Thailand’s Constitutional Court ruled unanimously Wednesday to remove caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra from office for transferring a security official more than two years ago.
In a move that will be hailed as overdue justice by the opposition and an undemocratic judicial coup by government supporters, the court ruled Yingluck abused her power by transferring Thawil Pliensri from his post as National Security Council chief. The court also ruled that nine caretaker cabinet members who were part of the administration at the time must also step down.
The case was brought to the court by a member of the Thai senate who accused Yingluck of transferring Thawil to the benefit of installing police Gen. Priewpan Damapong as National Police Chief. Priewpan was previously a brother-in-law of Thaksin Shinawatra, Yingluck’s older brother and the former prime minister at the center of Thailand’s past decade of political conflict.
After stating it held authority to decide the case and that Yingluck played an active role in Thawil’s transfer, the court ruled the decision represented a conflict of interest for her.
Yingluck isn’t the first Thaksin-aligned prime minister to be brought down by the court. In 2008 it removed Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej for appearing on a television cooking show. Such moves have alarmed political observers inside and out of Thailand for the court’s aggressive and seemingly biased political role.
Red shirt government supporters have vowed to defend Yingluck’s leadership after helping elect her in 2011.
Cabinet members to be removed include Finance Minister Kittirat Na-Ranong, Labor Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung, Deputy Prime Minister Pracha Promnog, Defence Minister Gen Yuthasak Sasiprapha, Deputy Prime Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi, Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul, Minister Santi Promphat and Agriculture Minister Siriwat Kachornprasart.
Photo: Ishara S. Kodikara / AFP
UPDATED: This story was updated to reflect the removal of nine caretaker cabinet ministers along with the prime minister.
Peter De Neef says
I read following reaction on the BBC website (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-27307088): "I think whoever you elect in Thailand will be corrupt. I think it will take maybe 10 years for a new generation of politicians who are less corrupt. Now I think it is fairer to both sides, red and yellow, if no-one gets their party in power …": are there really no other policital parties out there? no alternatives to the destructive yellow-vs-red / us-vs-them split?