PM back to work
Piyanart Srivalo, The Nation, Bangkok
Government House returned to life again on Monday when the master of the house came back to work after spending the last 47 days "taking a break from politics."
The main Thai Khufa Building, which houses caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's office, was bustling with activity as bureaucrats and political officials took turns to report the latest developments to the premier.
He had several meetings with officials from the relevant agencies throughout the day yesterday. It appears the same old energetic Thaksin has made a comeback.
On April 4, two days after a snap election, Thaksin said in a nationwide address that he would not assume his normal duties until a new government was formed after the polls. He made that statement official in a document submitted to the Cabinet the next day.
While Thaksin's No 1 deputy, Chidchai Vanasatidya, took over his responsibilities, Thaksin focused on ceremonial duties, such as receiving foreign dignitaries and chairing the organising committee for the 60th anniversary celebrations of His Majesty the King's accession to the throne.
Yesterday, Cabinet members and senior permanent officials were in full force to welcome Thaksin back to Government House. Those included government ministers who were absent while Thaksin was away.
There were also more reporters and photographers than during recent weeks as those covering Thaksin's activities during his absence from Government House returned to join forces with those stationed in the compound.
Preparations were made to the last minute yesterday morning to make sure Government House was ready for Thaksin's return. All the buildings were cleaned up and roads inside the compound were dried of rainwater.
One official said her colleagues had plenty of time for shopping and private business while the premier was away, but that yesterday they were on stand by all day.
A food vendor at its canteen said sales had dropped sharply during Thaksin's absence as many officials went out to shop and ate their lunches outside. "I think I can do good business again now that the prime minister has returned," she said.
Thai Rak Thai looks to the heavens as dark clouds gather
Jintana Panyaarvudh, The Nation, Bangkok
Facing threat of being disbanded for funding rival parties in April 2 poll
A pair of statues of the mythical creature singha, complete with marbles in their mouths, was recently erected at the entrance to the Thai Rak Thai Party's headquarters in the belief they might be able to improve the party's waning fortunes.
Along with the new look, the party also changed its motto from "thanks for all the votes" to "the party will face all kinds of political obstacles with a smile, to soldier on and solve the problems of the country and people".
Perhaps mythology and philosophy will change the fortunes of the embattled party - unless the result of a recent investigation into an electoral scandal comes to the surface, to show the party's dark side.
A sub-committee of the Election Commission (EC) has voted unanimously to recommend the EC files charges against Thai Rak Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra over the contracting of small parties to contest the April 2 election. It says Thai Rak Thai hired small parties to field candidates in some constituencies to avoid the legal requirement that to win, candidates without opponents must receive a minimum of 20 per cent of the eligible votes.
The investigation report concludes the party was involved in campaign fraud, deemed detrimental to both democracy and national security, which is an offence punishable by party dissolution.
Article 67 of the Political Parties Act prescribes that the Political Parties Registrar (the Election Commission) is obliged to request that the Office of the Attorney General petition the Constitution Court for a party dissolution.
As the EC's chairman also acts as the Political Party Registrar, chairman Vasana Puemlarp is the only person required by law to kick-start the case into the justice system.
For those who have wondered why Vasana and the other EC commissioners insisted on staying put - even against the recommendations of the country's three top courts - this may provide an answer.
Vasana has sat on the report since Monday and has maintained his silence over a leaked paper that was given wide media attention yesterday. He was reportedly upset with the findings of the original investigation and made further inquiries by himself, to counter the earlier result.
Vasana no longer has the liberty to drag his feet because public pressure is mounting on him and the EC as a whole to take action against the ruling party - just as it did earlier when it filed a petition with the Constitution Court seeking the dissolution of the two small parties involved in the scandal.
Luck no longer seems to be on Thaksin's side, as he has taken a series of blows since April 25, when His Majesty the King referred to the political situation as "a mess".
Since then, the top three courts have rushed to pick up the electoral cases, perhaps marking the beginning of the end for Thaksin. The first whip fell on his back on Monday when the Constitution Court ruled to nullify the April 2 poll and ordered a new one, thereby avoiding a "one-party" Parliament and government.
It appeared the whole country was back to square one. All parties agreed to join in the new election.
The second hit was the recommendation from the three top courts on Tuesday that the EC stand down to ensure the next election is fair. The courts suggested the commissioners resign, to solve the political crisis. In fact, it was implied people no longer trust the EC. The courts also said they were ready to take control of the management of the new election.
The third blow may throw Thaksin into great trouble. If a correct decision is made concerning the controversial investigation report, he may be banned from politics for at least half a decade.
Article 69 of the Political Parties Act prescribes a ban against executives of a dissolved party from forming a new party, or holding office in a party, for five years.
The embattled EC now holds the power to achieve what people's movements and street protestors have been calling for for months: the removal of Thaksin Shinawatra.
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