Thai Court Disbands Ruling Party
Tuesday December 02, 2008 03:43:00 EST

(RTTNews) - Thailand's constitutional court Tuesday disbanded the country's ruling party, the People Power Party (PPP), over a vote-rigging case, and banned Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat along with 36 party office-bearers from participating in politics for five years, media reports said.

"The constitutional court unanimously agrees to disband the People Power Party (PPP)," said Chat Chonlaworn, head of the nine-judge Constitutional Court bench.

"As the court decided to dissolve the PPP, the leader of the party and party executives must be banned from politics for five years," he said, adding dishonest political parties undermine Thailand's democratic system.

The Chart Thai party, the second largest party in the ruling coalition, as well as the Machima Th (continued...)