Thais put their faith in judiciary, poll finds

Oct 29, 2008, 9:55 GMT

   Bangkok - The vast majority of Thai people believe the judicial system is the best means to solve the country's political impasse that has pitted anti-government against pro-government forces for months, an opinion poll revealed Wednesday.

   Of 4,988 people surveyed by leading pollster Assumption Business Administration College (ABAC Poll), 92.4 per cent said judicial procedures provided the best solution to Thailand's political woes.

   According to ABAC, 80.5 per cent of the respondents also said they wanted all parties to follow last week's Supreme Court ruling that sentenced former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in absentia to two years in jail.

   Thailand has been destabilized for months by street protests and clashes between those who support Thaksin and those fanatically opposed to the coup-ousted politician and his policies.

   Thaksin, who has been living in self-exile with his family in London since August 11, was delivered a blow by Thailand's judiciary on October 21 when the Supreme Court for Political Office Holders sentenced him to two years in prison for abusing his powers as premier in 2003, for allowing his wife Pojaman to bid on and win a prime plot of Bangkok land in a government auction.                  Thaksin, in an open letter to the international press, claimed the sentence was part of a persecution campaign against him by 'privileged elites who believe in anything but democracy.'

   'I am a threat to them because I represent the principle of liberal democracy,' said Thaksin, who is remembered both for his efforts to monopolize state power during his six years as prime minister, and for his populist policies that won him a huge following among Thailand's poor.          Thaksin was overthrown by a military coup on September 19, 2006, on charges of corruption, dividing the nation and undermining Thailand's democratic institutions and the monarchy.

   The Ratchadaphisek abuse-of-power case was the first in which Thaksin was found guilty.

   His wife was found guilty of tax evasion by the Criminal Court in mid-August and sentenced to three years in jail. She skipped bail and fled the country.

   Thailand's judiciary has made several rulings this year against those holding political power.

   For instance, on September 9 the Constitution Court removed former prime minister Samak Sundaravej from office after finding him guilty of moonlighting as a TV cooking show host.

   Samak led the People Power Party (PPP) which won the most seats in the December 23, 2007, general election on an opening pro-Thaksin platform.

   Despite his exile, Thaksin continues to be a prime mover behind the PPP and the current government which is led by his brother-in-law Somchai Wongsawat.

   Thailand's judiciary has taken a more courageous stance against government politicians since mid-2006, when Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej encouraged several new judges to play a role in solving the country's political problems.

   Thaksin is a former policeman turned telecommunications tycoon who used his personal fortune to dominate Thai politics between 2001-06. He continues to divide Thai society into those who supported his populist policies and those who favour a balance of power between elected politicians and appointed bureaucrats, that typified pre-Thaksin politics.