BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) -- A court Wednesday found two top members of the Thai Rak Thai Party of the ousted prime minister guilty of election law violations, a ruling that could lead to it being disbanded.
The Constitutional Tribunal ruled that former Defense Minister Thammarak Issaragura na Ayuthaya and former Transport Minister Pongsak Raktapongpaisal had illegally paid several small parties last year to help seal the Thai Rak Thai Party's election victory by ensuring that minimum turnout rules were met.
Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra had called that election to reaffirm his mandate to rule after months of street protests demanding his resignation for alleged corruption and abuse of power. The April election was annulled by the courts, leaving Thailand with a caretaker government and a political crisis that led to Thaksin's ouster by the military in September.
Earlier Wednesday, the court cleared Thailand's oldest political party of election law violations charges, a verdict that could help restore stability ahead of December's elections.
"There are no legal grounds to disband" the Democrat Party, a judge read, which brought cheers and chants of "Democrats Fight On" from crowds gathered at the party headquarters and watching the proceeding on television.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Constitutional Tribunal ruled that former Defense Minister Thammarak Issaragura na Ayuthaya and former Transport Minister Pongsak Raktapongpaisal had illegally paid several small parties last year to help seal the Thai Rak Thai Party's election victory by ensuring that minimum turnout rules were met.
Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra had called that election to reaffirm his mandate to rule after months of street protests demanding his resignation for alleged corruption and abuse of power. The April election was annulled by the courts, leaving Thailand with a caretaker government and a political crisis that led to Thaksin's ouster by the military in September.
Earlier Wednesday, the court cleared Thailand's oldest political party of election law violations charges, a verdict that could help restore stability ahead of December's elections.
"There are no legal grounds to disband" the Democrat Party, a judge read, which brought cheers and chants of "Democrats Fight On" from crowds gathered at the party headquarters and watching the proceeding on television.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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