Thai King expresses concerns over political situation

May 25, 2007, 2:35 GMT

Bangkok - Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej - who rarely comments on politics - has registered his concerns about the possible dissolution of the country's two largest political parties next week, media reports said Friday.

The king's message was conveyed to Supreme Administrative Court judges who were granted a royal audience Thursday evening at Chitralada Palace.

Without telling the judges what to do, King Bhumibol expressed his concerns about the pending May 30 Constitution Tribunal ruling on whether the country's two leading political parties - the Thai Rak Thai and Democrats, committed electoral fraud in the April 2, 2006, election.

If found guilty the two parties face dissolution and the barring of their top executives from politics for the next five years. It is possible that only the Thai Rak Thai will be found guilty.

'It will be a highly important decision, which will cause you (judges) troubles no matter what,' said Bhumibol. 'There will be trouble whether political parties remain or not, because political parties need to exist.'

The Thai Rak Thai (Thais Love Thais) Party was founded by former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, a billionaire businessman who was ousted by a military coup on September 19, last year, on charges of corruption and dividing the nation. The party claims more than 14 million members.

The Democrats, TRT's arch rival, is Thailand's oldest political party which marked its 60th anniversary last year. It claims about 4 million members.

A decision by the Constitutional Tribunal to dissolve the parties or ban their executives from politics is expected to exacerbate Thailand's already volatile political scene.

If the parties are dissolved they may mobilize their followers to make street protests, promoting the military to further curtail political liberties or even stage a counter coup.

On the other hand, if the tribunal exonerates the parties, Thailand's military establishment will be left vulnerable to revenge by the elected politicians they overthrew last year.

'There will be trouble and damage whatever ruling is made,' said King Bhumibol. He asked the judges, 'Pleasae keep on trying to improve the country's situation, which is not good at all this year.'

The tribunal's decision comes at a time when the country is hotly debating the merits of a newly drafted constitution - Thailand's 18th since it opted for a constitutional democracy in 1932.

The new charter, written up by a committee appointed by the military, has been criticized for its bias against political parties and for strengthening the bureaucracy and military.

The constitution must be approved by a referendum before Thailand can hold a general election, scheduled some time in December 2007.

King Bhumibol, who celebrated his 60th year on the throne last year and this year turns 80, has no executive powers under Thailand's constitutional monarchy but he has exerted considerable moral force over the direction of Thai politics over the past three decades by proffering his opinion on the state of affairs and hinting at possible solutions.