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Thailand ex-PM party ban 'unfair' Thai ex-PM's party ban 'unfair'
(about 2 hours later)
The leaders of Thailand's former governing party, Thai Rak Thai, have criticised a constitutional court ruling banning the organisation. The leaders of Thailand's former governing party, Thai Rak Thai, have criticised a court ruling which orders the party's dissolution.
The head of the party, Chaturon Chaisaeng, urged members to respect the decision - but said it was unfair. The head of the party, Chaturon Chaisaeng, said the decision was unfair but urged members to respect it.
His comments were echoed by party founder and ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra, has been banned from politics for five years along with other senior members. His comments were echoed by a spokesman for the party's founder and ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra, who has been banned from politics for five years.
The court said the party broke electoral law during polls last year. The court said the party broke electoral laws during polls last year.
Judges ruled that two members had bribed smaller parties to influence the result, in April 2006. The elections were later annulled, and soon afterwards Mr Thaksin and his party were ousted by a military coup.
The unrest following the election led to the ousting of Mr Thaksin by the country's military.
'Too harsh''Too harsh'
Mr Chaturon said "the whole country is unlikely to accept this". Mr Chaturon said "the whole country is unlikely to accept" the ruling by the Constitutional Court.
"We weren't treated fairly. The ruling was made on the basis that those who seize power can decide what's right and wrong even if that power comes from the barrel of a gun," he said. "We weren't treated fairly. The ruling was made on the basis that those who seize power can decide what's right and wrong, even if that power comes from the barrel of a gun," he said.
The verdicts were announced in a heavily guarded courtroom in the capital, Bangkok, after hours of suspense.The verdicts were announced in a heavily guarded courtroom in the capital, Bangkok, after hours of suspense.
It's an unexpected ruling and we are disappointed by the verdict - it's too harsh on Thai Rak Thai Ex-PM Thaksin ShinawatraIt's an unexpected ruling and we are disappointed by the verdict - it's too harsh on Thai Rak Thai Ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra
Mr Thaksin resigned as party leader days after he was overthrown in the military coup in September. He now lives in exile in London. The Democrat Party, the country's other main political party, had earlier been acquitted of similar charges.
The court ruled that the Democrats had not maligned Thai Rak Thai during the April 2006 election campaign, and thus would not be forced to disband.
But it was another story for Thai Rak Thai, which was found guilty of electoral malpractice.
The tribunal ruled that it should be disbanded, and more than 100 party officials, including Mr Thaksin, should be barred from politics.
A lawyer for the former prime minister told Reuters news agency he was "disappointed" by the verdict.A lawyer for the former prime minister told Reuters news agency he was "disappointed" by the verdict.
"It's too harsh on Thai Rak Thai," said Noppadon Pattama. Mr Thaksin and his party still enjoy huge popularity in Thailand"It's too harsh on Thai Rak Thai," said Noppadon Pattama.
The BBC's Andrew Harding in Bangkok says the decision to punish the entire party is sure to provoke anger in Thailand.The BBC's Andrew Harding in Bangkok says the decision to punish the entire party is sure to provoke anger in Thailand.
Thai Rak Thai officials have promised to respect the verdict, and those who can will no doubt try to form a new party to compete in elections, our correspondent says. Thai Rak Thai still retains widespread popularity, especially in rural areas, and supporters of the charismatic Mr Thaksin are likely to be upset that he has been barred from politics for so long.
An interim government, installed by military leaders that led the coup, has promised a new constitution and elections before the end of 2007. But the capital is so far reported to be relatively calm, although a protest is planned for later on Thursday and thousands of soldiers are on alert in case of unrest.
Rise and fall Interim Prime Minister Gen Surayud Chulanont, who was installed after Mr Thaksin's overthrow, has said he would issue an emergency decree if necessary.
The capital is reported to be relatively calm. But thousands of soldiers are on alert in case of unrest following the verdicts. His government has promised a new constitution and elections before the end of 2007.
Mr Thaksin and his party still enjoy huge popularity in ThailandInterim Prime Minister Gen Surayud Chulanont, who was installed after Mr Thaksin's overthrow, has said he would issue an emergency decree if necessary. Those Thai Rak Thai officials who have not been barred can will no doubt try to form a new party to compete in the poll, our correspondent says.
Earlier, the same court found Thailand's oldest party, the Democratic Party, not guilty of six charges of election fraud.
The court ruled that it had not maligned the Thai Rak Thai party during last year's election campaign, and thus would not be forced to disband.
Mr Thaksin, the wealthy founder of a telecommunications empire, set up the Thai Rak Thai (Thai Loves Thai) party in 1998, and its rapid emergence transformed Thai politics.
He swept into power in 2001, and became the first prime minister in Thailand's history to lead an elected government through a full four-year term in office.
Eighteen months later he was out of office after a military coup, accused of corruption and abuse of power.