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Thai court considers Thaksin case Thai court considers Thaksin case
(about 1 hour later)
Hundreds of anti-government protesters are gathering in the Thai capital ahead of a ruling by the Supreme Court.Hundreds of anti-government protesters are gathering in the Thai capital ahead of a ruling by the Supreme Court.
The court will decide whether ousted PM Thaksin Shinawatra abused his power by approving his wife's purchase of a plot of land belonging to the state. The court will decide whether ousted PM Thaksin Shinawatra abused his power by letting his wife purchase state land.
The decision is likely to enflame an already tense stand-off between pro- and anti-government forces. The decision - the first in a series of cases lodged against Mr Thaksin - comes amid growing tension between the former leader's supporters and his opponents.
For weeks protesters have demanded the resignation of the government, saying it is too close to Mr Thaksin.For weeks protesters have demanded the resignation of the government, saying it is too close to Mr Thaksin.
The decision by a panel of nine judges is likely to be a key moment in Thailand's growing political division. The administration of Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat - who is Mr Thaksin's brother-in-law - has been virtually paralysed by the protests.
Thaksin proxiesThaksin proxies
If they rule against him it will be the first guilty verdict against the absent former prime minister - who is living in self-imposed exile in London - in a string of stalled and slow-moving cases against him. The decision by a panel of nine judges is likely to be a key moment in Thailand's growing political division.
Guilty or not, the verdict is likely to enflame the thousands of protesters camped outside the current prime minister's office, who have been calling for the resignation of the government, seen as Mr Thaksin's proxies. If they rule against him it will be the first guilty verdict against the former prime minister in a string of stalled and slow-moving cases against him.
Repeated attempts to move them from Government House have failed, and after violent clashes between police and protesters earlier this month the country's army commander has now backed their calls for Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat to step down. His wife has already been convicted of tax evasion and sentenced to three years in jail.
Mr Somchai is a brother-in-law of Mr Thaksin, who was overthrown in a military coup two years ago. But neither are likely to serve time behind bars, as they both skipped bail and are now living in self-imposed exile in London.
Many analysts say Thailand's political polarisation is becoming critical and has grown far beyond Mr Thaksin himself. Guilty or not, the verdict is likely to galvanise thousands of protesters camped outside the current prime minister's office for the past two months, who have been calling for the government to be disbanded.
Repeated attempts to move the protesters from Government House have failed, and the government has been forced to operate from a disused airport while the protesters make their case in central Bangkok.
The demonstrations began peacefully, but there were violent clashes between police and protesters earlier this month, and the country's army commander has backed calls for Mr Somchai to step down to take responsibility for what happened.
Correspondents say the crisis has deeply polarised Thai society, and with the lack of any political solution in sight, the threat of more violence remains real.