The Vicious Cycle of Thai Politic

The Vicious Cycle of Thai Politic.

The hottest news today (December 4, 2007) in Thailand is a verdict passed down by the lower court. The court sentenced Matchima-Tipathai (the middle road democratic) Party leader to a 3 years jail term and a fine of 6,000,000.00 Baths (US$ 178,550,000). The order is to take effect immediately after the reading. This has sent a shock wave to the entire Thai political scene. Party leader Prachai Leopairat, a self made multi-millionaires of a petrochemical plant, cement manufacturer and oil distribution, was judged on an insider trading litigation of his own conglomerate TPT stock.

This has in effect put Prachai out of the race for Priministership and any Ministerial office by law. However, since the court allowed him out on bail to make petition to the appeal court in the case, he can still run in the election for a parliamentary seat. The whole process to appeal to the Appeal and later Supreme courts will take a time span of at least 4-5 years.

The incident has reduced the contenders for the Premiership down to two parties. One is the Britain trained food scientist and economist, the Democrat Party leader Apisit Wechachiwa. The other is an old political veteran Samak Soontorawej whom is known as the nominee candidate of the now defunct Thai-Rak-Thai party. Former Thai-Rak-Thai party builder and leader Taksin Chinawat, with a dozen or so court subpoena in corruption cases, has been hiding in England since he was toppled by a coup in September 2006.

Takin has since bought a British football team - Manchester City and worked there as a remote base to control his political activities in Thailand. He is still very influential in many aspects in Thai politics. Many respectful independent polls like ABAC and Suan-Dusit polls have repeated review that his new nominated Party Parang-Prachachon (Power of the people) will wage a strong come back in the coming December 23, 2007 general election.