Constitution court begins after red shirt protesters try to block
The Constitution Court starts convening to hear closing statements for the party dissolution case at 10am under tight security after pro-government protesters surrounded the the court building.
The court was initially scheduled to conduct the hearing at 9am at the Constitution Court building but it was shifted to the Supreme Administrative court on Chang Wattana road after the red shirt protesters on trucks and foot surrounded the buildings.
Wearing red shirts and carrying clubs, they said they rallied against the convening of the Constituion Court Tuesday to prevent the reading of a verdict expected to lead to political changes and perhaps more turmoil.
They also said they wanted to block the judges from entering the buildings.
After the venue was shifted to the Supreme Administrative Court, the Court was quickly surrounded by more than 1,000 protesters which were member of DAAD.
The court was now under the protection of Thai Army troops armed with M16 rifles.
Chief public prosecutor Seksan Bangsomboon started the session by summing up the case for the prosecution.
Chart Thai Party leader Banharn Silapa-archa is delivering his final defence rebutting his party’s involvement in the electoral fraud punishable by party disbandment.
The People Power Party and the Matchima Thipataya Party do not participate in the session. The defence has the right to opt out of the summation session.
About 150 anti-riot policemen are deployed to keep peace after the Constitution Court has decided to relocate its session to the Supreme Administrative Court.
The session is to hear closing statements from three coalition parties, People Power, Chart Thai and Matchima Thipataya parties involving in the party-dissolution case.
source THE NATION
