Thai judges decide whether to disband parties

Source: CCTV.com | 05-30-2007 10:35

Thailand's top constitutional judges have met to decide whether to disband the country's two largest parties, the Thai Rak Thai Party of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and its Democrat Party rival for breaching election laws a year ago.

The nine members of the Constitutional Tribunal are expected to announce their decision on Wednesday. Some political analysts fear this could plunge the coup-prone southeast Asian nation further into uncharted political waters.

Thitinan Pongsudhirak, political scientist, said, "So this day provides some clarify about the electoral landscape, about the military's true intentions as to how they want to re-shape Thai politics."

The Thai Rak Thai party is accused of financing obscure parties to run against it. This, to get around rules requiring a minimum voter turnout in constituencies where single candidates run unopposed.

The Democrat Party is also accused of conspiring with some small parties to lure the Thai Rak Thai party into illegally funding them.

Whatever the outcome of the Constitutional Tribunal's deliberations some fear the decision may trigger violence. But Thailand's king has urged the two parties to show restraint. And officials have stepped up security measures in case of any unrest.

Editor:Du Xiaodan