News is just coming through that Thailand’s Constitutional Court has disbanded the ruling People Power Party for electoral fraud, and banned prime minister Somchai Wongsawat (สมชาย วงศ์สวัสดิ์) and 35 others on the party’s executive from politics for 5 years.
What happens next is up to the Red Shirts, the pro-Thaksin loyalists. As I explained in my backgrounder, the People’s Alliance for Democracy (พันธมิตรประชาชนเพื่à¸à¸›à¸£à¸°à¸Šà¸²à¸˜à¸´à¸›à¹„ตย) wanted the PM to resign, so their aim has been achieved. Will the Red Shirts accept the ruling, though? Or will they turn violent? Certainly the Red Shirts are the more violent of the two factions.
Breaking News says AP reports that the second and third parties in the coalition, Matchima and Chart Thai, have also been dissolved.
I’m guessing the army is ready to roll. We’ll find out any moment…
It’s really something we have to watch. There is a fear that there will be a civil war between the yellows and the reds. PAD is starting to get berserk with their own ego, pro-Thaksin is less tolerant to the situation and the other players: the monarchy, the military and the Democrat, are still keeping the distance.
The parameter of these there are more towards the yellows but they did not officially on either side. The most effective option is the King comes out and demands peace from everyone. But I doubt that because his health is a concern. The Democrat can’t do anything really since they are not the ruling party and their nature is very slow on everything. If anything happens, the possibility will have to be tank rolling out on the street again.
It’s strange that the dissolved parties can reincorporate under new names. Will they still have the same assets? Why wouldn’t the resignation of the PM and the dissolution of 3 parliamentary parties be grounds for a fresh election? Is the Thai system rigged that much?
@Sam Clifford Thai Constitution becomes a complex piece of law. Every time they try to draft one that prevent a corrupt politician going to the House, the opposites always find a loophole to get in. At least, court rules are working on it.
It’s not very easy to understand Thai ways of thinking since they were part of the colony and has been less studied than Japan and China.