(June 1, 2007/ Manila) In its resolution signed by its Chairman, Philippine Senator Franklin M. Drilon, the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD) expressed its confidence that with the ruling of the Thailand’s Constitutional Tribunal, the Democrat Party’s legacy of democratic tradition will continue to flourish and contribute to the development of Thailand and its people.
The same resolution reiterated CALD’s belief that political parties are indispensable in any democratic country and hoped for the immediate restoration of civilian rule in Thailand.
Electoral fraud cases have been filed with the Thai Constitutional Courts against five political parties, including the Democrat Party.
In a landmark decision last May 30, the Constitution Tribunal has cleared the Democrat Party of all charges of election fraud. However, the Thai Rak Thai Party was found guilty of election fraud and barred 111 executive members of the country’s largest party from politics for five years. The verdict also resulted to the dissolution of the former ruling party of Thailand.
The resolution supported the assertion of the Democrat Party that DP’s criticisms of TRT were based on solid evidences regarding the conduct of the TRT-government and its leader, ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, whose leadership and governance have proven to be disadvantageous to the country and its people. It did not cooperate with the People’s Alliance for Democracy to topple the TRT government.
In the same resolution, CALD cited the importance of political parties as indispensable democratic institutions that provide a structure for political participation among the citizenry. CALD considered the acquittal of DP, Thailand’s oldest political party that has played a crucial role in Thailand’s democracy, as a positive development as it would pave the way for the restoration of civilian rule in Thailand.
Click here for the full text of the resolution.
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