[Tlc] T-politics

[justinm at ucr.edu]

Sep 10, 2008

 Thailand's Samak out, for now

By Shawn W Crispin

BANGKOK - What anti-government protesters failed to accomplish,
Thailand's courts have. In a landmark decision, the Constitution Court
on Tuesday disqualified Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej from the
premiership on conflict of interest charges related to his role in
hosting two television cooking programs while in office.

The ruling will also eventually dissolve Samak's cabinet, which by
Thai law will serve in a caretaker capacity until a new government is
formed within the next 30 days. The government's six coalition
partners are expected to meet on Tuesday evening to discuss the
selection of a caretaker premier. Former prime minister and Chat

 Thai party leader Banharn Silpa-archa is widely tipped to take the
interim post. News reports also speculated that first Deputy Prime
Minister and former premier Thaksin Shinawatra's brother-in-law,
Somchai Wongsawat, will be caretaker prime minister.

The decision is not expected to immediately defuse Thailand's
escalating political crisis, but rather could intensify anti-
government protests if Samak is eventually re-appointed to the
premiership - as his ruling People's Power Party vowed to do before
the verdict was announced. Despite the guilty verdict, Samak retains
all of his political rights and his coalition partners have until now
supported his stance not to dissolve parliament and call for new
polls.

What is clearer is that Thailand's judiciary is showing unprecedented
muscle in arbitrating the country's political problems.
Shawn W Crispin is Asia Times Online's Southeast Asia Editor. He may
be reached at swcris... at atimes.com. 

______________
Dr. Justin McDaniel
Dept. of Religious Studies
3046 INTN
University of California, Riverside
Riverside, CA 92521
951-827-4530
justinm at ucr.edu