BANGKOK: Thailand's
Constitutional Court on Friday deferred ruling for a week on an incendiary
charter amendment case that could lead to the dissolution of the ruling party.
The court heard evidence in a case centering on claims
that plans by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's party to amend the
constitution are a threat to the deeply-revered monarchy.
The complaint, brought by the opposition Democrats, has
the potential to tear open the kingdom's bitter political rifts.
They also accuse Yingluck's Puea Thai party of seeking to
redraw the country's charter to enable the return of her divisive brother
Thaksin, who was ousted from power in a coup by royalist generals in 2006.
After two days of hearings Wasan Soypisudh, president of
the Constitutional Court said it will deliver its ruling next week.
"The hearing today has finished," he said.
"The court allows both sides to submit its closing statements in writing
on Wednesday and the court will rule on Friday 13 (July)."
Puea Thai officials deny designs to undermine the
monarchy.
"There is no action or intention to do anything as
it (is) claimed in the complaint," Noppadon Pattama, Thaksin's legal
advisor and a member of Yingluck's Puea Thai party told reporters on Thursday.
If court judges find that the amendment plans threaten
the monarchy, it could lead to the dissolution of the party - although would
not necessitate Yingluck's departure - risking a potential fresh wave of unrest
in the volatile nation.
Political tensions in Thailand have spiralled since huge
anti-Thaksin rallies helped topple the tycoon, who draws support from rural and
working class "Red Shirts" but is reviled by the Bangkok-based elite
and military.
Two pro-Thaksin premiers were forced from office in 2008
in judicial rulings, making way for the Democrats - who have not won an
election in 20 years - to take power in a parliamentary vote.
Puea Thai swept to power last year on a wave of Thaksin
support following deadly 2010 Red Shirt street protests.
Amending the constitution, which was drawn up under the
post-coup junta in 2007, was a key plank of the party's election campaign.
Any suggestion of a return for Thaksin, who now lives in
self-imposed exile to avoid a jail term for corruption, is hugely controversial
in the deeply divided nation.
Democrats have stymied previous legislative attempts to
engineer his return, while the monarchist Yellow Shirts took to the streets.
Last month Yingluck's party was forced to postpone a
parliamentary vote on controversial "reconciliation" proposals
strongly opposed by opposition MPs and the Yellow Shirts, who fear they will be
used to grant an amnesty to Thaksin.
- AFP/de
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