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Thai Court Ousts Premier in Victory for Opposition Court Orders Thai Leader Removed From Office
(about 5 hours later)
BANGKOK — A Thai court on Wednesday ordered Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra removed from office, a highly divisive move and a victory for the powerful antigovernment movement that has sought to overthrow the government in Bangkok for the last six months. BANGKOK — A Thai court on Wednesday ordered Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra removed from office, a highly divisive move and a victory for a powerful opposition movement that has sought to overthrow the government for six months.
The Constitutional Court ruled that Ms. Yingluck abused her power when she transferred a civil servant to another post more than three years ago. The court ordered her to step down immediately along with all members of her cabinet who were in office at the time of the transfer.The Constitutional Court ruled that Ms. Yingluck abused her power when she transferred a civil servant to another post more than three years ago. The court ordered her to step down immediately along with all members of her cabinet who were in office at the time of the transfer.
Ms. Yingluck’s party called the decision a “new form of coup d'état.”Ms. Yingluck’s party called the decision a “new form of coup d'état.”
Leaders of Ms. Yingluck’s party quickly announced that a deputy prime minister, Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan, would become acting prime minister.Leaders of Ms. Yingluck’s party quickly announced that a deputy prime minister, Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan, would become acting prime minister.
It was the third time since 2006 that a prime minister representing the political movement founded by Ms. Yingluck’s brother, Thaksin Shinawatra, has been removed by court order. The movement, which has its power base in the provinces, has won every election since 2001 but has antagonized the Bangkok establishment, a struggle that is at the heart of Thailand’s eight years of political crisis. It was the third time since 2006 that a prime minister representing the political movement founded by Ms. Yingluck’s brother Thaksin Shinawatra has been removed by court order. The movement, which has its power base in the provinces, has won every election since 2001 but has antagonized the Bangkok establishment, a struggle that is at the heart of Thailand’s eight years of political crisis.
Thailand for decades was considered an island of pluralism, freedom and strong economic growth — especially in contrast with its neighbors — but its economy has suffered during the recent turmoil, and leaders on both sides of the country’s political divide have warned of civil war. Thailand for decades was considered an island of pluralism, freedom and strong economic growth — especially in contrast with its neighbors — but its economy has suffered during the recent turmoil, and leaders have warned of civil war.
The court’s decision, which highlights its overtly political role, was the coup de grâce in a six-month campaign to remove Ms. Yingluck from power. It throws into question elections announced for July 20, which the governing party were expected to win because of its strong support in the northern provinces. The court’s decision, which highlights its overtly political role, throws into question elections announced for July 20, which the governing party was expected to win because of its strong support in the northern provinces.
Bhokin Bhalakula, a member of the governing party, Phue Thai, told reporters at the party’s headquarters that the court decision was part of a “new form of coup d'état in order to establish a new regime and destroy the hope of the people who want to see the country progress democratically and with rule of law.” Bhokin Bhalakula, a member of the governing party, Pheu Thai, told reporters at the party’s headquarters that the court decision was part of a “new form of coup d'état in order to establish a new regime and destroy the hope of the people who want to see the country progress democratically and with rule of law.”
Mr. Niwattumrong, the commerce minister who was named acting prime minister, is a former executive in Mr. Thaksin’s corporate empire. His appointment is likely to exacerbate tensions with the antigovernment movement, which wants to eradicate Mr. Thaksin’s influence from the country.Mr. Niwattumrong, the commerce minister who was named acting prime minister, is a former executive in Mr. Thaksin’s corporate empire. His appointment is likely to exacerbate tensions with the antigovernment movement, which wants to eradicate Mr. Thaksin’s influence from the country.
Verapat Pariyawong, a lawyer and prominent commentator, said the court’s removal of Ms. Yingluck raised the prospect of more violence in the country. At least 20 people have been killed in political violence since the governing party set off protests by trying to ram through a political amnesty for Mr. Thaksin. Verapat Pariyawong, a lawyer and prominent commentator, said the court’s removal of Ms. Yingluck raised the prospect of more violence. At least 20 people have been killed in political violence since the governing party set off protests in November by trying to ram through a bill giving political amnesty to Mr. Thaksin that would erase corruption cases against him and allow him to return from self-imposed exile.
The antigovernment movement, which is armed, continues to block access to the prime minister’s office and a number of other government facilities in Bangkok. Pro-government “red shirts,” who in the past have also been allied with shadowy armed groups, are planning a show of force on the outskirts of Bangkok on Saturday.The antigovernment movement, which is armed, continues to block access to the prime minister’s office and a number of other government facilities in Bangkok. Pro-government “red shirts,” who in the past have also been allied with shadowy armed groups, are planning a show of force on the outskirts of Bangkok on Saturday.
Highlighting concerns about violence, the Thai news media reported Wednesday that for security reasons, the judges and staff of the Constitutional Court would not return to work until May 13. Highlighting concerns about violence, the Thai news media reported Wednesday that for security reasons, the judges and staff members of the Constitutional Court would not return to work until Tuesday.
Violence “would pave ways for military intervention,” Mr. Verapat said. “The question is therefore, Will the current government without Yingluck be able to hold it together?” Ms. Yingluck was the country’s first female prime minister but was loathed by the opposition and called a proxy for Mr. Thaksin, who has lived abroad since a 2006 military coup and a subsequent conviction for abuse of power in a highly politicized trial.
Ms. Yingluck was the country’s first female prime minister but was loathed by the opposition and was called a proxy for Mr. Thaksin, who lives in self-exile after a 2006 military coup and a subsequent conviction for abuse of power in a highly politicized trial.
“I am so sorry that I no longer have the opportunity to serve the people,” Ms. Yingluck said on national television after the court decision, adding that she was proud that she became prime minister “through democratic means.”“I am so sorry that I no longer have the opportunity to serve the people,” Ms. Yingluck said on national television after the court decision, adding that she was proud that she became prime minister “through democratic means.”
The court’s verdict was unanimous among the court’s nine judges and was reached with unusual speed. It was delivered just one day after Ms. Yingluck gave evidence at the court. Ms. Yingluck could face further legal proceedings on charges that she mismanaged the government’s costly subsidy program for rice farmers, charges that could lead to a prison term and a ban from politics. The country’s countercorruption commission is to decide Thursday whether to press the case.
The antigovernment movement, which is supported by some of Thailand’s wealthiest families, has called for an appointed prime minister and described Wednesday’s court verdict as a partial victory. The court’s verdict was unanimous and was reached with unusual speed. It was delivered just one day after Ms. Yingluck gave evidence at the court.
The movement turned to the courts after unsuccessfully trying to force Ms. Yingluck out by shutting down government offices and occupying major intersections in central Bangkok in a protracted political battle that has left Thailand rudderless. The antigovernment movement, which is supported by some of Thailand’s wealthiest families, has called for an appointed prime minister and described Wednesday’s court verdict as a partial victory. It turned to the courts after unsuccessfully trying to force Ms. Yingluck out by shutting down government offices and occupying major intersections in central Bangkok.
The Constitutional Court has backed the protest movement, saying in previous rulings that protesters, who also led a campaign to block elections, had the “right to exercise their rights and liberty.” A lower court barred the government from dispersing protesters.The Constitutional Court has backed the protest movement, saying in previous rulings that protesters, who also led a campaign to block elections, had the “right to exercise their rights and liberty.” A lower court barred the government from dispersing protesters.
As the antigovernment movement cheered the decision to remove Ms. Yingluck, independent legal experts despaired over what they described as the crusading role of the courts and the damage to the prestige of the judiciary.As the antigovernment movement cheered the decision to remove Ms. Yingluck, independent legal experts despaired over what they described as the crusading role of the courts and the damage to the prestige of the judiciary.
The decision to remove Ms. Yingluck is “total nonsense in a democratic society,” said Ekachai Chainuvati, the deputy dean of the law faculty at Siam University in Bangkok.The decision to remove Ms. Yingluck is “total nonsense in a democratic society,” said Ekachai Chainuvati, the deputy dean of the law faculty at Siam University in Bangkok.
“This is what I would call a juristocracy — a system of government governed by judges,” Mr. Ekachai said.“This is what I would call a juristocracy — a system of government governed by judges,” Mr. Ekachai said.
In one of its most notorious decisions, the Constitutional Court in 2008 removed another prime minister, also from Mr. Thaksin’s political movement, because he had appeared on a televised cooking show. On Wednesday the court cited the cooking show case as precedent in its decision. In one of its most notable decisions, the Constitutional Court in 2008 removed another prime minister, also from Mr. Thaksin’s political movement, because he had appeared on a televised cooking show. On Wednesday the court cited the cooking show case as precedent in its decision.
The grounds for Ms. Yingluck’s ouster on Wednesday were that she did not give sufficient justification when, soon after coming to power in 2011, she transferred the secretary general of the National Security Council, Thawil Pliensri, to another post. The grounds for Ms. Yingluck’s ouster were that she did not give sufficient justification when she transferred the secretary general of the National Security Council, Thawil Pliensri, to another post in 2011.
The court said that Ms. Yingluck was within her rights to remove Mr. Thawil but that the move was rushed, designed to free up another job for Ms. Yingluck’s relative, and not done according to “moral principles.” The court said that Ms. Yingluck was within her rights to remove Mr. Thawil but that the move was rushed, designed to free up another job for a relative of Ms. Yingluck and not done according to “moral principles.”
In a stark symbol of the dysfunction of the Thai government, Mr. Thawil was reinstated, on court order, last week as secretary general of the National Security Council, and he told the Thai news media that even while in office, he would continue to support the movement to remove the government. Mr. Thawil, who before his reinstatement joined demonstrations calling for the overthrow of Ms. Yingluck, refused to attend his first meeting back at work, according to Thai news reports. In a stark symbol of the dysfunction of the Thai government, Mr. Thawil was reinstated, on court order, last week, and he told the news media that even while in office, he would continue to support the movement to remove the government.
The court appeared to overturn its own precedent — a petition to remove from Parliament Abhisit Vejjajiva, a former prime minister and the current opposition leader, was dismissed this year because the court said Parliament was dissolved and Mr. Abhisit’s status was already “terminated.” Ms. Yingluck called elections in December, but protesters allied with Mr. Abhisit blocked registration of voters and voting at polling stations in Bangkok and southern Thailand.
The Constitutional Court has been sensitive to public criticism. When some Thai news outlets began abbreviating the name of the court with its Thai initials, TLG, the court put out a statement requesting that the news media stop using it. In Thai, those three letters spell the word “funny.”