Bangkok Post: Is PPP Self-Destructing or Being Destroyed?

RACE TO PARLIAMENT


NATTAYA CHETCHOTIROS


Bangkok Post


The People Power party (PPP) cannot be dissolved before the Dec 23 election even if it is found to have committed major electoral offences, according to the Election Commission (EC), which meets tomorrow to rule on complaints brought against the party.

There are more complaints about the PPP than any other party, but even if the EC recommends it be dissolved the matter is unlikely to be resolved before the general election.

A key issue is the distribution of a videoclip in which deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra urges northeasterners to vote for the PPP.

If the EC finds the video violates political party and election laws, it would probably recommend the PPP be dissolved and forward the decision to the Constitution Court for approval, election commissioner Sumet Uppanisakorn said.

However, there was no possibility the PPP could be disbanded before the election, he said.

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Mr Suriyasai said the PPP had breached Article 97 of the law governing political parties, which prohibits executives from any disbanded party from getting involved with any other party during the suspension period.


I know this may surprise some who think I am a Thaksin lover, but I am totally unsympathetic to the PPP.

The leaders knew that they were going to be held to a standard where every seemingly dodgy move the party made would be scrutinized by the EC in order to disqualify it.

Plus, regardless of how much people love Thaksin, the PPP shouldn't be campaigning as if he was making a come back. If that is their entire marketing strategy, then it deserves to lose. This is my personal opinion, not a legal one.

As a matter of principle, I see no problem with the banned TRT politicians endorsing the PPP or other parties, and I think it is stupid that Thaksin and others can't make these dopey CDs, but my opinion doesn't matter. The EC is calling the shots.

Now, it looks like the PPP will win the election, then be disqualified after the election by the EC and in the courtroom, which brings us back to 2001. However, this time the Constitutional Court won't rule in Thaksin's and the PPP's favor. That is certainly a sure bet.

Bangkok Pundit makes a couple technical points concerning distribution.

1. I do think the EC will have to demonstrate the PPP's linkage to the distribution of the CD. But it seems Samak already admitted the linkage.

2. Was the video produced before the royal decree for the election? I think this point is irrelevant, especially if the EC can prove that PPP distributed the CDs after the royal decree. I don't think before or after will make a difference. In other words, I think the EC will find any excuse to disqualify, and will use some twisted reasoning of the law to justify the decision.

As with the situation with Hi-Thaksin.net, I don't get this need to ban and go the extreme of dissolving the party because of the actions of a few people.

It seems, however, the powers-at-be have certainly made it clear that they intend to end the Thaksin era for good.

PPP should be careful about pushing the EC around, because the Sodsri chick doesn't seem to have the temperament for any of its shenanigans.