venue but she could not remember clearly who was there at the time.

Her newspaper, which was quoted by a witness in the case, printed the headline, "Vicious technique frames TRT".

Nipit said the headline implicitly accused the Democrats and asked her to give details to support the headline.

But she claimed the headline was written to attract readers and as an editor she could create any headline she wanted.

And while she knew Thai Rak Thai former MP Kraisin Totabtiang, she said she was never sponsored by the Thai Rak Thai Party [to write the report].

Throughout the hearing she appeared irritable and often spoke angrily.

Prosecution witness Tawee Surabarn was the Thai Rak Thai candidate for Trang who filed a complaint against the Democrats alleging they hired Progressive Democratic Party candidates to run in the election and to frame Thai Rak Thai. But yesterday he said he only heard about people being hired by the Democrats from the media.

Tawee was a Thai Rak Thai party-list MP, but as the only candidate in the constituency failed to get the minimum 20 per cent votes in the April 2 poll. He also failed to get most votes in a by-election on April 23 against other candidates.

Democrat representative Nipit Intarasombat tried to show the Tribunal that Tawee, a former Democrat MP, had conflicts with the Democrats.

Tawee denied this, but conceded the Thai Rak Thai Party promised to give him a better opportunity, and would reward him if he got a seat for the party in Trang.

Watwarit Tantipirom, leader of the Better Life Party, said he was threatened by the Democrats, including Thaikorn Polsuwan, who forced him to frame Thai Rak Thai.

He said he then asked for help from Maj-General Prasit Tamdee, a police officer he knew in Chaiyaphum. He said Prasit told Police Lt-Colonel Ruthapol Naowarat to accompany him (Watwarit) and secretly record a video of a conversation between Thaikorn and Watwarit at Bangkok's Grand Hotel.

Democrat representative Taweesak Na Takuatung asked why Watwarit had asked for help from police officers in Chaiyaphum when his home was in Nakhon Ratchasima. He also questioned if Prasit and Ruthapol had links with a former Thai Rak Thai Buri Ram MP, as both of them had worked in Buri Ram for some time.

Taweesak also pointed out that the transcript of the recording made by Ruthapol and his aides filed to the tribunal came in two versions of different length.

Tribunal judge Vichai Chuenchompoonut asked whether Ruthapol knew about the scope of his duties and authority when he was stationed in Chaiyaphum, as he had also investigated the electoral case in Bangkok.

Ruthapol said he did as ordered by Prasit.

The Nation

[hammered]

Ages ago over lunch a TRT organiser told me the case against the dems was, as most people suspected, politics with no substance an attempt to confuse the issue of the case against TRT, which she was worried about. She felt it would work. We will see.

Edited January 26, 2007 by hammered

[John K]

Ages ago over lunch a TRT organiser told me the case against the dems was, as most people suspected, politics with no substance an attempt to confuse the issue of the case against TRT, which she was worried about. She felt it would work. We will see.

I am sure if you dig long enough you will find skeletons in every party’s closet. If memory serves there were 3 election commissioners very much attached to the TRT that started this. Since then they have been convicted and spent at least a few days in jail and now out on appeal. I suspect a few issue but not enough to trash the Democratic party.