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Thai court ousts PM Yingluck Thai court ousts Prime Minister Yingluck
(about 1 hour later)
Thailand’s prime minister was removed from office Wednesday in an abuse-of-power court ruling that leaves a politically riven country in deeper danger of chaos and further violence.Thailand’s prime minister was removed from office Wednesday in an abuse-of-power court ruling that leaves a politically riven country in deeper danger of chaos and further violence.
The Constitutional Court decision marked a sudden and divisive swing in Thailand’s long-running and damaging power struggle. The ouster of Yingluck Shinawatra and part of her Cabinet gashes Thailand’s executive branch at a time when the main parties in this fragile democracy haven’t been able to agree on elections or a way forward. The Constitutional Court decision marked a sudden and divisive swing in Thailand’s long-running and damaging power struggle. The ouster of Yingluck Shinawatra and part of her cabinet gashes Thailand’s executive branch at a time when the main parties in the fragile democracy have not been able to agree on elections or a way forward.
Over the last six months, Yingluck had faced numerous challenges to her rule, including street protests and an anticorruption panel probe into a populist rice scheme that caused massive state losses. But the court decision Wednesday stemmed from a more obscure case, one involving the transfer of a senior civil servant three years ago. The court said the move had a “hidden agenda,” leading to a broader reshuffle of positions that helped a Yingluck relative become police chief. Over the last six months, Yingluck had faced numerous challenges to her rule, including street protests and a probe by an anticorruption panel into a populist rice scheme that caused massive state losses.
But the court decision Wednesday stemmed from a more obscure case, one involving the transfer of a senior civil servant three years ago. The court said the move had a “hidden agenda,” leading to a broader reshuffle of positions that helped a Yingluck relative become police chief.
“Transferring government officials must be done in accordance with moral principle,” the court said in its ruling, which was read aloud on national television for more than an hour.“Transferring government officials must be done in accordance with moral principle,” the court said in its ruling, which was read aloud on national television for more than an hour.
The decision handed down by Thailand’s highest court was final and immediate, and also removed all cabinet members who held posts at the time of the personnel decision. The remaining cabinet quickly appointed Niwatthamrong Bunsongphaisan as acting prime minister. The decision handed down by Thailand’s highest court was final and immediate, and it removed all cabinet members who held posts at the time of the personnel decision. The remaining cabinet quickly appointed Niwatthamrong Bunsongphaisan as acting prime minister.
Amid the anti-government protests in Bangkok, Yingluck had maintained her popularity in rural areas. The divide between rural and urban voters has plagued Thailand for nearly a decade, since Thaksin Shinawatra — Yingluck’s older brother, and Thailand’s first populist leader — was ousted in 2006 as prime minister in a military coup. Amid the anti-government protests in Bangkok, Yingluck had maintained her popularity in rural areas. The divide between rural and urban voters has plagued Thailand for nearly a decade, since Thaksin Shinawatra — Yingluck’s older brother and Thailand’s first populist leader — was ousted in 2006 as prime minister in a military coup.
Since then, a pattern has emerged in which rural voters return Thaksin-backed parties to power and courts summarily remove them. Since 2006, the Constitutional Court has twice dissolved Thaksin-supported political parties and three times toppled Thaksin-supported premiers, including Yingluck. Thaksin’s supporters, known as the red shirts, say the courts have become a partisan entity that wants to return power to Bangkok’s elites. Those who oppose Thaksin, though, say the telecom tycoon’s corruption and political meddling is undemocratic — and endangering the country. Thaksin continued to advise Yingluck from political exile in Dubai.Since then, a pattern has emerged in which rural voters return Thaksin-backed parties to power and courts summarily remove them. Since 2006, the Constitutional Court has twice dissolved Thaksin-supported political parties and three times toppled Thaksin-supported premiers, including Yingluck. Thaksin’s supporters, known as the red shirts, say the courts have become a partisan entity that wants to return power to Bangkok’s elites. Those who oppose Thaksin, though, say the telecom tycoon’s corruption and political meddling is undemocratic — and endangering the country. Thaksin continued to advise Yingluck from political exile in Dubai.
New elections are scheduled for July 20. The court ruling adds to an already-formidable series of obstacles jeopardizing that plan. Thailand figures to be all the more rudderless without Yingluck, some analysts say, raising the prospect of fresh attempts by the anti-government movement to install its their own loyalists in power. If Yingluck’s supporters feel threatened, they too could descend on Bangkok, risking more violence in a replay of 2010 clashes. New elections are scheduled for July 20. The court ruling adds to an already formidable series of obstacles jeopardizing that plan. Thailand figures to be all the more rudderless without Yingluck, some analysts say, raising the prospect of fresh attempts by the anti-government movement to install its own loyalists in power. If Yingluck’s supporters feel threatened, they, too, could descend on Bangkok, risking more violence in a replay of 2010 clashes.
A more promising scenario is that the court’s decision allows a brief step-back in tensions, appeasing anti-government protestors with Yingluck’s removal while also keeping the ruling Pheu Thai party temporarily in power. A more promising scenario is that the court’s decision allows a brief reduction in tensions, appeasing anti-government protesters with Yingluck’s removal while also keeping the ruling Pheu Thai party temporarily in power.
“The question is whether the protestors will be satisfied with Yingluck’s ouster and return to the electoral system,” said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political scientist at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok. “Or, will they continue to protest Yingluck’s successor? If they continue to do that and reject elections, then we are back in the same place, and maybe worse.” “The question is whether the protesters will be satisfied with Yingluck’s ouster and return to the electoral system,” said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political scientist at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok. “Or, will they continue to protest Yingluck’s successor? If they continue to do that and reject elections, then we are back in the same place, and maybe worse.”
Since November, more than 20 have been killed in gunfire, grenade explosions and clashes with police. As protestors blockaded parts of Bangkok, pitching tents and erecting stages in front of intersections and luxury malls, Yingluck dissolved parliament and called a snap election. Protestors, though, turned the election into a street fight, blocking polling stations and preventing some candidates from registering. The election, held in February, was eventually nullified, and Yingluck remained in office as caretaker prime minister. Since November, more than 20 people have been killed in gunfire, grenade explosions and clashes with police. As protesters blockaded parts of Bangkok, pitching tents and erecting stages in front of intersections and luxury malls, Yingluck dissolved parliament and called a snap election. Protesters, though, turned the election into a street fight, blocking polling stations and preventing some candidates from registering. The election, held in February, was eventually nullified, and Yingluck remained in office as caretaker prime minister.
Yingluck had won an election in 2011, and maintained relative stability until late last year. The movement against her was sparked by what she later called a political miscalculation: Thaksin’s supporters in parliament tried to ram through a bill that would clear him of graft charges and allow him to return home. Yingluck won an election in 2011 and maintained relative stability until late last year. The movement against her was sparked by what she later called a political miscalculation: Thaksin’s supporters in parliament tried to ram through a bill that would clear him of graft charges and allow him to return home.
Since coming to power in 2001, Thaksin has been Thailand’s most controversial figure. He built his political clout in the long-ignored countryside, offering debt-forgiveness programs and near-free health care. But meanwhile, he built a powerful political machine that includes his cronies and family members — and excluded the Bangkok aristocracy that was used to have control of the country. Since coming to power in 2001, Thaksin has been Thailand’s most controversial figure. He built his political clout in the long-ignored countryside, offering debt-forgiveness programs and near-free health care. But meanwhile, he built a powerful political machine that included his cronies and family members — and excluded the Bangkok aristocracy that was used to controlling the country.
Thai politics are notoriously fickle; the country has had 18 coups since a constitutional monarchy was formed in 1932. But the latest months have taken a particular toll on one of Southeast Asia’s most important economies. Following its latest monetary policy committee meeting, Thailand’s central bank said that economic growth in the first quarter of 2014 was expected to contract “more than previously assessed” on account of the “ongoing political situation,” which had caused a drop on public and private spending and tourism. Thai politics are notoriously fickle; the country has had 18 coups since a constitutional monarchy was formed in 1932. But the latest turmoil has taken a particular toll on one of Southeast Asia’s most important economies. Following its latest monetary policy committee meeting, Thailand’s central bank said that economic growth in the first quarter of 2014 was expected to contract “more than previously assessed” on account of the “ongoing political situation,” which caused a drop in public and private spending and tourism.
“Looking ahead, the recovery path would hinge mainly upon the political developments,” the Bank of Thailand said.“Looking ahead, the recovery path would hinge mainly upon the political developments,” the Bank of Thailand said.