ID :
146451
Mon, 10/18/2010 - 16:43
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/146451
The shortlink copeid
Thai PM final witness for defence in Democrat dissolution case
BANGKOK, Oct 18 - Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Monday appeared at the Constitutional Court as the final defence witness in the case of the Democrat Party's misuse of election funds which, if found guilty, can place the status of Thailand's oldest political grouping in jeopardy.
The Constitution Court is in the process of hearing witnesses related to the disposition of a Bt29 million election allocation. If the court rules in line with an earlier Election Commission (EC) resolution to dissolve the party, over 40 Democrat executives including Mr Abhisit will be banned from politics for five years.
The ruling party has been accused of misusing its Bt29-million allocation from the EC's political party development fund. The EC earlier resolved to dissolve the Democrat Party and forwarded the case to the Constitutional Court for its final verdict.
In a related development, Constitutional Court President Chat Chonlaworn on Monday dismissed his secretary, Pasit Sakdanarong, from the post after the opposition Puea Thai Party released video footage featuring Mr Pasit's conversation with a Democrat MP.
The opposition party, in releasing the clips to the media on Sunday, accused the duo of jointly attempting to lobby the court over the Democrat Party dissolution case.
Constitutional Court Judge Udomsak Nitimontri said the court has set up a committee to investigate the case, and urged the government and agencies concerned to investigate the controversial images.
Mr Udomsak assured the impartiality of all Constitutional Court judges and stood firm that no one could interfere in their work.
Minister Attached to Prime Minister's Office Satit Wongnongtaey, a Democrat executive, said the release of the controversial clips was a well-planned and coherent move of the opposition party which hinted earlier that there would be video coverage of this case.
Mr Satit said the Democrat legal team would discuss whether they would file charges against those involved in the release of the footage--an action which, he said, was meant to put pressure on the court.
"I want every party to adhere to the law and facts. The dissolution of the Thai Rak Thai and People's Power parties could not be compared to that of the Democrat Party. The Thai Rak Thai was dissolved on charge of election fraud, while the allegation against the Democrat Party was misuse of election funds," said Mr Satit.
The Democrat Party has also been accused of violating the Constitution by receiving a Bt258-million donation--an amount which exceeds the legal limit, from TPI Polene, one of the country's leading cement manufacturers.
The EC decided to dissolve the Democrat Party, reasoning that the two actions could be considered as acts of concealment which were against the Political Party Act.
If the court rules to dissolve the Democrat Party, over 40 party executives holding office in 2004-2005 could be banned from politics for five years. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva who was deputy party leader in 2004 is among them. (MCOT online news)
The Constitution Court is in the process of hearing witnesses related to the disposition of a Bt29 million election allocation. If the court rules in line with an earlier Election Commission (EC) resolution to dissolve the party, over 40 Democrat executives including Mr Abhisit will be banned from politics for five years.
The ruling party has been accused of misusing its Bt29-million allocation from the EC's political party development fund. The EC earlier resolved to dissolve the Democrat Party and forwarded the case to the Constitutional Court for its final verdict.
In a related development, Constitutional Court President Chat Chonlaworn on Monday dismissed his secretary, Pasit Sakdanarong, from the post after the opposition Puea Thai Party released video footage featuring Mr Pasit's conversation with a Democrat MP.
The opposition party, in releasing the clips to the media on Sunday, accused the duo of jointly attempting to lobby the court over the Democrat Party dissolution case.
Constitutional Court Judge Udomsak Nitimontri said the court has set up a committee to investigate the case, and urged the government and agencies concerned to investigate the controversial images.
Mr Udomsak assured the impartiality of all Constitutional Court judges and stood firm that no one could interfere in their work.
Minister Attached to Prime Minister's Office Satit Wongnongtaey, a Democrat executive, said the release of the controversial clips was a well-planned and coherent move of the opposition party which hinted earlier that there would be video coverage of this case.
Mr Satit said the Democrat legal team would discuss whether they would file charges against those involved in the release of the footage--an action which, he said, was meant to put pressure on the court.
"I want every party to adhere to the law and facts. The dissolution of the Thai Rak Thai and People's Power parties could not be compared to that of the Democrat Party. The Thai Rak Thai was dissolved on charge of election fraud, while the allegation against the Democrat Party was misuse of election funds," said Mr Satit.
The Democrat Party has also been accused of violating the Constitution by receiving a Bt258-million donation--an amount which exceeds the legal limit, from TPI Polene, one of the country's leading cement manufacturers.
The EC decided to dissolve the Democrat Party, reasoning that the two actions could be considered as acts of concealment which were against the Political Party Act.
If the court rules to dissolve the Democrat Party, over 40 party executives holding office in 2004-2005 could be banned from politics for five years. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva who was deputy party leader in 2004 is among them. (MCOT online news)
