• 
• 

Samak insisted on his intention to remain in office and to "spend the time he has to the fullest in working for the people and fighting for justice," according to the PPP's spokesman Kudeb Saikrachang.

The premier, in his capacity as the PPP leader, called an urgent meeting of party executives at its headquarters before noon.

The meeting came after a series of political and legal blows against the ruling party. These include a Constitution Court ruling that a ThaiCambodian communique on the Preah Vihear Temple was an international agreement and therefore required endorsement from Parliament, and a Supreme Court verdict that PPP deputy leader Yongyuth Tiyapairat was guilty of votebuying. The latter verdict not only caused Yongyuth to be stripped of his electoral rights for five years but also would make it possible for the party to be disbanded.

Samak also called an urgent meeting of party MPs this afternoon to explain about the issues and to discuss about the current political situation, Kudeb said. He added that the PM would also explain the situation to the public during his weekly programme "Talking Samak Style" on Sunday.

The PPP leader told the party executives Wednesday that he was unmoved by what happened to his government, in addition to rumours about military coup and House dissolution, according to the spokesman.

The PM told the party's executives that what happened to the government was not beyond his expectations. He said that despite its election victory, the PPP had been "targeted for demolition" because it was viewed as a tool for former premier Thaksin Shinawatra to retain his political power.

Samak yesterday also appointed PM's Office Minister Choosak Sirinin, who also acts as the government's chief legal expert, as head of the PPP's legal team to deal with a case resulting from Yongyuth's guilty verdict.

According to Article 237 of the Constitution, the Constitution Court shall deliver an order dissolving a political party whose leader or any executive member is aware of electoral fraud by any candidate of the party and fails to prevent it or take remedial action. All executives of the guilty party will be stripped of their electoral rights for five years.

At yesterday's meeting, deputy PPP leader Kan Thienkaew also suggested to Samak that he dissolve the House of Representatives as a way to get out of the political crisis. However, Kudeb said the meeting did not consider the possibility ofa House dissolution and that Kan's proposal was considered a personal view.

"The government insisted that they will spend the rest of their time serving as much as possible," said the PPP spokesman.

Kan told reporters later that he believed many party MPs agreed with him about his idea of House dissolution but that they might be too afraid to make their comments. He said that if the party was dissolved by the Constitution Court, the government would also have to stop running the country. So, for him, House dissolution would be a better choice.

Meanwhile, opposition and Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday urged the prime minister to make a major reshuffle of his Cabinet to restore confidence in his government. He said that people to be appointed to Samak's Cabinet would have to be well qualified and have no image problems.

In a related development, Banharn Silpaarcha, leader of the coalition Chart Thai Party, said that Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama would have to should the responsibility over the Preah Vihear controversy. He said other Cabinet members had done nothing wrong so they should not be held responsible.