Samak Found Guilty By Court, Must Resign

[ubonjoe]

It appears to me that this is a dead subject since Samak has pullled out of the race.

You're 100% right.

Samak is out and over.

Samak bows out

Former prime minister Samak Sundaravej said he will end his role as leader of People Power Party.

Samak's former secretary general Theerapon Nop-ampa quoted Samak as saying he had done his best as leader of PPP and to protect the country's democracy.

"From now on, everything and every decision will depend on the PPP," said Theerapon.

However he stopped short of saying when he will resign.

-The Nation. Bangkok Post didn't show it yet, although it is on the news in Europe

PAD can go home now and enjoy a well deserved rest during the weekend.

LaoPo

Its in the Nation. I think it was posted. Also on the the TV Wife confirmed for me.

Thank you Samak for taking the right way out from both of us,

Edited September 12, 2008 by ubonjoe

[kurtgruen]

It's on the Nation, too...

Samak bows out

Former prime minister Samak Sundaravej said he will end his role as leader of People Power Party.

Samak's former secretary general Theerapon Nop-ampa quoted Samak as saying he had done his best as leader of PPP and to protect the country's democracy.

"From now on, everything and every decision will depend on the PPP," said Theerapon.

However he stopped short of saying when he will resign.

Well he did something towards a more democratic country - HE RESIGNED

You cannot protect something that doesn't exists.

[sriracha john]

Samak ends political role

Former Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej ended his political role and requests the People Power party (PPP) to decide on all issues.

Former Secretary-General to PM Theeraphon Noppharampha revealed after meeting with Samak for about an hour that the former PM said he had done the utmost in leading PPP and preserving democracy during his term.

However, Theeraphon declined to answer questions about the former premier’s resignation letter and the Party’s PM candidacy.

- ThaiNews / today

[jbowman1993]

Good Riddance to one idiot. Bring on the next idiot.

[ubonjoe]

Now this

PPP key members and Samak to discuss PM vote

(BangkokPost.com) - Three People Power party (PPP) core members on Friday evening planned to meet their leader and disqualified prime minister Samak Sundaravej to discuss whether he will carry on running for the premier’s post again or withdraw himself.

The three core members included caretaker premier Somchai Wongsawat, caretaker deputy prime minister and finance minister Surapong Suebwonglee and caretaker justice minister Sompong Amornwiwat.

The parliamentary meeting was rescheduled to next Wednesday by House Speaker Chai Chidchob after less than half of MPs showed up on Friday morning to vote for the new prime minister.

The no-show took place because many coalition parties were reportedly not satisfied with the nomination of Mr Samak by the PPP.

The PPP’s Isaan Pattana (Developed Northeast) faction reported that it is ready to follow the party’s resolution no matter who the candidate may be.

The faction key member and caretaker culture minister, Somsak Kiatsuranont, also turned down the rumours that Mr Samak may quit the PPP to allow other candidate to be voted as prime minister next Wednesday.

Mr Samak as well as Mr Surapong did not resign from the party, Mr Somsak insisted.

[bangkokrick]

Samak ends political role

Former Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej ended his political role and requests the People Power party (PPP) to decide on all issues.

Former Secretary-General to PM Theeraphon Noppharampha revealed after meeting with Samak for about an hour that the former PM said he had done the utmost in leading PPP and preserving democracy during his term.

However, Theeraphon declined to answer questions about the former premier’s resignation letter and the Party’s PM candidacy.

- ThaiNews / today

I will believe this when i see it. Lets wait until next Wednesday and see what the outcome is.

Cheers, Rick

Edited September 12, 2008 by bangkokrick

[ubonjoe]

Samak ends political role

(BangkokPost.com) - Disqualified prime minister Samak Sundaravej decided to end his political role and asked the People Power party (PPP) to make all the decisions, according to his secretary-general Theerapol Nopparampa.

Mr Samak was previously nominated to be re-elected as prime minister by the PPP after he was disqualified by the Constitution Court on Tuedsday for violating the charter by hosting cooking shows on commercial television.

During the one-hour meeting with his secretary on Friday, the former premier said he had done his best as the PPP leader and to uphold the democratic regime. Mr Samak said all the decisions are now up to the PPP.

Mr Theerapol however refused to answer whether Mr Samak has already submitted his resignation letter to his party.

[sriracha john]

Former PM wants to end party leadership role

BANGKOK, Sept 12 (TNA) -- Thailand's former prime minister Samak Sundaravej said Friday he wants to end his role as leader of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) as senior members of PPP are racing for the government leadership post, said the ex-Secretary-General to the Prime Minister. *the ex-Secretary-General to the ex-Prime Minister?*

Thirapol Noprampha told journalists after a meeting with Samak at his home in suburban Bangkok that the recently disqualified prime minister had asked him to inform the party's members that Samak had tried his best to protect democracy in the country and it is now the responsibility of the party to handle the situation.

Samak, according to Thirapol, said he wanted to end his duty as the Party Leader and "it is now up to the party from now on".

The Thai government has now been left in a vacuum after Samak was removed from office Tuesday by the Constitution Court, which ruled that he violated the charter by hosting cooking shows on commercial television, for which he received payment.

His Cabinet is now acting as a caretaker government awaiting the appointment of a new prime minister by House members.

[kurtgruen]

Former PM wants to end party leadership role

BANGKOK, Sept 12 (TNA) -- Thailand's former prime minister Samak Sundaravej said Friday he wants to end his role as leader of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) as senior members of PPP are racing for the government leadership post, said the ex-Secretary-General to the Prime Minister. *the ex-Secretary-General to the ex-Prime Minister?*

Thirapol Noprampha told journalists after a meeting with Samak at his home in suburban Bangkok that the recently disqualified prime minister had asked him to inform the party's members that Samak had tried his best to protect democracy in the country and it is now the responsibility of the party to handle the situation.

Samak, according to Thirapol, said he wanted to end his duty as the Party Leader and "it is now up to the party from now on".

The Thai government has now been left in a vacuum after Samak was removed from office Tuesday by the Constitution Court, which ruled that he violated the charter by hosting cooking shows on commercial television, for which he received payment.

His Cabinet is now acting as a caretaker government awaiting the appointment of a new prime minister by House members.

Ahhh...I love going to sleep, reading these beautiful words, while listening to the Party in the background.

http://wwitv.com/portal.htm?http://wwitv.c...nnels/b2973.htm

Have a good night everybody and hope everyone stays safe tonight

[sriracha john]

Samak drops

Also planning to stand down as PPP Leader

Samak Sundaravej yesterday made a U-turn by rejecting any further nomination for the post of prime minister while planning to resign as People Power Party Leader shortly, sources said.

Theerapon Nopampa, who served as his Secretary-General when Samak was prime minister, confirmed the ex-premier would also quit as Party Leader. Theerapon quoted Samak as saying that he had done his best as PPP Leader in protecting democracy. "From now on, everything and every decision will depend on the PPP," he said.

MPs from the ruling Party are to meet this morning to discuss the PPP's next move in response to Samak's decision.

His decision came after government MPs yesterday failed to form a quorum in a meeting scheduled to select a new PM. All MPs from the PPP's five smaller coalition partners and many from the ruling Party were absent.

House Speaker Chai Chidchob postponed the meeting until Wednesday.

Somsak Kietsuranont, a PPP executive member, said yesterday it was understood that Samak had decided not to accept his Party's nomination to be premier again.

"It is understood that Khun Samak will no longer want to be reinstated as prime minister [as a result of] the parliamentary session on Friday morning," he said.

A well-informed PPP source said it was highly likely that Samak would resign from the Party soon.

Samak was on Tuesday disqualified by the Constitution Court, which found him guilty of violating the charter by hosting TV cooking shows while in office.

PPP executives, minus Samak, met yesterday afternoon and agreed the Party Leader should not accept any further nomination for the premiership, according to another party source.

It was also agreed that Samak should pick one of the three senior PPP figures - Deputy Leaders Somchai Wongsawat and Sompong Amornwiwat and Party Secretary-General Surapong Suebwonglee - to become the Party's nominee as next prime minister.

Yesterday's meeting assigned Somchai, Sompong, and Surapong to inform Samak in person about the resolution and to report about their discussion with him at the next Party meeting, according to the source.

As of press time, the trio had not met Samak at his home.

However, more than 80 Party MPs, who are close to banned influential politician Newin Chidchob, remained firm about their support for Samak as prime minister.

Newin's faction favours Surapong as the Party's candidate for PM while the rest plan to nominate Somchai, said a party source. However, if faced with strong opposition for Somchai's connection to ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra, the group would instead nominate Sompong. *his boyhood classmate*

Samak arrived at Parliament in the morning to attend the House meeting. He managed to sneak into the building, avoiding several reporters and his supporters gathering at the car park waiting for his arrival. He left the compound shortly after 10am. The ousted premier appeared tense and refused to answer questions from reporters.

Instead, Samak stared at reporters with a stern face, prompting Party MP Nisit Sinthiprai, who came to send him off, to say: "Smile a bit, Mr Leader."

- The Nation / 2008-09-13

Edited September 12, 2008 by sriracha john

[sriracha john]

'Gang of Four' politicians get first taste of defeat

The so-called ''Gang of Four'' politicians inside the PPP were given their first taste of defeat yesterday when a House meeting in search of a new PM took a surprise turn. The House session was cut short when the five coalition partners, along with about 70 dissidents in the PPP, revolted against the proposed nomination of Samak as PM. They did not show up at the meeting, which resulted in the House lacking a quorum to endorse the nomination. The meeting was adjourned until Wednesday. The twist comes as a blow to the so-called 'Gang of Four' and shuts the door on Samak's chances of returning to lead the government. The Gang of Four _ as they are called by the PPP's Isan Pattana faction _ are said to be Samak, his Secretary-General Theerapol Nopparampa, Finance Minister and PPP Secretary-General Surapong Suebwonglee, and Newin Chidchob, a veteran politician and former TRT MP who controls a large faction of northeastern MPs in the PPP. Since many party members and coalition partners have now made it clear they will put up resistance to Samak's return, the PPP must seek other options. The failed bid to vote for a new PM has exposed a deepening rift in the PPP between the Gang of Four and other factions led by Yaowapa Wongsawat, Yongyuth Tiyapairat, Paichit Sriworakhan, Preecha Rengsomboon, Sudarat Keyuraphan, and Chaturon Chaisaeng. The conflict resulted from them being unhappy with Newin's inclination to work the crowds that often put the PPP into confrontation with others. Preecha, a leader of the Isan Pattana faction, has promised his group will stop Newin dominating the party at all costs. A source close to the opponents of Samak said Thaksin tried to convince the dissident factions to close ranks around Samak, but they refused.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.net/130908_News/13Sep2008_news01.php

[sriracha john]

Court orders new election

The Supreme Court's Election Division yesterday ordered a new round of voting in Phetchabun's constituency 2 after three People Power party MPs were found guilty of electoral fraud. The Election Commission had sent their cases to court after disqualifying the three for vote-buying in the Dec 23 general election. On Feb 14, the EC invalidated the victory of Eiam Thongjaisod, Wanpen Promphat and Surasak Anatthapat. All three were accused of throwing a party and handing out cash to voters who turned up.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.net/130908_News/13Sep2008_news06.php

[sriracha john]

and in other People Power Party news...

Prapas skips fair play oath-taking ritual

Bangkok Governor candidate Prapas Chongsa-nguan, running under the People Power Party banner, yesterday fell under a negative light when he failed to take an oath of fair play as planned. Prapas claimed that he skipped the oath-taking because he had another important appointment to fulfill and had asked the EC that he be allowed to do so on another day. He is now scheduled to take the oath on Monday. The EC, the Bangkok Election Committee, and the local election panel in Bangkok yesterday called a meeting of Bangkok Governor candidates at the EC's headquarters.

They were all asked to swear an oath that they would contest the Oct 5 election in a fair and clean manner without engaging in any vote-buying. They later signed their names as written evidence after taking the oath before His Majesty the King's image. Prapas, a former Governor of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA), attended the meeting but disappeared when the time came for oath-taking.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.net/130908_News/13Sep2008_news07.php

[sriracha john]

and the Banned 111 rolls on...

Secret meeting between government coalition party leaders

Local correspondents reporting from the residence of former Thai Rak Thai Party executive member Suwat Liptapanlop (TRT Banned #22) revealed that government coalition Party Leaders and prominent political figures have been sighted entering Suwat's compound for a meeting.

Reporters were able to identify Chart Thai Party Leader Banharn Silpa-Archa, Royalist People Party leader Sanoh Thienthong (TRT Non-Banned #1), For the Motherland Party Leader Suwit Khunkitti, Chairman of the Advisory Committee to the Chart Thai Party Major General Sanan Kajornprasart, Leaders of the Baan Rim Nam group of the For the Motherland Party Somsak Prissanananthakul and Pichet Thancharoen, and For the Motherland Party Member of Parliament 2nd Lt. Ranongrak Suwanchawee.

The meeting occurred after Samak Sundaravej turned down the People Power Party's nomination of him as Prime Minister. Members of the press were forbidden from entering Suwat's compound to report on the meeting.

- ThaiNews / 2008-09-13

[sriracha john]

the "deals" are coming fast now...

PPP names Somchai and Sompong as PM candidates

A meeting between the People Power Party (PPP) today (September 13) has resulted in the decision to nominate Somchai Wongsawat and Sompong Amornwiwat as the Party's Prime Minister candidates.

PPP Deputy Leader Police Lt. Col. Kant Thienkaew disclosed that party members agreed to nominate the two politicans to be PM candidates after former premier Samak Sundaravej decided to quit politics.

He says both Somchai and Sompong are qualified to be the new Prime Minister as they both possess reconciliatory personalities.

The Deputy Leader expressed his confidence that the coalition parties will approve of the two Prime Minister candidates.

Police Lt. Col. Kant stated further that the Party will request amnesty for nine leaders of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and the 111 executives of the dissolved Thai Rak Thai Party to create peace and reconciliation in Thai society.

He also suggested that the PAD should form a political party as it has more than 10 million members nationwide.

- ThaiNews / 2008-09-13

[sriracha john]

and we almost get to hear from one of them... but don't be discouraged... they can't hear each other, either...

Deputy PPP Leader declines to comment on possibility of him becoming PM

The Deputy Leader of the People Power Party Sompong Amornwiwat declined to comment on the possibility that he may be nominated to become the new Prime Minister.

Sompong said that he would not comment on the issue at this time out of respect for People Power Party Leader Samak Sundaravej.

The People Power Party Deputy Leader revealed that he has not been able to contact Somchai Wongsawat or Surapong Suebwonglee to inform them that the People Power Party has asked them and himself to meet with Samak.

The group was asked to meet with Samak to discuss the People Power Party's recent decision to withdraw his nomination for Prime Minister. Sompong said that the group would attempt to meet with Samak as soon as possible to consult him on several other important issues.

Sompong added that rumors of Samak's possible decision to resign as Leader of the People Power Party would best be clarified by Samak himself.

- ThaiNews / 2008-09-13

[sriracha john]

More on the transparent meetings held in public venues...

Thai ruling coalition begins search for new PM

BANGKOK (Reuters / 2008.09.13) - Key officials in Thailand's ruling coalition huddled behind closed doors on Saturday to agree a replacement for Samak Sundaravej, who withdrew his bid for a new term as prime minister in face of an internal party revolt.

Samak's People Power Party (PPP), the biggest in the six-member coalition, vowed to nominate one of its own for the premiership, resuming a collision course with anti-government protesters who pledge to oppose any PPP candidate.

"Will the next prime minister come from the PPP? Absolutely. Absolutely. We will propose someone that everyone can accept and the coalition can accept," chief party spokesman Kudeb Saikrachang told Reuters.

He said the top three candidates were acting Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, Finance Minister and PPP Secretary-General Surapong Suebwonglee, and Justice Minister Sompong Amornwiwat.

The Constitutional Court sacked Samak on Tuesday, finding him guilty of conflict of interest for hosting television cooking shows for a commercial broadcaster while in office.

While the ruling removed Samak, it did not ban him from making a comeback which he had planned to do in a parliamentary vote on Friday.

But the vote was postponed to Wednesday after a faction of 70 PPP lawmakers refused to back Samak, fearing his renomination would only escalate political tensions.

"We would accept anyone as prime minister, as long as he is not from the PPP," said Suriyasai Katasila, a PAD spokesman. His movement accused Samak of being a puppet of Thaksin Shinawatra, the prime minister ousted in a 2006 coup and now living in exile in London.

Some PPP lawmakers have suggested the nearly eight-month-old government dissolve parliament and call a snap election, but there is no sign that this is under serious consideration.

The stock market has fallen around 25 percent since the PAD launched its anti-Samak street campaign in May, triggering policy paralysis at a time of slowing economic growth and decade-high inflation.

Tensions peaked on Sept. 2 when Samak imposed emergency rule in Bangkok after violent clashes between pro- and anti-government groups. But the army refused to use force to clear the PAD from Government House.

The situation has become much calmer, but Thailand is no closer to resolving the fundamental conflict between the rural and urban poor who supported Thaksin, and Bangkok's middle and upper classes who despise him.

[sriracha john]

The numbers involved...

Graphic showing the breakdown of Thailand's parliament. Samak Sundaravej has ended his bid to return to power as Thailand's prime minister, after a revolt within the ruling party torpedoed his re-election in parliament.

(AFP Graphic / 2008-09-12)

Edited September 13, 2008 by sriracha john