Dems batten down against reds threat

POLITICS

The Democrat Party is battening down against an expected onslaught from pro-Thaksin elements in the New Year, a party source says.

A meeting of Democrat executives yesterday discussed the threat from anti-government forces and it was agreed the political tension would rise in 2010.

The source said the opposition Puea Thai Party and United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship would focus their campaigns against the government on donation allegations and the hearings into the Shinawatra family assets.

The Democrats have been accused of improperly obtaining a 258 million baht donation from TPI Polene. A decision on whether to pursue the allegation, which could lead to a party dissolution, is expected to be made soon after the New Year holiday.

The Election Commission, which is hearing the allegations, appears to be reluctant to make a ruling and has referred the matter to its chairman, Apichart Sukhagganond, in his capacity as ex-officio political party registrar.

The Shinawatra assets trial before the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office Holders is also being wrapped up.

The court is to rule whether former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra broke the anti-graft law through conflicts of interest and by enriching his family's business empire through his policies.

"They will use these issues to incite the red shirt supporters and keep the street protest going until the situation turns," the source said.

The source said the Democrat Party agreed that information management and security preparations were instrumental in helping the government maintain an edge.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, in charge of national security, has been urged to work closely with security authorities, the source said.

Democrat spokesman Buranat Samutarat said the party estimated Puea Thai's planned censure debate was timed to take place when red shirt protests were about to reach their peak.

"They are aiming for a dissolution of the House to clear the way for Thaksin's return to power," he said.

Meanwhile, the New Politics Party yesterday said the coalition government had failed in many areas of national administration.

NPP spokesman Samran Rodpetch said the coalition had picked scores with its economic recovery plan but had done little to tackle social, political, security and corruption problems.