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[Jai Dee]

TRT targeted for dissolution

Election Commission hands over subcommittee report to Attorney General without recommendation

The embattled Elec-tion Commission yesterday passed the buck to the Office of the Attorney General on whether to dissolve the ruling Thai Rak Thai Party, handing over all legal documents and evidence from the Nam Yimyaem investigation to the OAG.

It did so without making any specific comment or opinion on the evidence and documents.

The Nam report - produced by an EC subcommittee - indicated that the Thai Rak Thai had violated the law by hiring small political parties to run in the April 2 election and subsequent rounds of voting.

Read the entire story from The Nation here.

[Jai Dee]

Attorney-General accepts TRT case

The Election Commission yesterday submitted its report on allegations that Thai Rak Thai hired parties to run in the April 2 polls to the Attorney-General.

In cases where a party is considered for dissolution, the EC must hand evidence to the Attorney-General for deliberation.

If the case has merit, it is then passed on to the Constitutional Court, the Attorney-General’s Office said.

Conducted by a subcommittee headed by Nam Yimyaem, the report concluded TRT was guilty of hiring smaller parties, a crime, the report says should be punished by the party’s dissolution.

Source: ThaiDay - 7 June 2006

[Jai Dee]

Thai prosecutors probe PM's party

From correspondents in Bangkok
June 07, 2006

THAI prosecutors are looking into allegations Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's party paid two small parties to run in the aborted April 2 snap poll boycotted by the opposition.

The investigation, which began last week, followed an initial report by an Election Commission panel, which accused Mr Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai (Thais Love Thais) party guilty of bankrolling small parties, Attorney-General Pachara Yutidhammadamrong said today.

"I appointed a panel last week to probe all the allegations again," Mr Pachara said, adding that the investigation would take 60 days to complete.

Last month, a probe panel told the Election Commission's board that two Thai Rak Thai leaders gave leaders of two fringe parties money to pay their candidates' registration fees to run against Thai Rak Thai, avoiding the problem of an uncontested candidate having to get 20 per cent of the eligible vote to win.

In the end, despite subsequent by-elections, some seats were left unfilled because of the rule, parliament could not meet to form a new government and the courts annulled the election.

The investigation panel suggested that the board should conduct further investigation to disband Thai Rak Thai.

The Election Commission did not expand the probe, but forwarded the report to the Attorney-General's Office to decide.

Mr Pachara said his office would not consider that report because it was not the commission's ruling, and his office had begun its own probe on the allegations, which Thai Rak Thai denies.

Mr Thaksin called the April election to counter a Bangkok-based street campaign in which foes accused him of corruption and abuse of power, charges he denies.

A rerun of the election has been set for October 15.

Source: The Australian - 07 June 2006

[An Yai]

good news

TRT is a ridiculous name for a political party, it implies Thai mai Rak anyone but Thai

Arrogant, obnoxious and stupid all at the same time ....

An embarrassment to Thailand and all involved, if that is possible

[jaiyenjohn]

That's fantastic, I wish there was a mechanism in my home country (USA) to dissolve the republican and democratic parties for corruption.

The courts could win a big one for the rule of law, and not the rule of wealth if they dissolved both the TRT and the Democratic party, and banned the MP's for five years. Give an opportunity for some fresh blood to enter the scene, and really make politicians think about being so blatantly corrupt, and relying on their hi-so connections to get them out of any trouble.

Kick the bums out, all of them!

JB

Edited by jaiyenjohn, 2006-06-07 12:28:45.

[ando]

I wonder how many ex-pats who are now calling for the courts to deliver cold hard justice regardless of the consequences actually run illegal bogus companies in order to own a home in Thailand?  

[cclub75]

ando, on 2006-06-07 13:48:52, said:

I wonder how many ex-pats who are now calling for the courts to deliver cold hard justice regardless of the consequences actually run illegal bogus companies in order to own a home in Thailand?  

Another very tasty comment.

Have you forgot to renew your membership to TRT ? Afraid to loose 1 year fee ?

"Cold hard justice". This it what justice is all about. Usually.

And your comment shows perfectly the problem, the ethical problem we face : since everything has become bogus, then nothing is bogus anymore.

Anyway, back to the topic. TRT might be dissolved. So what ? They've started to work on a new party.

With the 90 days rule, no problem. They will be ready before the next elections. They will reprint documentations with the new name and new logo, keep the same building, the same men, the same ideas, etc. And probably the same flowers in the headquarter's hall.
And the same brand of coffee they use...

[Chang_paarp]

ando, on 2006-06-07 14:48:52, said:

I wonder how many ex-pats who are now calling for the courts to deliver cold hard justice regardless of the consequences actually run illegal bogus companies in order to own a home in Thailand?  

  

[Jai Dee]

DPM Wissanu is in doubt about why EC does not indicate faults

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam (วิษณุ เครืองาม) is in doubt about why the Election Commission (EC) could not indicate the source of accusation against the Thai Rak Thai Party as it is the EC’s responsibility. The allegation is as severe as it could dissolve the party.

Mr. Wissanu stated that he has been reported about the matter from the mass media, and further said that according to the principle, the EC has to indicate the source because the consideration of the case needs to follow the procedure. He has admitted that he has never seen the case like this before. He also raised the issue that during the consideration, a committee has to be set up before the final decision will be taken. Thus, he said the EC may not thoroughly understand the Constitution.

He said that prosecutors can indicate the faults but the consideration may take a long time as they have never known about the case, and they can be accused of buying time.  

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 07 June 2006

[Thaising]

cclub75, on 2006-06-07 14:07:13, said:

ando, on 2006-06-07 13:48:52, said:

I wonder how many ex-pats who are now calling for the courts to deliver cold hard justice regardless of the consequences actually run illegal bogus companies in order to own a home in Thailand?  

Another very tasty comment.

Have you forgot to renew your membership to TRT ? Afraid to loose 1 year fee ?

"Cold hard justice". This it what justice is all about. Usually.

And your comment shows perfectly the problem, the ethical problem we face : since everything has become bogus, then nothing is bogus anymore.

Anyway, back to the topic. TRT might be dissolved. So what ? They've started to work on a new party.

With the 90 days rule, no problem. They will be ready before the next elections. They will reprint documentations with the new name and new logo, keep the same building, the same men, the same ideas, etc. And probably the same flowers in the headquarter's hall.
And the same brand of coffee they use...

Old wine new bottle, old strategies to entice rural folks with new money orders. What a bunch of clever greedy fox hiding their tail.

[OlRedEyes]

The local politicians and their leaders' shennanigans and I must say rather predictable knee-jerk moves the past year has often been refered to here a 'clever', 'smart' and similar.

I find this pretty funny. I have not seen a smart move once this past year, especially from FL. It's all so predictable and sad. If it were smart, the ship would have been steadied long ago...

Edited by OlRedEyes, 2006-06-07 18:30:49.

[ando]

I fear that the courts have been lured into a position of acting as tools of the political parties squabbles rather than acting in the role of restoring political stability to the country. All I can see of the courts intervention is a deepening of the political impasse that is grinding the country to a halt and dividing its citizens.

As stated before, I believe that if the courts cant sort it out and things turn violent, then the generals will step in. That could set the political system back 15 years. The price of progress in Thailand under an imperfect system I suppose.

[Plus]

It's not petty political squabbles. The whole country watches the outcome of party bribing scam. Over 50% of Bangkokians think that TRT will be dissolved.

What TRT did is highly illegal. It's not only bribery, btw, it's also tampering and falsifying the official EC database. I don't know how you can denigrate it to "petty squables".

[lukamar]

ando, on 2006-06-07 19:02:49, said:

grinding the country to a halt and dividing its citizens.

the generals will step in.

Plus, on 2006-06-07 19:34:24, said:

Over 50% of Bangkokians think that TRT will be dissolved.

I talked to my father in law in the morning about this same thing.  He stated, Northerners felt that the current problems were caused by the "City People" trying to take over the country using a plot against Thaksin and the TRT but they were still staunchly TRT and in total support of Thaksin and his actions.  Although retired he still has a finger on the pulse of the military and would not comment on the military stepping in if the TRT was dissolved.  This is in contrast to other times I have asked the same question in the past where he was more than willing to talk to me about it.

ando, on 2006-06-07 13:48:52, said:

I wonder how many ex-pats who are now calling for the courts to deliver cold hard justice regardless of the consequences actually run illegal bogus companies in order to own a home in Thailand?  

The attitude seems to be that it's OK to break the law or to bend it as long as it's for yourself, like buying property with a shill company or border runs for continuous tourist visas.  

The foreign community has been very vocal and visible throughout this whole time and no matter what happens or who gets in as the government, foreigners should be prepared to see some tightening of regulations regarding them in the future.

[britmaveric]

Maybe TRT will become TRF (Thai Rak Farang)?

[lukamar]

britmaveric, on 2006-06-07 23:32:53, said:

Maybe TRT will become TRF (Thai Rak Farang)?

More likely FAP (Farang Auk Pai)!  

[jdinasia]

LOL ... yet again the WORLD is gonna end .....

Farangs have NOT been visible in this whole thing ... Other than the papers.

The dreaded military take-over has been tossed about by the same folks as has the blood in the streets since March ... and nothing.

As for tossing out the farang ... utter silliness!

If TRT is disbanded that will likely mean at least 5 folks will be banned from politics for at least 5 years. Overall could be a good thing!

We can expect other parties to be formed from the remnants of TRT and to see the other political parties picking up some of the platform of populist policies presented by TRT ... that will likely be a good thing too!

[ando]

Plus, on 2006-06-07 12:34:24, said:

It's not petty political squabbles. The whole country watches the outcome of party bribing scam. Over 50% of Bangkokians think that TRT will be dissolved.

What TRT did is highly illegal. It's not only bribery, btw, it's also tampering and falsifying the official EC database. I don't know how you can denigrate it to "petty squables".

"Squabbles" -- yes.
"petty" -- NO. Please read carefully before using quotation marks.

[Jai Dee]

EC makes the Attorney-General Office decide whether to seek the dissolution of TRT

The Election Commission (EC) has submitted to the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) evidence from its inquiry on an allegation that the Thai Rak Thai Party (TRT) paid small parties to contest the April 2 snap election without concluding if TRT is guilty or not.

The EC is now waiting for OAG to decide whether to pass on the matter to the Constitution Court. If that was the case and if the court found TRT really bribed small parties, TRT would be dissolved.

Prasert Suthison (ประเสริฐ สุทธิสนธ์), director of the commission’s public relations office, said EC followed the Political Parties Law which requires it to only forward the case and related evidence to the attorney-general.

The allegation was brought against TRT by the Democrat Party.  

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 08 June 2006

[Jai Dee]

Prosecutors to make decision on Thai Rak Thai case next Friday: spokesman

A working committee of the public prosecutors will make a decision next Friday as to whether to return the case of election fraud charges to the Election Commission or send it to the Constitution Court for party dissolution.

Atthapol Yaisawang, the spokesman of the Office of the Attorney General, said the working committee would convene a meeting on June 16 to select one of the two options.

Source: The Nation - 08 June 2006

[lukamar]

Four officers to face punishment related to CCTV picture leak

Two military officers have been targeted for criminal proceedings and other two for disciplinary punishment for their involvement in leaking CCTV pictures that linked caretaker Defence Minister Thamarak Isarangura to the funding of small parties.

The investigation concluded that four officers in charge of Defence Ministry security were responsible for the pictures leak, Defence permanent secretary General Sirichai Thanyasiri said Thursday.

"Evidence showed nine CCTV pictures were transmitted without authorisation via e-mails," Sirichai said.

Based on the investigative report, Sergeant Major Supoj Phanphet was in charge of monitoring the CCTV and responsible for retrieving the pictures. He confessed to the crime

Evidence showed Supoj's supervisor Lieutenant Narongsak Premsuk transmitting the pictures. He has yet to enter his plea.

Sirichai said Supoj and Narongsak would be tried on charges relating to the disclosure of classified information.

The two will be suspended from duty pending the outcome of litigation, he said.

Lieutenant Colonel Kuru Sensiriwattana, head of security guards and Colonel Arvuth Saengtawan, chief of security for Defence Ministry building, will be on probation for one year as disciplinary punishment for lapse of supervision, he said.

The Nation

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

It will be interesting to see who the emails were sent to.  If it was one of the Democrat leaders or the Demo's themselves they would defiantly be in collusion to frame the TRT.  The officers and others will probably have a lot to say to save their now shaky military careers, hope they were not paid for their actions by the Demos.....  The Plot Thickens once again....

[jdinasia]

Frame?

probably sent to the press ... possibly to opposition parties ... but FRAME?

Man some people are digging ....

Time to face it ... time is running out if TRT is actually involved in paying small parties

[Jai Dee]

Attorney-General’s Office slams EC

The Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) yesterday grudgingly announced that it would decide next week what to do with a controversial report into the hiring by the Thai Rak Thai party of small parties in the last general election, but criticized the Election Commission (EC) for not doing its job.

Political commentators say the move is designed to buy time for the TRT party and the three remaining members of the EC, who are under intense pressure to resign.

Two days after the EC handed the OAG the findings of its sub-committee, headed by former Supreme Court judge Nam Yimyam, which made no formal recommendations, Office of the Attorney-General Pachara Yutithamdamrong accused the EC of passing the buck.

“The OAG does not have the authority to order the dissolution of TRT under Article 67 of the Political Parties Act,” said OAG spokesman Atthapol Yaisawang yesterday.

“The power lies directly with the chairman of the EC as the registrar of political parties,” he said.

“Articles 144 and 145 of the Constitution clearly stipulate that the EC is empowered to investigate and make a final ruling.”

Atthapol said the OAG would decide next Friday whether to submit the report to the Constitutional Court or hand it back to the EC. He added that the EC’s reluctance to take action demonstrated its favoritism for Thaksin Shinawatra’s TRT party.

“In the past, the EC was decisive and able to find fault with small parties, except [when the] TRT is involved.”

However, the EC defended its decision to pass the report to the OAG, claiming its chairman, Wasana Permlarp, was not required to make any recommendations.

But Surat Horachaikul, a Chulalongkorn University political scientist, said the EC was trying to give the impression it was doing something while actually doing nothing.

“Supporters of TRT will have a field day in claiming that the EC has done its job against criticism that it had been dragging its feet,” Surat told ThaiDay.

“Its refusal to rule against TRT despite having done so previously against smaller political parties means the EC is protecting Thaksin’s party.”

Surat, who has reviewed the findings of the Supreme Court judge’s investigation, which was leaked last month, also questioned whether the entire report had been handed to the OAG.

“The investigation findings should be revealed to the public and comparisons should be made with what was sent to the OAG,” he said.

“The problem now is that everything is so secretive and shady.”

Surat speculated that the EC may be buying time for TRT party members to move to other parties or form a new party on their own ahead of the TRT’s possible dissolution.

He said all of the judges on Nam Yimyam’s panel were highly respected.

“If such esteemed persons have ruled unanimously that the TRT hired small political parties then it is something very serious,” he said.

Surat also queried the OAG’s time frame for making a decision.

“The Office of the Attorney-General does not need to make its decision next week, it has the power to say that it needs to conduct further investigations on its own,” Surat said.

Source: ThaiDay - 09 June 2006

[Old Man River]

Jai Dee, on 2006-06-09 14:33:45, said:

Attorney-General’s Office slams EC


“The OAG does not have the authority to order the dissolution of TRT under Article 67 of the Political Parties Act,” said OAG spokesman Atthapol Yaisawang yesterday. “The power lies directly with the chairman of the EC as the registrar of political parties,” he said.

The EC defended its decision to pass the report to the OAG, claiming its chairman, Wasana Permlarp, was not required to make any recommendations.

“The Office of the Attorney-General does not need to make its decision next week, it has the power to say that it needs to conduct further investigations on its own,” Surat said.

Source: ThaiDay - 09 June 2006

Isn't this all starting to look like what we have seen countless times? Nobody wants to make the decision and when a decision is finally made, it will end up a compromise.

[penzman]

One thing that bothers me is the fact  that TRT members can move to other parties or form a new party on their own ahead of the TRT’s possible dissolution.  I say that ALL that were members at the time  should be banned from politics completely. It may leave a huge gap but it's no worse than letting them all flee elsewhere as we'd be back to square one.