PM Yingluck removed from office

[scorecard]

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This will only make the country even less governable, less confident and less interesting for foreign investors - there is only one way forward and that is through democratic elections and now!

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And when the Democrats loose...again! they will not accept that they are not wanted. And all this crap will just start all over again. If only they would accept the election results and allow the elected party get on with governing. Lets face it,just about all Thai politicians are corrupt, that's how it is, although i doubt if there is one more corrupt than Suthep

..... and allow the elected party get on with governing .....

So you would be quite happy for the pt mafia to continue with bankrupting the country with the unworkable rice scams and more, get on with leaving one million plus farmers unpaid, borrow several trillions of Baht with no plans and no transparency?

[SchuetzRob]

Very good news today. We get to see the end of the muppet puppett Yingluck and 9 of the more noxious PTP cabinate members.

I think I would have prefered a complete sever with the entire cabinate going. This partial dismissal will just lead to more of the same PTP BS.

Ok, so now how do we get rid of Tarit?

if you are thai this might be a legitimate question. however, if you happen to be a foreigner then i do not quite see how you think that you can have a say in that matter. the whole situation looks to me to be a mess. but it is the thais' mess and they will sort this out on their own. whether this means good news or not (for farangs) remains to be seen.

[ChoakMyDee]

I should make it clear that I don't fully understand Thai politics.. However.

It's a real smokescreen to imagine that this makes any real difference.. the people who wield power will continue to do so and those that get stepped on in the process will continue to be stepped on.

If you are looking for democracy, look in the dictionary because it does not truly exist in the real world.

This exactly. That's why I don't understand ex-pats taking sides and arguing. You'd think they'd be smart enough to realize this.

[Local Drunk]

The cabinet is to remain in power until a new cabinet is appointed: Thai constitutional court @Twitter

A new cabinet is appointed? Does that mean that the care caretaker PM that was appointed by the cabinet has to go as well?

[animatic]

OP. "...Several cabinet ministers who endorsed the decision to transfer the security chief will also be stripped of their status... "

Yes and the broom sweeps out the most close henchmen of her brother too... boot.

The country is not rudderless, but it hasn't had anything like a firm and honest hand on the tiller for years as it is.

Isn't or is rudderless?

Is not rudderless, isn't rudderless.

There is some form of cabinet in place still, even with herself and 9 members removed.

So there is someone at the helm,

but not 'in control', just coasting along,

that that hasn't been the case in more than too long.

[GuestHouse]

Thaksin scratches around for an alternative Shinawatra to take her place.

[Skint]

TR @jin_nation: Chalerm, Surapong, Kittirat, Anudit, Santi, Plodprasop, Pracha, Siriwat, Yutthasak are following YL out the door.

Party at Ban Piichai tonight.

Even the Reds are invited!

Well, Piichai, I am sure they'll provide the fire for the barbecue. And some RPGs for the fireworks.

Brilliant just aswell the new caretaker is as red as you get

[Crushdepth]

It's a shame that the rice scheme case wasn't considered first. The Thawil transfer is trivial (relatively speaking).

So which relatives are next in line?

[SheungWan]

no big deal, a pro-thaksin party will win ... for the millionth time in a row.... and with probably stronger support.....at the next election... as always

enjoy your little yellow judicial coup... while it lasts

MWAHAHAHAHA:clap2:

Unfortunately the PTP appears to be completely incapable of running a government in a legal manner with Thaksin pulling the strings. I would say that was one hand clapping dear chap.

[Fookhaht]

....now wait for it......all hell is going to break loose..........you can bet on it.......

Or another way to put it: "The other shoe has now dropped."

Edited May 7, 2014 by Fookhaht

[3NUMBAS]

Thailand's drawn-out political crisis broadly pits Bangkok's middle class and royalist establishment against the mainly poor, rural supporters of Yingluck and her brother, former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted by the military in 2006 and lives in exile abroad to avoid a jail sentence handed down in 2008 for abuse of power.

Yingluck's supporters accuse the Constitutional Court of bias in frequently ruling against governments loyal to Thaksin. In 2008, the court forced two Thaksin-linked prime ministers from office.

Some legal experts had expected the court to remove her entire government. But, instead, it ruled that nine ministers linked to the case should step down but others could remain, leaving Yingluck's ruling party still in charge of a caretaker government.

"We were bracing ourselves for this verdict. Everything our enemies do is to cripple the democratic process," said Jatuporn Prompan, the leader of pro-Shinawatra "red shirt" activists.

"The court chose a middle way today. It could have removed her whole cabinet but they chose to remove her and those ministers responsible for the transfer only," Jatuporn said.

Asked about a vow to resist Yingluck's removal that raised fears of violence between the factions, Jatuporn said: "There is no reason why we should take up arms. We will rally peacefully as planned on May 10."

It remains unclear how a new premier will be appointed. In Thailand the prime minister is normally elected by the lower house of parliament but that was dissolved in December when Yingluck called a snap election to try to defuse the protests.

From that point, she headed a caretaker administration with limited powers. The election in February was disrupted and later declared void by the Constitutional Court.

Yingluck and the Election Commission agreed last week that a new election should be held on July 20 but that date has not been formally approved and it is bound to be opposed again by the opposition.

Thaksin or his loyalists have won every election since 2001 and would be likely to win again.

The former telecoms tycoon won huge support in the north and northeast with pro-poor policies such as cheap healthcare and loans. But his enemies say he is a corrupt crony capitalist who harbors republican sympathies, which he denies.

The anti-government protesters say they want to end Thaksin's influence over politics and are demanding reform of the electoral system before new polls.

A leader of the anti-government protesters, who are based in a central Bangkok park, welcomed the court's decision to remove Yingluck but said their campaign would go on.

"Of course, there is celebration here today but we still have not completed our goals which are reforms and a delayed general election," said Samdin Lertbutr.

"Even though she is gone, they are still the caretaker government," Samdin told Reuters, adding that a big rally on May 14 would go ahead.

(Writing by Alan Raybould and Martin Petty; Editing by Robert Birsel and Nick Macfie)

FILED UNDER:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/07/us-thailand-protest-idUSBREA4502E20140507

[mikemac]

So who is in charge now then?

same as before ... Thaksin!

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It reminds me of when I first started coming to Thailand. You find a bar you like and you nearly always return to that bar. And every time you come back there are new hookers sitting on the barstools, but the same old painted face mamasan sitting in the corner, ruling the roost.

[pmugghc]

So now we have our favorites Chalerm and Surapong out. Can't some court find something on the mercenary attack dog Tarit?

[The Deerhunter]

The lunatic SUTHEP failed to accomplish anything so the courts held a judicial coupe AGAIN. If u can't win an election let the courts give a guilty verdict on trumped up charges. Let's see what happens now.

Sent from Kukaz iPad Air

So you think Yingluck did not abuse her power then? Charges seems pretty solid, as was the ruling. If you disagree then you might want to take off those Thaksin colored sunglasses for a moment...

I think everyone is abusing power ... including the CC .... so when is Suthep going to answer for all his crimes? Probably never ... and therein lies the proof of abuse of power .... pots and kettles everywhere in here

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Note: The abuse of power is only apparent when viewed through rouge coloured spectacles.

[Tatsujin]

It's a shame that the rice scheme case wasn't considered first. The Thawil transfer is trivial (relatively speaking).

So which relatives are next in line?

Rice scam case verdict is Weds or Thurs, at which point the remainder of the Cabinet will be booted out and Pheu Thai banned and disbanded.

[moonao]

no big deal, a pro-thaksin party will win ... for the millionth time in a row.... and with probably stronger support.....at the next election... as always

enjoy your little yellow judicial coup... while it lasts

MWAHAHAHAHA

Unfortunately the PTP appears to be completely incapable of running a government in a legal manner with Thaksin pulling the strings. I would say that was one hand clapping dear chap.

most Thai people and virtually all international observers think otherwise... but like i said... enjoy your moment... while it lasts

[WoopyDoo]

Capo, hopefully, will soon be C(K)aput, with Surapong and Charlerm out of the way!

I started thinking about this myself.

CAPO is an independent agency under government control, I am not sure if Chalerm and Surapong have legality in those rolls.

The big question here is.... Are they only ordered to vacate their cabinet positions, or are they to be kicked out of all official offices?

It also begs the question.... Is Yingluck STILL chairman of the rice scheme committee?????

Also seems to be some questions over the legality of the appointment of the new PM Niwatthamrong... Not sure what the problem is, but according to some tweets it may not all be above board.

Just being confirmed now.... PTP have dropped another boll-ock.

Niwatthamrong isn't even an MP... so has been named as new PM illegally.

Can't this bunch of morons get ANYTHING right?????????

I have to say it is things like this that really put a smile on my face.... Didn't Niwatthamrong not even know he does not qualify as a PM candidate when he is not even an MP??????

The best thing the constitutional court can do is to sit again and just dissolve the PTP for the greater good of the country so it can move fprward and away from this series of politically inept blunders.

[louse1953]

Hang on to your dollars the baht is going to drop like a rock. My Thai friends are out buying gold this afternoon. Look for a run on appliances and food. Gas and rent prices to rise. None of this is good for Thailand no matter what side you are on.

I rekon you are wrong.With corrupt members of the govt.gone why wouldnt the baht go up,ie more trust by the international banks.As far as marching and riots in Bangkok,hasnt effected it much the last few years has it.

[Local Drunk]

no big deal, a pro-thaksin party will win ... for the millionth time in a row.... and with probably stronger support.....at the next election... as always

enjoy your little yellow judicial coup... while it lasts

MWAHAHAHAHA

Unfortunately the PTP appears to be completely incapable of running a government in a legal manner with Thaksin pulling the strings. I would say that was one hand clapping dear chap.

most Thai people and virtually all international observers think otherwise... but like i said... enjoy your moment... while it lasts

We will, thank you very much.

[daveAustin]

no big deal, a pro-thaksin party will win ... for the millionth time in a row.... and with probably stronger support.....at the next election... as always

enjoy your little yellow judicial coup... while it lasts

MWAHAHAHAHA

If the unwashed brainwashed are PAID and coerced again, perhaps, but guess what, they'd be removed for the 'millionth time in a row' also.

Stick that in your rouge pipe & smoke it! Mwahahaha!

[JAG]

Is anyone really surprised by this pre-determined decision? I doubt it. Now it's just a matter of who will be next in to lead the govt until the election

I doubt there will be an election for a long time, not until the "reforms" have consolidated the power grab.

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[rreddin]

Buhbye!

Don't let the door hit your butt on the way out!

Is there an appeal process? I do not know that is why I am asking the question.

[mrtoad]

RT: The scale of yet another Thai judicial coup should leave no one in doubt about the need for constitutional reform. Democracy demands that.-; Robert Amsterdam (@robertamsterdam)

@@robertamsterdam

Reform before or after the next election Robert?

Boppe Amsterdam will probably be on here later posting under his latest alias. He knows that there needs to be reform, but he also has to follow his paymasters requests, just like any good little rent boy.

[BKS22]

Oh good....now BKK can batten down the hatches for the arrival of the Red Shirt brigade. I hope for the sake of the Thai people that it's not out of the pot and into the fire.

[Cantankerous]

One of the biggest problems Thailand has is its repeated failure to take out the shin clan and this ridiculous scenario where people ask what will Taksin do next, until he is taken out of the storyline by whatever means necessary then the saga will continue and the country will carry on in its self destructive direction.

It's not just Thaksin and the Shin clan that needs to be "taken out of the storyline", it's all of them on both sides of the divide, including their backers...

Anyone praising this as a victory for democracy, reform or the Thai people think again. After the elections the same old faces are back in on both sides lining their pockets... That law abiding stalwart of democratic reform heading the PDRC (The acronym being an oxymoron in itself) is a prime example.

With the forthcoming elections nearing, the only way the 'Democratic Party' (I use 'democratic' in the loosest sense of the term), can hope to gain power is through yet more undemocratic action through the puppet courts and install the 'Quango' they long to put in place. After which what elections will be held..? Perpetual demonstrations/confrontations by both sides, dragging the country further down the sewer and making it a bigger laughing stock than it already is.

And before someone mentions the demand for a 'Bipartisan' committee to run the country, it won't, doesn't and never works, take a look closer to your home countries...

I don't advocate for either side, I'd just like to see the country I chose to live in stable for once.

Solution? Who knows, no one on this forum that's for sure...

[ginjag]

Buhbye!

Don't let the door hit your butt on the way out!

Is there an appeal process? I do not know that is why I am asking the question.

Appeal for what---she has a valid passport. Surely she will not try to appeal to get her lovely job back.---but she will miss the 50 air trips made in 3 years.

[godden]

I thought she was pretty, but a lousy PM

[bkkjames]

Oh good....now BKK can batten down the hatches for the arrival of the Red Shirt brigade. I hope for the sake of the Thai people that it's not out of the pot and into the fire.

the difference from 2010 - is BKK is well aware of what this group is capable of...

[bulekee]

The lunatic SUTHEP failed to accomplish anything so the courts held a judicial coupe AGAIN. If u can't win an election let the courts give a guilty verdict on trumped up charges. Let's see what happens now.

Sent from Kukaz iPad Air

What will be will be.

[The Deerhunter]

Amazed at all reasoning at the lengths some Thai politicians will go to get rid of a legally elected government just to get themselves into power, knowing full well that they could never get themselves elected.

However as the saying goes.............Its not all over till the fat lady sings.

If they think that the disenfranchised voting Thai majority will take this lying down, they had better think again, it will not just happen.

We will see. I hope you are disappointed. The army (and even the police since earlly afternoon today) will not be keen on letting several thousand reds come to burn & pillage Bangers again, a'la 2010.

Back to JR Ewing. I have been trying to work his favourite saying into things all day and all I keep coming up with is. She is not fat and probably not feeling much like singing today. Ih hope thailand gets rid of this electoral corruption ASAP to allow a proper fair election and a return to something closer to real democracy than what you think is!