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The Constitution Court has ruled the case against the Democrats was filed improperly. As a result, the country's oldest party is not dissolved and PM Abhisit keeps his job.

Update (15:40)

The first report

The Constitution Court on Monday dismissed a dissolution case against the Democrat Party, saying that the petition to disband the ruling party did not adhere to lawful procedures.

Constitution Court judges voted 4:2 to drop the case.

"The filing by the electoral commission is unconstitutional because the process was not done properly," said judge Udomsak Nitimontree, reading out the ruling at the court in Bangkok.

The filing of the petition was unlawful because it took more than 15 days to file the complaint to the court, judge Udomsak read out.

The decision saves the party from being dissolved. bangkokpost.com

dissolution – the process of officially ending the existence of a group or organisation การยุบ (พรรค สภา)
dismiss (a case) – to decide in court that a case should not continue การยกฟ้อง
adhere to – to obey a rule, law, agreement, etc. ทำตามกฎหมาย
lawful – according to the law; officially accepted by the government or another authority ซึ่งถูกต้องตามกฎหมาย
procedure – a way of doing something  ขั้นตอนการดำเนินการ
unconstitutional – against the rules stated in the constitution ไม่เป็นไปตามรัฐธรรมนูญ
ruling – a decision by a court of law คำตัดสิน คำชี้ขาด
file – to take official action like making a complaint  ยื่นคำร้อง
dissolved – (of a group) ended ยุบ (พรรค)

Morning report:

Click button to listen to Democrats in court and rightclick to download

Abhisit ready to face music

PM promises not to fight party dissolution

An anxious day for Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva says he will take a guilty verdict of electoral fraud against his party "on the chin".

Mr Abhisit said Sunday he would not fight the decision if the Democrat Party was dissolved as an outcome of the possible handing down of a verdict Monday.

His party and the prosecution are expected to deliver their closing statements Monday.

"If the verdict [if there is to be one Monday] is to disband my party, I will abide by that," he said.

"My stand in politics has always been clear. I respect the constitutional and the judicial processes."

Mr Abhisit insisted it was open to question who among the Democrat members would face a five-year political ban in the event of the party being dissolved.

The ruling party is expected to rebut the allegation in the Constitution Court Monday that it misused a 29 million baht grant from the Election Commission during campaigning for the April 2, 2005, general election.

It is unclear, however, if the court will hand down its ruling immediately after hearing the statements.

One political source did expect a ruling to be passed Monday as details of the closing statement were presented in writing to the court a month ago.

The reading of the closing statements Monday is a formality to mark the conclusion of the court proceedings.

The Democrats are anxious to know if their serving executives will be banned if the party is dissolved.

The party has argued that some of the incumbent executives were not on the executive board when the alleged mishandling of the EC grant took place.

Also, there is a legal question of whether the executives at the time who had no knowledge of the management of the campaign money should be held responsible for any legal consequences.

Mr Abhisit said this case differed in nature from the electoral fraud charges brought at other times against the Thai Rak Thai, People Power and Chart Thai parties.

"A political ban will cost me the prime minister's seat," the premier said.

"If and when I go, my place will be filled by a caretaker who is most senior among the cabinet ministers."

Deputy prime ministers Suthep Thaugsuban, Trairong Suwannakhiri and Maj Gen Sanan Kachornprasart have all been mooted as possible caretaker prime minister.

Mr Abhisit said people would want to hear a clear legal explanation from the court of how it arrived at its decision should it decide to order the party dissolved. No one should pressure the court to issue a ruling, he said.

The Constitution Court is under pressure following the posting of video clips on the YouTube website which bring into question the court's handling of the case and its recruitment of its staff.

Former Democrat Party leader and now head of its legal defence team Chuan Leekpai Sunday called a meeting of the legal team to discuss final preparations for the delivery of the closing statements.

A member of the defence team, Bundit Siriphan, said it was clear that there had been a carefully managed plot to destroy the Democrats and discredit the Constitution Court.

Mr Bundit said he expected Mr Chuan to explain the suspicious circumstances and events related to attempts by the red shirt movement to intimidate the Election Commission into bringing the case against the Democrat Party.

Another member of the defence team, Atthawit Suwanpakdi, said the plot to discredit the Constitution Court had achieved its goal as three judges had been forced to withdraw from the case.

Six judges now remain on the panel, including Constitution Court president Chat Cholaworn.

You can read the full story here: http://bit.ly/i3ytfv

face the music – to accept and deal with criticism or punishment for something you have done  ได้รับการลงโทษ
dissolution – the process of officially ending the existence of a group or organisation การยุบ (พรรค สภา)
take it on the chin – to accept a difficult or unpleasant situation without complaining, trying to make excuses, etc ยอมรับสถานการณ์, ยอมรับการวิจารณ์หรือการลงโทษ
guilty – having been decided by a court of law that you committed the crime your were accused of  มีความผิด
verdict – a decision by a court of law คำพิพากษา
electoral fraud – the crime of cheating in an election  การโกงการเลือกตั้ง
outcome – a result ผล
prosecution – the person or organisation that tries to prove in court that someone has committed a crime อัยการ
disband – (of a group) to end; to stop working together ยุบพรรค
abide – to follow a rule, law, decision, etc. ทำตาม
stand – an opinion or position, especially one which is public จุดยืน
respect – to agree not to break a law, principle, etc; to obey a rule, law etc  เคารพ
judicial – relating to the courts of law ในชั้นศาล
insist – to keep saying very firmly that something is true ยืนกราน ยืนยัน
ban – officially not allowed to do something การห้ามอย่างเป็นทางการ
rebut – to show or say that something is not true โต้แย้ง, โต้ตอบ
allegation – an accusation; a statement that someone has done something wrong or illegal even though this has not been proved ข้อกล่าวหา
misuse – to use something in an unsuitable way or in a way that was not intended  ใช้ในทางที่ผิด
grant – an amount of money that the government or an organization gives you for a specific purpose and does not ask you to pay back เงินช่วยเหลือ
campaign – a planned series of activities designed to persuade voters to vote for a particular candidate or political party การรณรงค์หาสียง
ruling – a decision by a court of law คำตัดสิน คำชี้ขาด
immediately – happening right after something else with no delay; right away ทันที
source – someone who gives information แหล่งข่าว
formality – something which has to be done but which has no real importance; something that the law or an official process says must be done  ระเบียบ,ระเบียบแบบแผน,พิธีรีตอง
conclusion – the final part of something การสิ้นสุดลง
proceedings – the actions taken, usually in court, to settle a legal matter  การดำเนินการ
anxious – worried because you think something bad might happen ที่วิตกกังวล, ที่ร้อนใจ
serving – currently in a job or position; incumbent ดำรงตำแหน่ง
executive – a senior manager in a business or other organisation ผู้บริหาร
incumbent – holding an official position at the present time ดำรงตำแหน่ง
alleged – claimed to be true although not yet proven ที่ถูกกล่าวหา
mishandling – dealing with a situation or process badly or without enough care การจัดการอย่างไม่ถูก
consequences – results of effects of something ผลที่ตามมา
nature – the basic quality of feature of something ลักษณะที่แท้จริงของสิ่งต่างๆ
charge – an official statement accusing someone of committing a crime ข้อหา
caretaker – in charge for a short time, until a new leader or government is chosen รักษาการ
senior – with a high rank or position อาวุโส
cabinet minister – a member of the group of government ministers who make and approve government policy คณะรัฐมนตรี
moot – to suggest an idea for people to discuss เสนอความคิดหรือหัวข้อเพื่อการอภิปราย
pressure – to try to make someone do something by forcing, threatening, or persuading them in a determined way กดดัน
issue – to officially announce or give out  ออก, ออกประกาศ, ออกคำสั่ง
recruitment – the process of finding people to work for a company or become a new member of an organisation การสรรหาใหม่
plot – a secret plan to do something bad  แผนการลับ
discredit – to cause people to stop respecting someone or believing in an idea or person ทำให้สูญเสียความเชื่อถือ,ทำให้เสื่อมเสียชื่อเสียง
suspicious – making you believe that something is wrong, dangerous or illegal น่าสงสัย
circumstances – facts or conditions that affect a situation เหตุการณ์แวดล้อม
movement – a group of people who share the same aim and work together to achieve it การเคลื่อนไหวเพื่อวัตถุประสงค์ทางการเมือง
intimidate – to deliberately make someone feel frightened, especially so that they will do what you want ขู่ขวัญ
goal – purpose; aim เป้าหมาย จุดมุ่งหมาย
withdraw –to stop taking part in something ถอนตัว
panel – a group of people who make decisions or judgments คณะกรรมการ

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