Pressure Cooker ... Samak on his way out?

[TBWG]

See BBC  news item..............


      

Court says Thai PM 'must resign'


Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej has been ordered to resign after being found guilty of violating the constitution over a TV cookery show.

His entire cabinet has also been ordered to step down.

Mr Samak was found to have violated a ban on ministers having outside interests by taking money from a private company to host a TV show.

However, the ruling People Power Party (PPP) has vowed to re-appoint Mr Samak as prime minister.


In court in Bangkok, Judge Chat Chonlaworn said that Mr Samak had "violated Article 267 of the constitution" and that "his position as prime minister has ended".


However, the BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok says it is unclear what happens next.

Mr Samak has not been banned from standing again for prime minister, and it will be 30 days before the court's decision comes into effect.

Thailand has had its fair share of crises recently, but this is one that even the Thais are baffled by, our correspondent says.

For the past two weeks, the Thai government has been paralysed by thousands of protesters who have occupied its office, calling for Mr Samak to resign.

Protesters accuse Mr Samak of being a proxy for former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in an army coup in 2006 amid accusations of corruption and abuse of power.

One man was killed in clashes between pro- and anti-government groups in Bangkok last week, prompting the government to impose emergency rule in the capital.


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Boycott of House session delays naming new Thai PM

The Nation: 12 Sep 2008

Samak's comeback hopes dashed as House adjourns urgent session

Samak's "arrogant" dreams of a quick political return seem to have ended.

Former Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej's hope for a political comeback suffered a severe blow this morning when his allies both outside and within the ruling party boycotted a special House session to select a new chief executive.

The allies disapproval of Samak's re-instatement forced the boycott. The House is scheduled to convene again next Wednesday to elect a new prime minister, but Samak's chances now appear doomed.

All eyes are on the coaltion partners now, as none of them sent MPs to join the urgent House session. Even senior PPP leaders are acknowledging that the possibility of Samak's return has caused widespread conflicts.

Speculation about the allies 'shifting their loyalty' and the possibilities of a 'national government' have resurfaced. However, it is believed that if the PPP nominates another person, the coalition partners will continue their backing for the ruling camp.

A quorum check showed 161 MPs were inside the assembly hall this morning. Earlier, more than 240 MPs had signed their names for the meeting, which would make the quorum. It was obvious that many of those who signed their names decided or were told not to join the urgent session, which required attendance of at least 235 MPs to proceed.

On Thursday, the coalition partners resolved to continue backing the PPP in forming a new government after Samak was disqualified by the Constitution Court on Tuesday. That pledge of loyalty, however, did not include backing Samak's return to power.

The Democrats, who unsuAccessfully nominated their leader Abhisit Vejjajiva during the quorum check, described the postponement as a time-buying tactic to settle differences among PPP MPs and coalition allies.

Many PPP MPs were also absent from the Assembly Hall today, underlining reports that Samak was causing a divide even in his own party.

Earlier in the morning, PPP MP Areepen Uttarasingh called for postponement of the House session to some time after September 25, when the Appeal Court will consider the lower court's libel conviction against Samak.

Former prime minister Samak arrived early at the Parliament in the morning but he refused to talk to reporters.

On Thursday, Samak said he didn't fear jail and was ready to risk his personal well-being to fight what he described as a threat to democracy. It was a borderline statement that could be perceived as harsh criticism against the Constitution Court which disqualified him on Tuesday for having conflicts of interests due to his "employment" as TV cooking show host.

Hundreds of pro-government crowds gathered in front of Parliament this morning. However the anti-government People's Alliance for Demcoracy cancelled its plan to rally there.

The pro-government crowds identified themselves as residents from every province in the Northeast. Every district reportedly organised about 10 to 20 villagers to join the rally.

But Samak's trouble began early inside the parliamentary compound, with news about the allies' boycott starting to pour in.

Chart Thai party's deputy leader Somsak Prissananantakul said after an urgent party meeting this morning that his party MPs would not attend the parliament session to choose Samak as premier.

MP Preecha Rengsomboon of Isaan Pattana faction in the PPP also indicated that his faction would not toe the party line. He did not explain whether the faction would reject Samak outright, or abstain or vote for an alternate candidate. He said his faction was made of some 70 MPs.

This was despite claims by PPP spokesman Kudep Saikrajang that his party would strongly back the reinstatement of its leader Samak.

According to Preecha, many PPP MPs viewed Samak as being "arrogant" and failing to listen to criticism.

Pracharat Party leader Snoh Thienthong had also already indicated that he might abstain from House vote to re-elect Samak.