Countdown Begins
Constitution Tribunal judges have entered the final phase of the election fraud cases. They have compared their individual rulings inside a well-secured room at their court's headquarters.
Rumours that they have already cast votes for the verdict could not be verified. Tuesday 29, 2007. 7:00 pm: Soldiers arrive at Nation Multimedia Group head office to protect Nation Channel at about 7 pm and they are also sent to other stations.
5.15pm : Narenthorn Rescue Centre Director Dr Surachet Sathitniramai said ambulances will be on standby at risky spots across the capital on Wednesday in the face of growing concerns that the Constitution Tribunal's verdict on the country's two largest political parties may trigger violence.
"There will be 80 - 90 ambulances stationed at major spots in Bangkok. In case an emergency arises, the ambulances are ready to reach the scene within five minutes," he said.
Permanent secretary Dr Prat Boonyawongvirot said people could call hotline number 1669 around the clock if they needed urgent medical assistance.
According to him, all state hospitals across the country were already instructed to be on high alert. He said medical staffs, tools, equipment, supplies and ambulances must be ready to respond to any emergency that might arise.
5pm : International and local media arrived at the tribunal court to prepare for their works on Wednesday.
4.54pm : Pol Lt Gen Kittithat Ruenthip, a Chiang Rai police chief insisted that there were no movement of people from Chiang Mai to Bangkok to take part in the mass gathering to greet the court's ruling.
However, Kittithat said he is not taking any chances and assigned police to closely monitor the situation.
Pol Col Worapat Wattanawisarn, a Kanchanaburi provincial police force, said he assigned police to investigate if there was any recruitment of local residents to take part in the gathering in Bangkok.
Police checkpoints have been set up along the roads leading to Bangkok to monitor movement of possible demonstrators. Authorities have encouraged people to stay put at their houses and to watch the court's rulings through television instead.
4.30pm : Police and security officials checked security preparation of the Constitutional Tribunal court again in the afternoon. Bomb squads were deployed to inspect areas in and around the court's compound. Security measures, including the use of bomb squad, will continue tomorrow.
Police have set up iron bars around the court to prevent non-essential persons from entering the area. Abandoned residences near the court are being watched closely around the clock. Police are unable to search without a proper warrant.
3.15pm : Police said all mobilephone signals will be cut off in the court's area from noon on Wednesday until the judges completed the verdict delivery.
3pm Police will clear banks of Ong Ang Canal which is near the court out of fear of unauthorised entry from the bank.
2pm : Gen Saprang Kalayanamitr, assistant secretary-general of Council for National Security, says army officers are keeping close watch on key members of the Thai Rak Thai Party for fear that they would incite unrest.
Saprang says Third Army Area commander Lt Gen Jiradej Khajarat had been told to ensure that Yongyuth Tiyapairaj, a leader of Thai Rak Thai, would be under close monitoring.
He said not many top leading members of the party would be watched but many middle-level and local leaders would be closely watched.
1pm : Nine Constitutional Tribunal judges start their historic meeting at the Supreme Court near Sanam Luang to consider whether to dissolve the Thai Rak Thai and Democrat parties.
Security around the Supreme Court has been tight since Tuesday morning. Some 40 police were posted at three entrances of the court. City police barred vendors from doing business near the court's compound.
Meeting room of the judges was changed for unknown reason from third to second floor.
12.30pm : Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayothin chaired a meeting of senior city officials and Metropolitan police officers to discuss in details security measures in Bangkok as the Contitutional Court was about to entered their historic meeting to discuss the future of the Thai Rak Thai and Democrat parties.
The governor's meeting also discussed strategic plans to handle the situation on the eve and on the day of the judgement day following reports that large number of supporters of both parties are planning to converge in Bangkok as a show of force at a number of locations in the capital.
Authorities have designed a number of high risk areas, which include compound of the Constitution Tribunal office on Sathorn Road and Sanam Luang where the supporters are said to gather. The Public have been urged to stay away from these areas for fear that the verdict could set off a street protest.
Deliberations by Thailand's Constitution Tribunal have begun to decide the fate of the former ruling party, Thai Rak Thai, and the main opposition Democrat Party. With authorities expecting supporters of the two parties to cause disturbances, security forces in the capital Bangkok are on high alert, with 15,000 troops at the ready to keep order.

Nine judges began their deliberations at around 1 p.m. local time (1800 GMT), and are expected to announce their decision on Wednesday. Both Thai Rak Thai and the Democrat Party are accused of legal violations in connection with general elections on April 2, 2006, and could be dissolved.

Thai Rak Thai was formerly led by Thaksin Shinawatra, the ex-prime minister who was ousted in a coup d'état last year. The Democrat Party, the ruling party before Thaksin was elected premier in 2001, is the main opposition. Since the coup on September 19, 2006, the military-led Council for National Security has banned political activity, but has promised to hold a referendum on a new constitution ahead of planned elections by December.

Analysts  have warned that the dissolution of the country's two main parties could cause chaos, and that the junta could resort to an emergency decree.

Small units of unarmed Royal Thai Army soldiers were posted at television stations and other strategic locations. In total, some 15,000 troops are on alert in their barracks, ready to deploy if the security situation warrants.

Foreign embassies warned their citizens to use caution, urging them to avoid demonstrations, political rallies and military personnel.

Last week, King Bhumibol Adulyadej made a rare televised address as he granted an audience to the judges, urging them to use care in their verdict.

Both parties deny rallying their supporters and say they are innocent.

"There is no legal basis to prosecute and punish us. We challenge the authority of the tribunal," acting Thai Rak Thai leader Chaturon Chaiseng said, pointing out that since the coup, the 1997 Constitution that was the basis for law had been abolished.

Along with the dissolution of the parties, party leaders could be banned from politics for five years, possibly sidelining up to 160 of the country's top politicians.

"To have every politician banned as a result would be seen by everybody as being too draconian," said Korn Chatikavanij, Democrat Party deputy secretary general.