Thaksin Resigns As Thai Rak Thai Leader

[Jai Dee]

Thaksin resigns as Thai Rak Thai leader

Channel 7 reported Tuesday that ousted prime minister Shinawatra sent his hand-written letter from London to state his wish to resign as Thai Rak Thai Party leader.

His three-page letter was disclosed at a press conference at the party's head office Tuesday morning.

The resignation prompted deputy leader Sudarat Keyuraphan to become acting party leader.

Thaksin said in the letter that he wanted to take responsibility for the trouble caused to the party by resigning as party leader.

Source: The Nation - 3 October 2006

[Jai Dee]

Thaksin resigns from Thai Rak Thai

Ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra resigns from Thai Rak Thai Party on Tuesday, TRT's deputy leader Pongthep Thepkarnchana said.

Pongthep was reading a letter of Thaksin sent from London.

Thaksin, TRT leader, claimed that he decided to resign to solve the chaos in the country.

Thaksin who is now in London sent his message today to party members about his political future and the party's directions. The party will give a press briefing to tell the public about the decision.

Thaksin was ousted last month when the military seized power from his government while he was in New York to attend UN General Assembly.

He then travelled to London where his family has an apartment to live with his daughter.

Thaksin's message came two days after Gen Surayud Jalanont was appointed as the prime minister of an interim government.

Source: The Nation - 3 October 2006

[Tony Clifton]

"Thaksin, TRT leader, claimed that he decided to resign to solve the chaos in the country."

Chaos? What chaos?

[sriracha john]

Channel news asia is reporting....

[Barney_the_Dinosaur]

TRT won't be getting my vote next time round in the event I had one

[LoveDaBlues]

Huge news. I had seen a few reports that said if he wasn't convicted of any wrong-doings he still has a following in the NorthEast and could try a come back. Looks like he just wants to enjoy all the stolen funds and work towards staying out of jail.

[sriracha john]

Thaksin resigns as TRT party leader

Founder and leader Thaksin Shinawatra has resigned from his Thai Rak Thai party, joining scores of other members who are distancing themselves from the chief political party deposed by the Sept 19 military coup. Political sources said Mr Thaksin had made the crucial resignation decision in London. In his message from London announced at the party headquarters Tuesday, Thaksin also encouraged all party executives to resign and thanked all of them for their contribution to the party.

Somkid Jatusripitak, deputy premier and commerce minister under Mr Thaksin, also resigned from Thai Rak Thai on Tuesday, after the 60-member Wang Nam Yom faction started a spate of resignations from the party Monday. Ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra cobbled Thai Rak Thai together in 1999, from nothing, to become the first party in history to gain a parliamentary majority. Throughout Monday, Thai Rak Thai members sporadically submitted resignation letters from the party, following the Council for Democratic Reform's annoucement that the election rights of party administrators of any dissolved party would be suspended for five years.

Among those leaping off Thai Rak Thai:

- Former deputy prime minister Surakiart Sathirathai, who also lost his bid to be UN secretary general this morning;

- former Social Development and Human Security Minister Watthana Muangsuk

- Suchart Tancharoen, and Sora-at Klinprathum of the Banrimnam faction

- former Minister to the Prime Minister's Office Suranand Vejjajiva

- Sonthaya Khunpluem, leader of the Chon Buri faction

- All remaining members of the Wang Nam Yom faction.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=113322

[Old Man River]

He never stops posturing does he. Ordinarily his resignation from the TRT would be viewed as a good thing by his detractors, but now it looks like he is just trying to beat the 5 year ban. Why would this be important to him?

[sriracha john]

'2006-05-08 13:43:32' post='739600']

'2006-04-07 10:38:23']

Thread: Thaksin Resigns as Prime Minister

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

("Mission Impossible" was what many people thought)

'2006-05-08 13:22:34']

Thai court rejects April elections

Constitutional court calls for new parliamentary poll

Monday, May 8, 2006

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

Mission Accomplished #3

Edited October 3, 2006 by sriracha john

[LoveDaBlues]

I would have never believed what is happening. TiT.......you just never know till it happens.

[ColPyat]

He never stops posturing does he. Ordinarily his resignation from the TRT would be viewed as a good thing by his detractors, but now it looks like he is just trying to beat the 5 year ban. Why would this be important to him?

Thaksin has always been good at PR. Right now he puts himself back into the moral high ground in the eyes of his supporters.

He knows that nothing stays forever here in Thailand, and present enemies might turn into friends again a few years down the line. By being renitent he would close the door of one day making a comeback. He knows that time is on his side - he still is comparably young.

The next elected government will very possibly be a very unstable coalition government again. Just wait and see...

[sriracha john]

In other words,

IF TRT is dissolved... and they ban these criminals for 5 years .... and

if by resigning now they dodge that bullet, that's just too whacked.

But if it doesn't and they ARE banned for 5 years... and I think if that comes to pass, Thaksin will spend some jail time... and from THAT, I don't think he'll ever get back into the public favor.

Couple that with big asset losses and this SOB is done for.

Edited October 3, 2006 by sriracha john

[sriracha john]

Thaksin quits as Thai Rak Thai party chief

BANGKOK - Deposed Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has resigned as head of his Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party, triggering the dissolution of its entire executive in the wake of last month's military coup, a spokesman said on Tuesday.

"The changing circumstances have prompted me to preserve the future of everyone who loves the party. Therefore, I quit the party leadership," Pongthep Thepkanjana quoted Thaksin as saying in a letter.

The billionaire telecoms tycoon remains in exile in London while an army-appointed anti-corruption panel investigates his assets and business dealings.

Thaksin's resignation triggered the automatic dissolution of the 119-strong executive of Thai Rak Thai, which means Thais Love Thais, although it does not mean its end as a political entity.

At least 100 TRT members of parliament quit the party on Monday in an apparent attempt to avoid any bans on politics that derive from the anti-corruption probes that have been set up against Thaksin and his former cabinet colleagues.

Former deputy prime minister and foreign minister Surakiart Sathirathai and ex-labor minister Somsak Thepsuthin led Monday's mass resignations, the first sign of the break-up of a political juggernaut that won two landslide elections on a platform of cheap public healthcare and rural loans.

At the height of its power after the 2005 general election, TRT had three-quarters of the 500 seats in parliament.

(Reuters)

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

Some research is needed on whether or not these people resigning now makes any difference in their banning for 5 years.

Edited October 3, 2006 by george

[hammered]

In other words,

IF TRT is dissolved... and they ban these criminals for 5 years .... and

if by resigning now they dodge that bullet, that's just too whacked.

But if it doesn't and they ARE banned for 5 years... and I think if that comes to pass, Thaksin will spend some jail time... and from THAT, I don't think he'll ever get back into the public favor.

Couple that with big asset losses and this SOB is done for.

Right now a lot of the activists are pointing out potential problems. They have already succeeded in having the anti-coruption group changed and getting the withdrawl of certain potential constitution writers. Now they are pointing out the TRT resignations could be to avoid the 5-year ban, or more to the point a stealth back door for the return of the Thaksin people. The 5-year ban could be legally questionable anyway as to work on TRT executives whether in the party or not it would have to be retroactive as the offence was several months ago. It may well prove to be the case that even if TRT is disolved many executives will not be punished or on appeal will have it overturned. However, it would still be possible to deal Mr. Thaksin and some other critical memebers of the previous government out by finding them guilty of other charges. A simple ban on offenders from holding politcal office in a new constitution would be effective in this.

[Jai Dee]

EC chairman cites it could still punish ex-TRT members

The Election Commission (EC) Chairman, Mr. Aphichart Sukhakkhanon (อภิชาต สุขัคคานนท์), has revealed that even if the Constitutional Court orders for the Thai Rak Thai Party (TRT) to be dissolved, the authority is still able to prosecute the former party members as their cases are still legally binding.

The EC Chairman said he personally does not think the exit of TRT members from the party is a way to prevent them from being banned from politics for five years, while referring to the 27th announcement of the Council for Democratic Reform. He reasoned that the EC could still impose penalties against them as their cases have not expired.

Meanwhile, Mr. Praphan Naikovit (ประพันธ์ นัยโกวิท), the EC member, said the EC is not directly responsible on this matter, and the Constitutional Court is still deliberating the case. Therefore, he has refused to voice his opinion on this issue for now. it is not a straight responsibility of EC because it is now in the hands full responsibility of Constitution Court.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 03 October 2006

[sriracha john]

Thailand's Ousted Premier Thaksin Quits as Party Head (Update2)

Oct. 3 (Bloomberg) -- Thailand's ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra today resigned as leader of the Thai Rak Thai party he founded. He will remain a party member.

a noteworthy clarification

Thaksin, who is in London, announced his leadership resignation via copies of a handwritten statement distributed to reporters by a party spokesman in Bangkok today. He "has not indicated his intention to return to Thailand very soon,'' Pongthep Thepkanjana, a deputy Thai Rak Thai leader told reporters.

"I want to take responsibility and resign to allow the party to select a new leader. I want to apologize to all party members and the people who do not want me to resign,'' Thaksin said in the three-page note, dated Oct. 2. "I want to emphasize that my resignation is necessary because the new political environment forced me to decide for the existence of the party.''

The armed forces led by army chief Sondhi Boonyarataklin ousted Thaksin in a bloodless coup on Sept. 19, citing his government's corruption and cronyism. The military has set up a panel to investigate graft allegations against Thaksin and his ministers, and has imposed a ban on political meetings and any new parties being formed.

The junta on Oct. 1 appointed Surayud Chulanont, 63, as interim prime minister and promised to hold a general election, probably in October 2007.

Party Formed

Billionaire Thaksin founded Thai Rak Thai, or Thais Love Thais, in 1998. His party won government in 2001 and again in 2005 with an unprecedented majority, returning Thaksin as premier.

Thaksin headed a caretaker government unable to enact new policies or pass a budget since February, when he dissolved parliament and called an April 2 poll in an attempt to silence critics and end near-daily street protests in the capital. The snap poll was later annulled by a court.

At least 69 former ministers and parliamentary members have quit Thai Rak Thai since the coup, Jatuporn Prompan, a spokesman of the party, told reporters in Bangkok today. Ousted Commerce Minister Somkid Jatusripitak resigned today, Jatuporn said.

"The party is in its worst crisis,'' Jatuporn said. "There are more people, including key executives, leaving the party every day.''

Thai Rak Thai will meet to select a new leader and other senior executives only when the military lifts a ban on political gatherings, he said today.

Sudarat Keyurapan, who is a deputy party leader and was agriculture minister in Thaksin's coup-ousted cabinet, will be acting leader until meetings are permitted by the junta, Pongthep said.

"Thaksin will want to ensure the peacefulness and unity of the country,'' Pongthep said today.

- Bloomberg 2006-10-03

[sriracha john]

EC chairman cites it could still punish ex-TRT members

The Election Commission (EC) Chairman, Mr. Aphichart Sukhakkhanon, has revealed that even if the Constitutional Court orders for the TRT Party to be dissolved, the authority is still able to prosecute the former party members as their cases are still legally binding.

The EC Chairman said he personally does not think the exit of TRT members from the party is a way to prevent them from being banned from politics for five years, while referring to the 27th announcement of the Council for Democratic Reform. He reasoned that the EC could still impose penalties against them as their cases have not expired.

Thank you, Khun Aphichart

Hold their feet to the fire...

[Jai Dee]

Many TRT members looking to resign from the party

Many administrators and members of the Thai Rak Thai Party (TRT) are submitting their resignation letters at the TRT Office. Recently, Dr. Somkid Jatusripitak sent a representative to submit his resignation letter from the party. Other important people who are leaving the party include Dr. Veerachai Veeramethikul (วีระชัย วีระเมธีกุ) and Mr. Pimon Srivikorn (พิมล ศรวิกรณ์).

In addition, Mrs. Anongwan Thepsuthin (อนงค์วรรณ เทพสุทิน), a former Sukhothai MP, and about 40 people from Wang Nam Yom faction are preparing to send their representatives to submit their resignation letters.

Meanwhile, Mr. Jatuporn Prompan (จตุพร พรหมพันธ์), the TRT Deputy Spokesman, said the party is currently facing a heavy storm, following the announcements of the Council for Democratic Reform and the prohibition of TRT executives from taking part in politics for five years.

The establishment of the Asset Inspection Panel is also another turning point for the TRT members to decide to walk out of the party.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 03 October 2006

[Old Man River]

EC chairman cites it could still punish ex-TRT members

The Election Commission (EC) Chairman, Mr. Aphichart Sukhakkhanon (อภิชาต สุขัคคานนท์), has revealed that even if the Constitutional Court orders for the Thai Rak Thai Party (TRT) to be dissolved, the authority is still able to prosecute the former party members as their cases are still legally binding.

The EC Chairman said he personally does not think the exit of TRT members from the party is a way to prevent them from being banned from politics for five years, while referring to the 27th announcement of the Council for Democratic Reform. He reasoned that the EC could still impose penalties against them as their cases have not expired.

Meanwhile, Mr. Praphan Naikovit (ประพันธ์ นัยโกวิท), the EC member, said the EC is not directly responsible on this matter, and the Constitutional Court is still deliberating the case. Therefore, he has refused to voice his opinion on this issue for now. it is not a straight responsibility of EC because it is now in the hands full responsibility of Constitution Court.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 03 October 2006

So, basically, this release does not say anything. The EC Chairman says his personal opinion is that they cannot escape the 5 year ban, but another EC member says the Constitutional Court will make this decision, and they haven't yet decided.

At least this time we know there won't be political interference in the decision.

[PeaceBlondie]

He quits TRT? What TRT? I think it's dead.

Shinawatra, quit? How many times did he escape the heat of the week by promising to step down, stop being PM, dissolve Congress, etc.? Back in Texas where he got his Ph.D., that's called lying.

He can always retract the retraction.

[sriracha john]

Thaksin's party splinters

BANGKOK - The once-mighty party of Thailand's ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has splintered, in a dramatic reshaping of Thai politics just two days after a junta-appointed premier took office.

Surakiart Sathirathai, Thaksin's former deputy and a candidate to become UN secretary general, on Monday led a wave of more than 60 resignations of former ministers and lawmakers.

The mass defection showed the party's biggest faction pulling away from Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai (Thais Love Thais), threatening to sink the party that was built largely on the billionaire premier's personal wealth and charisma.

Thaksin himself chose to stay in London rather than return to Thailand after the military toppled his government on September 19 while he was out of the country.

The resignations pointed to a major realignment in Thai politics, crippling a party that won solid victories in two elections.

Some top Thaksin aides have said they will leave politics, or even the country, altogether.

Their association with Thaksin once put them among the political elite, but their fortunes rapidly dimmed after the junta created powerful anti-corruption panels to investigate and prosecute what they say was systemic graft during his five years in office.

The most sensitive case involves claims of wrongdoing when Thaksin's family sold nearly two billion dollars of telecom stock in January, without paying any tax.

That deal sparked months of street protests in Bangkok, widening the political divide that ultimately led to Thaksin's downfall.

Other cases involve dozens of allegations of graft, bribery and mismanagement in government projects, and no one is yet certain how wide a net the military's corruption-busters plan to cast.

The party itself still faces charges of vote fraud from the general election held in April, which was boycotted by the opposition and tossed out by the courts.

(AFP)

[Old Man River]

Thaksin's party splinters

BANGKOK - The once-mighty party of Thailand's ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has splintered, in a dramatic reshaping of Thai politics just two days after a junta-appointed premier took office.

Some top Thaksin aides have said they will leave politics, or even the country, altogether.

Given potential corruption and Lese Majesty charges (included in the reasons the military gave for the coup), they might be running away from Thailand for a long time.

[sriracha john]

I like the vernacular of this press release... including Pongpol's prophecy, misstated or otherwise.

Thaksin's party 'dead'

Bangkok - The death knell sounded on Tuesday for the once all-powerful party of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra with more than 200 members resigning in the face of a threat of banishment from politics for five years, a party leader said.

"The legacy of the Thai Rak Thai party is over. The Thai Rak Thai has died along with Thaksin Shinawatra," its deputy leader, Pongpol Adireksan, told reporters.

- South African News Association

[sriracha john]

Thaksin's party splinters

BANGKOK - The once-mighty party of Thailand's ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has splintered, in a dramatic reshaping of Thai politics just two days after a junta-appointed premier took office.

Some top Thaksin aides have said they will leave politics, or even the country, altogether.

Given potential corruption and Lese Majesty charges (included in the reasons the military gave for the coup), they might be running away from Thailand for a long time.

yes, let's close the barn door of their bank accounts before the horses have left...

[ColPyat]

Thaksin's party splinters

BANGKOK - The once-mighty party of Thailand's ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has splintered, in a dramatic reshaping of Thai politics just two days after a junta-appointed premier took office.

Some top Thaksin aides have said they will leave politics, or even the country, altogether.

Given potential corruption and Lese Majesty charges (included in the reasons the military gave for the coup), they might be running away from Thailand for a long time.

And i thought this was about healing the rifts in Thai society, not purging a fraction that still has huge support in some sectors of the society...

But then, i guess, it never might have been about the people of Thailand, only about a few comparably priviledged sectors. The rest is just supposed to shut their mouth and follow what their elders and higher ups tell them ...

[jaapfries]

Huge news. I had seen a few reports that said if he wasn't convicted of any wrong-doings he still has a following in the NorthEast and could try a come back. Looks like he just wants to enjoy all the stolen funds and work towards staying out of jail.

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

Make no mistake about it; this character may have resigned (Big Deal ! !) he may be DOWN, but he sure as heck is not yet OUT . . . . . . .

The only time I will 'trust' that Tahksin will no longer take part or attempt to take part in Thai politics, is when I know that he's pushing-up daisies somewhere ! ! ! Not a moment sooner !

Please don't overlook the fact that this guy's lost face BIG, no BIG time and that he has a war-chest which is more than formidable . . . . . . he reckons "where there's a will, there's a way" and big money does talk, so be worried, be really worried . . . . . .

No-Trust-No-Tahksin

[Chang_paarp]

He quits TRT? What TRT? I think it's dead.

Shinawatra, quit? How many times did he escape the heat of the week by promising to step down, stop being PM, dissolve Congress, etc.? Back in Texas where he got his Ph.D., that's called lying.

He can always retract the retraction.

In Thailand it is called avoiding loss of face.

[Old Man River]

Thaksin's party splinters

BANGKOK - The once-mighty party of Thailand's ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has splintered, in a dramatic reshaping of Thai politics just two days after a junta-appointed premier took office.

Some top Thaksin aides have said they will leave politics, or even the country, altogether.

Given potential corruption and Lese Majesty charges (included in the reasons the military gave for the coup), they might be running away from Thailand for a long time.

And i thought this was about healing the rifts in Thai society, not purging a fraction that still has huge support in some sectors of the society...

But then, i guess, it never might have been about the people of Thailand, only about a few comparably priviledged sectors. The rest is just supposed to shut their mouth and follow what their elders and higher ups tell them ...

If by healing process you mean forget everything and move on, then you will be disappointed.

At the end of the day, it really depends on what can be proven against them. Wait to see what comes out first, before making judgments.

[sriracha john]

Pongthep Thepkanchana, right, deputy leader of Thai Rak Thai party, shows the resignation letter of ousted Prime Minister and party's leader Thaksin Shinwatra at a news conference at party headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand. Deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra resigned from his once all-powerful party in a letter from London Tuesday after more than 200 colleagues quit as the organization crumbled following a military coup.

(AP Photo)

A clearer photo shows what Dr. PhD Thaksin wrote in his formal resignation letter:

[logbags]

Rats, sinking ship..................

Seems the crisis is practically over, Thaksin gone, crisis over.

Now the 6 rules of Thai politics can start again.

1.) Find a saviour, preferably rich, don't worry where and how he made his dosh.

2.) Wild enthusiasm backed up by wild promises of ending drugs, corruption and poverty.

3.) Slow disillusionment as the same old faces return to the trough for a feed.

4.) Total despair as chaos, nepotism and corruption take root.

5.) Collapse or removal of corrupt leaders and a few months of looking for scapegoats.

6.) Punishment of subordinates and promotion of the same guilty, corrupt leaders.

How long before Barnharn, Yubumrung, Thiengthong, Samak and co rise from the ashes of the current political graveyard??

Like Hyenas and Vultures they will appear to pick over Thaksins political bones.