Democrats escape dissolution

BANGKOK (Nation): The Constitution Tribunal yesterday acquitted the Democrat Party of framing the Thai Rak Thai Party during the election campaign in the run up to the April 2 general election last year.

The tribunal ruled that it was not wrong for the Democrats to attack the Thaksin regime during the election campaign.

The tribunal also found the Democrats not guilty of leading electoral candidates in framing Thai Rak Thai, and acquitted the Democrat Party of leading three Progressive Democratic Party electoral candidates in framing the Thai Rak Thai Party by bankrolling them.

The Democrats were also cleared of leading the Better Life Party in framing Thai Rak Thai, and acquitted of the Democrats of arranging for the leader of the Better Life Party in framing Thai Rak Thai by bankrolling the small party.

However, the tribunal found that the Progressive Democratic Party had falsified its membership records to enable its candidates to run in the three Trang constituencies.

The Democrat Party was also acquitted of trying to prevent candidates from small parties from registering candidacy.

The tribunal ruled that witnesses testifying on behalf of Thai Rak Thai had given conflicting statements during the judicial review.