Supporters urged to cool down

Let court have a free hand, says senator

Post Reporters

Civic groups should refrain from exerting pressure on the Constitutional Court as it handles the premier's hidden assets case, a prominent lawyer and senator said yesterday.

The call came amid an intensifying campaign by Mr Thaksin's supporters to keep him on as prime minister. They include a well-known car dealer who said the court should postpone its decision for a year.

Wasant Pothipimpanont, owner of Benz Thonglor and a major distributor of Mercedes Benz cars, said people should raise yellow flags urging the court to prolong its verdict.

The court is expected to hand down a decision shortly after its sitting on June 18, when each side gives a closing statement.

Mr Thaksin said yesterday he would not appear in court because he would be away on an official trip overseas.

Sak Korsaengrueng, senator and president of the Law Society, said the court's independence must be respected. The court should be allowed a free hand to deliberate.

Mr Sak said court procedure should not be exposed to extra-parliamentary pressure and the government was obliged to make sure independent agencies were insulated from such influence.

It was inappropriate to drive the pro-Thaksin movement even if it was on a personal basis.

He said the voice of certain groups could be misconstrued as a mandate. If a group demanded a stop to income tax payments and succeeded, the country would go under.

He foresaw stagnant political reform if the pro-Thaksin campaign won public approval.

Meanwhile, Piyanat Watcharaporn, a Thai Rak Thai MP, said he opposed popular campaigns to keep Mr Thaksin in office.

Mr Thaksin's supporters, he said, should abide by the law. "Laws are for the people to follow and respect. If we don't adhere to principles our country will be plagued with problems. People will always come up with precedents to back their move," said Mr Piyanat.

"I am not sure if there is anything behind those showing moral support for the prime minister. I mean their move might be dishonest. The move is unusual. It has been created to push for the accomplishment of an objective," he said.

Public figures should stay calm and collected. They should not have joined the fray, said the MP, apparently referring to Sem Pingpuangkaew and Prawase Wasi, who backed a public sign-up campaign.

He said many people had quietly watched the work of the court.

"If the pressure proves effective, more will come in the future and the country's administration will be more difficult," Mr Piyanat said.

Mr Wasant, the car dealer, said he had prepared 5,000 yellow flags for interested people to hang on their cars.

Mr Thaksin, meanwhile, said the charter guaranteed freedom of expression and expressed thanks to his supporters.

"I know people in various sectors are concerned. But I understand they are worried about the future of this country, not me," he said. Mr Thaksin said he believed in the court's integrity. Judges, he said, would base their decision on facts and not external factors.