THE Constitutional Court banned Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej today from governing the country because he was paid to host television cooking shows.
In a 66-minute judgement, the court ruled that Khun Samak had not told the truth about payments he received for his appearances in two episodes of the show, Tasting, Grumbling.
The ruling also means that under Thai law, the whole Cabinet should be dissolved.
But the Constitutional Court ruled that Cabinet could continue to govern without the Prime Minister until a new Cabinet is sworn in.
The judges voted nine to nil that Khun Samak, who hosted the cooking show before being appointed Prime Minister, should be disqualified.
Khun Samak told the court on Monday that he cooked for TV because he enjoyed it, not as a job for money.
His People Power party MP colleagues have promised to vote him back as leader of the Government despite the Constitutional Court disqualification. A vote will take place on Friday.
On Phuket today, hundreds of Phuket students took part in an anti-government march then rallied at Saphan Hin public park before heavy rain hit the island once again.
Joining today's parade from Provincial Hall on Phuket were students from Phuket Vitayalai High School and Satree Phuket School, with the Technical College set to join the protest later, in bleak weather.
While the morning was relatively dry on Phuket, driving rain struck again in the afternoon. Storms have plagued the island every day since Friday.
Young PAD, which is affiliated with the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy, said students sympathising with the group began protests in most provinces today.
The "Swarming Bees" campaign also means some students will skip classes for three days.
Anti-government protests have been continuing at government offices for more than three months, leading to a ''state of emergency'' declaration, but limited to Bangkok.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand predicts the industry will lose as much as 32 billion baht, or about five percent of estimated 2008 earnings, if the current political standoff goes into the fourth quarter of this year.
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Referendum Proposal May Split PM's Opponents
A special Cabinet meeting proposed a public referendum as the mechanism for settling the present political crisis that embroiled Phuket in an airport siege last weekend. But it may simply serve to divide protestors.
Referendum Proposal May Split PM's Opponents
Key Events: Protests and Phuket
December 23: Samak leads the People Power party (PPP) to election victory.
February 6: Samak unveils a cabinet made up of members of a six-party coalition which holds nearly two-thirds of parliamentary seats.
February 28: Former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, in self-imposed exile for 17 months, gets hero's welcome from supporters as he returns to Thailand and goes straight to court, where he is released on bail on corruption charges.
May 25: The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), a collection of anti-government groups, launches street protests calling for Samak to resign for seeking constitutional amendments they believe are aimed at helping Thaksin.
July 8-10: Court decisions force out of office three senior government officials and Yongyut Tiyapairat, the house speaker and PPP deputy leader.
July 15: A military standoff breaks out near a disputed temple on the Thai-Cambodia border, with the PAD accusing Samak of relinquishing Thai territory to help Thaksin with a business deal in the neighbouring country.
July 31: Thaksin's wife, Pojaman, is convicted of tax evasion and released on bail.
August 11: Thaksin and his wife go into exile in Britain, claiming they will not get a fair trial on the corruption charges mounting against them.
August 26: At least 35,000 PAD-led protesters raid a TV station, surround three ministries and break into Bangkok's main government compound in what they say is their ''final war'' against the government.
August 29: Scuffles break out between police and PAD supporters still laying siege to Government House. Protests spread. Hundreds of PAD protestors assemble around Phuket International Airport. Some reach the tarmac. Flights stopped at 3.50pm
August 30: Stranded passengers arrive at airport in hope of flights resumption. Airport General Manager Wing Commander Wicha Nurnlop says that in some ways, the airport blockade is ''worse than the 2004 tsunami.''
September 1: About 11am the announcement comes: the protest at the airport is over, and flights are to resume later in the day. About 3.50pm a Thai Airways Boeing 777 from Bangkok touches down, first of the airlift in, and an exodus out.
September 2: Overnight clashes leave one dead and dozens injured in Bangkok so Samak declares a state of emergency in the capital, allowing the army to move in to help restore order. Thai Election Commission finds the PPP guilty of buying votes and recommends the party be disbanded.
September 3: Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag resigns. Army chief Anupong Paochinda tells Samak that despite state of emergency he will not use force to disperse anti-government protesters from Government House. Phuket resort occupancy rates slump to 30 percent and recovery could take two years.
September 4: Samak says in a radio and television speech that he will not resign. Cabinet later suggests a national referendum as a solution to the impasse.
September 9: Constitutional Court bans Samak from holding the office of Prime Minister over paid appearances on a TV cooking show.
Look for
In a 66-minute judgement, the court ruled that Khun Samak had not told the truth about payments he received for his appearances in two episodes of the show, Tasting, Grumbling.
The ruling also means that under Thai law, the whole Cabinet should be dissolved.
But the Constitutional Court ruled that Cabinet could continue to govern without the Prime Minister until a new Cabinet is sworn in.
The judges voted nine to nil that Khun Samak, who hosted the cooking show before being appointed Prime Minister, should be disqualified.
Khun Samak told the court on Monday that he cooked for TV because he enjoyed it, not as a job for money.
His People Power party MP colleagues have promised to vote him back as leader of the Government despite the Constitutional Court disqualification. A vote will take place on Friday.
On Phuket today, hundreds of Phuket students took part in an anti-government march then rallied at Saphan Hin public park before heavy rain hit the island once again.
Joining today's parade from Provincial Hall on Phuket were students from Phuket Vitayalai High School and Satree Phuket School, with the Technical College set to join the protest later, in bleak weather.
While the morning was relatively dry on Phuket, driving rain struck again in the afternoon. Storms have plagued the island every day since Friday.
Young PAD, which is affiliated with the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy, said students sympathising with the group began protests in most provinces today.
The "Swarming Bees" campaign also means some students will skip classes for three days.
Anti-government protests have been continuing at government offices for more than three months, leading to a ''state of emergency'' declaration, but limited to Bangkok.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand predicts the industry will lose as much as 32 billion baht, or about five percent of estimated 2008 earnings, if the current political standoff goes into the fourth quarter of this year.
Related Article:
Referendum Proposal May Split PM's Opponents
A special Cabinet meeting proposed a public referendum as the mechanism for settling the present political crisis that embroiled Phuket in an airport siege last weekend. But it may simply serve to divide protestors.
Referendum Proposal May Split PM's Opponents
Key Events: Protests and Phuket
December 23: Samak leads the People Power party (PPP) to election victory.
February 6: Samak unveils a cabinet made up of members of a six-party coalition which holds nearly two-thirds of parliamentary seats.
February 28: Former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, in self-imposed exile for 17 months, gets hero's welcome from supporters as he returns to Thailand and goes straight to court, where he is released on bail on corruption charges.
May 25: The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), a collection of anti-government groups, launches street protests calling for Samak to resign for seeking constitutional amendments they believe are aimed at helping Thaksin.
July 8-10: Court decisions force out of office three senior government officials and Yongyut Tiyapairat, the house speaker and PPP deputy leader.
July 15: A military standoff breaks out near a disputed temple on the Thai-Cambodia border, with the PAD accusing Samak of relinquishing Thai territory to help Thaksin with a business deal in the neighbouring country.
July 31: Thaksin's wife, Pojaman, is convicted of tax evasion and released on bail.
August 11: Thaksin and his wife go into exile in Britain, claiming they will not get a fair trial on the corruption charges mounting against them.
August 26: At least 35,000 PAD-led protesters raid a TV station, surround three ministries and break into Bangkok's main government compound in what they say is their ''final war'' against the government.
August 29: Scuffles break out between police and PAD supporters still laying siege to Government House. Protests spread. Hundreds of PAD protestors assemble around Phuket International Airport. Some reach the tarmac. Flights stopped at 3.50pm
August 30: Stranded passengers arrive at airport in hope of flights resumption. Airport General Manager Wing Commander Wicha Nurnlop says that in some ways, the airport blockade is ''worse than the 2004 tsunami.''
September 1: About 11am the announcement comes: the protest at the airport is over, and flights are to resume later in the day. About 3.50pm a Thai Airways Boeing 777 from Bangkok touches down, first of the airlift in, and an exodus out.
September 2: Overnight clashes leave one dead and dozens injured in Bangkok so Samak declares a state of emergency in the capital, allowing the army to move in to help restore order. Thai Election Commission finds the PPP guilty of buying votes and recommends the party be disbanded.
September 3: Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag resigns. Army chief Anupong Paochinda tells Samak that despite state of emergency he will not use force to disperse anti-government protesters from Government House. Phuket resort occupancy rates slump to 30 percent and recovery could take two years.
September 4: Samak says in a radio and television speech that he will not resign. Cabinet later suggests a national referendum as a solution to the impasse.
September 9: Constitutional Court bans Samak from holding the office of Prime Minister over paid appearances on a TV cooking show.
Look for
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