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The Thai Constitutional Tribunal, Thailand's highest court, found the Thai Rak Thai Party (TRT) guilty of electoral fraud but acquitted the Democrat Party of all charges late May 30. TRT was found guilty of allowing its former leader, ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, to abuse Thailand's April 2006 election as a "tool for monopolizing power" -- specifically for instigating the hiring and paying of smaller political parties to participate in the election. TRT now will be disbanded, and all of its present and former executives will be banned from domestic politics for five years. News of the Democrats' acquittal -- and thus that some opposition politicians still will be allowed to participate in the political process -- caused a surge at the Stock Exchange of Thailand.
Overall, the decision marks a major milestone for the Thai government, military and economy.
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