With no clear way out of the political crisis, the Thai Rak Thai government's legal team has been scrutinising every page of the law books to ensure that caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra returns to the premiership after the April 2 election.

A legal complaint against Thammasat University rector Suraphol Nitikraipoj and Vajiravudh College director Chai-anan Samudvanija yesterday is the latest case in Thai Rak Thai's campaign against opponents of Thaksin's leadership.

The party accuses the two academics of violating the Constitution in their separate attempts to seek His Majesty the King's intervention for a royally-sponsored prime minister to replace the embattled Thaksin.

The party insists that participating in the snap election called by Thaksin on April 2 is the only way to break the political deadlock and, at the same time, save Thailand's democracy from the "outlaws yelling in the street" and the "old guard asking for a return of old powers".

On Sunday, police seized 20,000 copies of a book titled "Stop the Thaksin Regime", meant to be distributed to protesters at Government House, despite not having laid any charges against its author, Senator Kaewsan Atibodhi.

The police said they had the authority to seize the books indefinitely, claiming they needed to send them to the Special Branch Police to check if they are harmful to national security.

Yesterday police banned distribution of the book outright, saying it violated publishing laws by not having the publisher's name in the book.

The Thai Rak Thai legal team is also targeting Democrat Party secretary-general Suthep Thuagsuban, who has accused senior members of the party of conspiring, making threats and paying out money to manipulate the election results.

Even though Suthep on Sunday produced three people he said witnessed members of the ruling party pay the Pattana Chat Thai Party to field candidates in certain constituencies, the Thai Rak Thai insists the charge has no shred of truth and has vowed to sue Suthep for defamation.

The legal offensive has also targeted speakers at rallies held by the anti-Thaksin People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD).

Thai Rak Thai has filed an election complaint against Senators Chirmsak Pinthong, Manoonkrit Roopkachorn and Pichet Pattanachote, who spoke at an anti-government rally last week and attacked Thaksin for destroying the country's democratic system and interfering in the Senate.

The party took some evidence to Election Commission chairman Vasana Puemlarp and said the senators' allegations against Thaksin and the party were untrue and undermined the party's campaign, which violated the election law.

The Democrats plan to hold a rally on Friday, eight days before polling day, to explain to the public why Thailand should throw out the Thaksin regime. The PAD meanwhile plans to continue its protests until Thaksin is out of politics.

However, the Thai Rak Thai legal team is certain to carry on its legal battle against any attempts to overthrow the premier before the election is held.

Weerayut Chokchaimadon

The Nation