Members of the diplomatic corps in Bangkok raised concerns yesterday over the outcome of the Constitutional Tribunal's verdict - to dissolve the Thai Rak Thai Party - and whether the decision would be positive for Thai democracy.

Diplomats and representatives from 39 nations and 12 international organisations attended a briefing on the verdict at the Foreign Ministry yesterday.

The Justice Ministry's permanent secretary, Charan Phakdithanakul, was the main speaker at the event.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Tharit Charungvat said Charan told the diplomats dissolution of the country's biggest political party had barred some people from participating in politics, but it would provide a chance for a new generation to enter politics.

Tharit said the Foreign Ministry regularly gave briefings to diplomats based in Bangkok on important issues in Thailand.

Yesterday's briefing sought to clarify misunderstanding among foreigners on the legitimacy of the tribunal, because its members had been picked by the junta, he said. But judges on the tribunal were very senior members of the Supreme and Administrative courts, he said.

Diplomats from the UK, Switzerland, the Netherlands and New Zealand put questions to Charan.

One asked why the judges had to put political opinion into the verdict, rather than pure legal judgement.

Charan responded that political elements were only brought into consideration but were not at the core of the verdict.

Diplomats also asked about the ban on 111 TRT executives, in particular what activities they were banned from and if they had a chance to appeal.

Tharit said they were banned from being election candidates and voting in the election as well as from being executive members of any political party and holding any political position. The one-tier court offered no chance of appeal, he added.

Charan told the diplomats that the abolishment of the Council for Democratic Reform's Announcement No15, which banned all political activity, would help decrease political tensions.

A Western diplomat who attended the 75-minute briefing said foreigners hoped to see more people participating in the upcoming general election.

The international community also wanted to see how the end of the ban on political activity would effect Thai democracy, said the diplomat, on condition of anonymity.

Supalak Ganjanakhundee

The Nation

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Summary of the Decision of the Constitutional Tribunal : Democrat Party

Summary of the Decision of the Constitutional Tribunal : Thai Rak Thai