Deliberations begin on fate of Thailand's main political parties
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BANGKOK : Senior Thai judges began deliberating Tuesday on whether to dissolve the kingdom's two main political parties as thousands of troops were put on alert amid security fears ahead of the court verdict.
Thailand's Constitutional Tribunal must decide whether Thai Rak Thai (TRT), the party formed by ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and the Democrat Party are guilty of a slew of charges of electoral fraud related to annulled elections in April last year.
If the parties are found guilty, the nine judges assigned to the tribunal by Thailand's military-backed government have the power to dissolve them and ban their executives from politics for five years.
The judges are meeting under absolute secrecy -- they have police escorts to and from their homes and journalists are barred from their office premises.
They are expected to make individual decisions before meeting as a group to agree on a final verdict later Tuesday.
The potentially divisive ruling, which will be read out Wednesday, comes after more than a year of political upheaval culminating in the September 19 coup against Thaksin.
The military government which seized power has promised to hold a referendum on its new constitution ahead of planned elections by December.
But analysts say dissolving Thailand's main parties could cause chaos, and fears of violence in Bangkok have prompted warnings that the government could resort to "an emergency decree" if necessary.
Small numbers of unarmed soldiers were posted in and around at least three television stations in Bangkok late Tuesday, according to station employees who said the troops were there for security reasons.
"The CNS considers the event on Wednesday as a top priority," said Colonel Sunsern Kaewkumnerd, Council for National Security (CNS) spokesman.
Some 15,000 troops have been put on alert in their barracks, waiting to deploy if the security situation deteriorates, Sunsern said, warning that a state of emergency would be declared at the first sign of trouble.
"We will assess the situation after the court delivers its verdict and combine that with our intelligence gathering before we stand the troops down," he told AFP.
Military government leader General Sonthi Boonyaratglin will command security operations beginning Tuesday, said a source at the Internal Security Operation Command, adding that troops had already secured strategic areas around the country.
Intelligence sources said they expected that not more than 10,000 people could rally against an unpopular court verdict, and that so far the situation was calm.
"As of now there is nothing to be worried about, but we are closely monitoring every movement," Council for National Security Secretary-General Prakit Prachonpachanuk told reporters.
But several foreign countries have already warned their citizens to remain vigilant ahead of the verdict.
"You should avoid demonstrations, political rallies and concentrations of military personnel," the Australian embassy said in a statement, joining Canada, France and Japan in issuing advisories.
The French embassy late Tuesday decided to close the French Lycee on the day of the verdict, a diplomat said. Four Thai schools near the court will also be closed Wednesday.
Some 900 police will be deployed throughout Bangkok on Tuesday evening, protecting the Constitutional Tribunal offices and setting up checkpoints to deter party supporters from travelling to the capital from the provinces, officials said.
"Police who deploy at checkpoints will also search for possible bombs and firearms," said General Wichian Potphosri of the National Police Office.
An additional 900 police would also be put on alert, he said.
- AFP /ls
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.