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.
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